When baseball comes back this year (and I think there is way
too much money involved for it not to come back in some fashion), MLB may play
more double headers.
As I recently had in the Breakfast Links:
AP News:
Twin bill? Doubleheaders may be possibility to make up games. Colorado Rockies
manager Bud Black would be down for doubleheaders. Maybe even a couple a week.
Phuture
Phillies.com: Rockies manager was in favor of more double headers (2
per week, he said). Well, that’s really
cool of him since he doesn’t have to play them.
Here are two ways MLB may be able to play 8 – 9 games a
week:
First, how about expanding the roster for all of 2020? I
was always a fan of the now extinct 40 man roster and I don’t think it will
ever come back. But what about a 30
or 32 man roster all this year?
For the
owners. It allow more games to be played and televised without players breaking
down.
For the players, it would give
more players MLB service time.
Since some teams in the past would refuse to expand the
rosters when able, I think the expanded roster would need to be mandated.
With service time being a big sticking point between theunion and MLB owners, the expanded roster could also serve as a peace making
compromise.
And if you are worried about teams using the expanded
rosters to have 6 different pitchers in one inning, the
new three batter minimum rule should prevent that from happening.
Still don’t like it?
Then how about this?
Remove the Option rule for this season.
For one season only, allow teams to move players on their 40
man rosters back and forth to Triple-A and Double-A without exercising their
options and having to place them on waivers should their options be
expired.
The owners maintain control on players almost out of options
for another year.
For the players, this would mean more players getting MLB service
time and MLB pay.
Maybe these ideas would work, maybe they wouldn’t.
Hopefully we will have lots of these debates soon because
baseball is back.
What do you think?
to do 8-9 games a week, they'd need 30-32 players for sure. it could be done.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Tom. Then the Mets may end up having three catchers and Patrick Mazeika making the team.
ReplyDeleteNice thought John on the double headers. I offered that here and another site with no comments at all, on yeih or negh, but I obviously like it, LOL! On the removal of the option, ehhh, not so hot on that. Have to think about it. It’s actually because the players will be jet lagged from being flown around which will skew their performances and give a lessened look as to their production. Players in that AAAA shuttle have said its rough to be on that bubble.
ReplyDeleteTexas Gus, I was thinking the option idea more from a Mets perspective as the AA and AAA teams both play in NY. Sure wouldn't work if their AAA team was still in Las Vegas. Most teams would probably agree with you. After we get through this we will see what MLB does.
ReplyDeleteI guess you have Sunday off John? It looks like ANY is re-showing the 7/17 game at Target Field tonight at 8 P.M.
ReplyDeleteThat's the game we went to on vacation this year. I will have to watch to see if I see me and my family on T.V.
Oh, forgot to sign.
ReplyDeleteBob W.
Hi Bob. Yes Mack has given me Sunday's off. I will DVR the game tonight and try to see you. Where are you sitting? If I remember correctly, lots of HR in that game. If you were in the outfield, good chance you made it to TV.
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteNo, behind the 3B dugout about 30 rows up. Rosario, Smith and (of course) Alonso homered. Alonso's went about 475 feet.
Bob W.
Interesting idea about expanding rosters/eliminating options for 2020 to make doubleheaders work.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the clubs would make all of these doubleheaders day/night, separate admission games to avoid losing revenue. Regardless of how they do it, there's going to be a surplus of games in a shortened time window and it will be curious to see how demand shakes out.
We might see lower ticket prices to combat this. Wouldn't that be something
Brian,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point. Owners may have to drop prices to get people to come back to the parks. Hopefully MLB owners, the union and MiLB will use this as an opportunity to work together and grow the game. We will see.
Do you remember the Mets in the 1970s, drawing only about 1 million fans? That might become the new abnormal.
ReplyDelete