The MLB’s Back and It Just Got Sexier
What’s in store Major League Baseball’s revisionist 2020?
With the MLB scheduled to return for a 60 game season in late July, here are the three things I’m most excited to see:
National League DH
Baseball fans have been holding their breath on this one. Removing pitchers from the offensive equation makes sense. Your typical best-case scenario for this spot in the line-up has been a sacrifice bunt. Exciting stuff.
We finally get an expanded roster and an easy way to add one more wildcard bat to your clubhouse. Not to mention what this could mean moving forward.
The ‘Nelson Cruz’s’ of the world can finally make their way back to the NL.
Expanded rosters
For the first two weeks of the season, teams can hold 30(!) players total, with that number falling to 28 and, finally, 26 after four weeks.
In the same vein of adding a DH, with rosters initially expanded to 30, you’re giving more opportunities to the young guys who may start the season in the minors otherwise.
We’re looking at two full weeks super rosters.
Removing minor league option considerations from the equation allows teams to take a legitimate, high leverage look at their farm system.
I’m excited to see if we get the MLB’s first offensive specialists.
You’ve got space to roster a weak bat with incredible speed. If you ever hit extra innings, you throw him on second base, per the new format, and you have an immediate threat to steal a quick base.
Managers could get extremely creative with their roster construction.
Regional Schedule
Selfishly, I’ve gotten tired of staying up for the West Coast series. It’s too damn late for the Eastern seaboard.
This season will feature a schedule consisting of more regionally based match-ups, including an extended look at some of the interleague foes your team might not see quite as much. And it makes sense. Less travel equals less risk.
Get ready for Marlins v. Rays, folks. Six times.
Much more of your season will now focus on what happens within your division (40 games total). As if I needed a reason to hate the Braves more.
That’s it for now. I’m more curious than excited about the revised extra-inning format. It could end a lot of games with some angry Twitter.
