Even though Major League Baseball and the MLBPA agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement this offseason, Commissioner Rob Manfred’s work is far from done.
Baseball will be played sans labor-related interruptions for the next five years, but it doesn’t mean the game can’t be tweaked between now and then.
At the top of Manfred’s priority list (again) is pace of play. The Commissioner told MLB.com that the new CBA includes a “provision on playing-rule changes” which could allow baseball to implement something like a pitch clock – which is currently in use in Minor League Baseball and has been since 2015 – before the next CBA. With Manfred leading the charge, MLB will try to work to make the game enticing to fans by way of shortening it, and cutting out lulls in the action.
[adinserter block=”1″]
Bob Nightengale of the USA Today chimes in with the anecdote that solving baseball’s pace of play issues is “the most aggravating irritation” in Manfred’s life. The average time of a nine-inning game lasted three hours – or four minutes more than the average game time of a 2015 contest. Manfred said pace of play is “an issue we need to be focused on” – and by “we” he means players, umpires, owners and anyone else involved in the game. Nightengale writes that owners believe “it’s imperative to shorten games to enhance attendance at their ballparks.”
Nightengale and MLB.com also have Manfred’s thoughts with regards to baseball’s domestic abuse policy (Manfred said he is pleased with how it has worked so far), travel restrictions for players (approximately 27% of baseball’s players are foreign-born, but Manfred said he has no concerns yet about President Trump’s executive order restricting travel from certain countries), and a near-agreement for in-market streaming (with the only holdouts being the Dodgers, Nationals and Orioles; we discussed the Cubs and in-market streaming here).
Miami has a busy season of baseball ahead with the World Baseball Classic and the All-Star Game headlining the year to come at Marlins Park. Manfred shared some thoughts with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, including the changes to the All-Star Game the commissioner hopes will bring the added competitive spirit that was missing during the “This Time It Counts” era. Manfred added, “It’s not ideal to have a 103-win team not have home-field advantage.” A nod to the World Series champion Cubs – who actually benefited from the AL rules winning three of four games at Progressive Field.
The WBC games in Miami might be the best ball played at Marlins Park in 2017. The teams in this bracket includes Team USA, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Canada.
Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.
I know what you're thinking – what the heck is this basketball junkie doing over here on our turf!? He normally only shows up when he accidentally puts his Bulls articles in the wrong category! I need a little palate cleanser...
CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs are back in action tonight for the first of three games against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup for Game 1. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, 2B...
If you're familiar with me/my writing, you know how much I love good pitching. To that end, Jared Jones has been one of my favorite stories of the young season. And on Monday, he gave us one of the best...
We've been trying to piece this series of Cubs roster moves together all day, but we didn't have the full picture until now. There are a lot of moving parts - and we already have a dedicated article on the...
The Chicago Cubs were in a rough spot with starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, whose performance this year has featured a worst-case-scenario mix of execution struggles, too many balls in play, and a sprinkling of bad luck. And since no one...
Garrett Cooper DFA — Earlier today, Tommy Birch caught word of Matt Mervis and Hayden Wesneski making their way up to Chicago, though no one has had the corresponding moves just yet. What we do know is that Wesneski would...
As I typed this, news broke that the Cubs were promoting Matt Mervis from Iowa to Chicago. So, we'll start this week's Studs and Duds on the Cubs farm with Mervis, who has been impressive this season. Plus, Kevin Alcántara...
This afternoon's forecast in Chicago calls for afternoon rainstorms, which means I need to tweak my schedule to get my regularly scheduled walk in without getting soaked. Wish me luck! The Chicago Bears are reportedly set to announce lakefront stadium...
Cubs vs Astros — Splitting a four-gamer against the current, badly-struggling Miami Marlins is unquestionably a bad outcome, especially when one of those two losses was a win-in-hand that slipped away into the seats. But the typical, and maddeningly correct,...
I was literally in the middle of an article asking "What Are the Cubs Going to Do with Matt Mervis," when this news came across the wire. The Cubs first base picture is fully settled with the left-handed Michael Busch...
Ryan Poles has done well in creating a bevy of picks in each of his first two NFL Draft classes as Chicago Bears general manager. And even though the Bears have a league-low four picks in this week's NFL Draft,...
Kawhi Leonard needs to make two 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Los Angeles Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Kawhi Leonard's Three-Pointer Prop...
Changes are already underway for the Chicago Bulls According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Bulls coaching staff is due for a shuffle. HOF player and long-time coach Maurice Cheeks is reportedly leaving his position as a full-time member of...
Zurich Classic Sleeper Picks - The Zurich Classic, a thrilling and unique team event on the PGA Tour, is set to take place at the picturesque TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. This Pete Dye design, renowned for its water hazards...
We've been trying to piece this series of Cubs roster moves together all day, but we didn't have the full picture until now. There are a lot of moving parts - and we already have a dedicated article on the...
The 2024 NFL Draft is upon us, and the Los Angeles Chargers hold the coveted fifth overall pick. With a young, dynamic quarterback in Justin Herbert, the Chargers are poised to make a serious playoff run. But to take that...
In the dynamic world of sports betting, the FanDuel promo code stands out as a great way to start on a premier platform for enthusiasts looking to elevate their NBA betting experience. With the NBA season in full swing, the...
I know what you're thinking – what the heck is this basketball junkie doing over here on our turf!? He normally only shows up when he accidentally puts his Bulls articles in the wrong category! I need a little palate cleanser...
The Los Angeles Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Clippers' Paul George drains four 3-pointers, he'll beat his prop.Paul George's Three-Pointer...
The Los Angeles Clippers face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Clippers' James Harden drains three 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.James Harden's Three-Pointer...