Change Is In The Air And It s About Time!

I told you all about 6 months ago that the DH was coming to the NL. As usual, that was met with a lot of skepticism (maybe some mocking as well), and I have to confess that since there was nothing mentioned about it this offseason (until yesterday), I thought that maybe it was a dead deal. Well, it still may not happen THIS YEAR, but it turns out that it is a real thing and whether it happens now or 3 years from now… it’s going to happen.

Let’s just quit pretending that pitchers can hit. Oh, there are exceptions. In 13 seasons as a Dodger, Orel Hershiser had a batting average of .212 with a .240 on-base percentage. And he seemed like Babe Ruth compared to most pitchers at the plate. Don Drysdale was an Urban Legend for his hitting, because in his 14 years as a Dodger his BA was just .186. Look it up! Pitching and batting has been way too specialized for way too long for even the most ardent baseball purest to cling to some misguided, romantic notion of watching a pitcher at the bottom of the batting order. It’s an antiquated rule that makes a very important part of the game look like an embarrassing relic.

NL pitchers OPS has dropped from the .500 and .400 range years ago to the .300’s now… soon to be in the .200’s. It’s a joke. The game has changed and maybe you say it’s flush with cash right now. That can change almost overnight, as the oldtimers like me and you die off and the new generations have no interest in the game. Pitchers who have very little chance of getting on base is a boring aspect of the game… really dumb too!

Rob Manfred wants the DH for the NL and so does the MLBPA, however due to the “Market Correction” this winter whereas MLB teams are not overpaying with stupid, bad, ignorant, long-term contracts, the Union would like to extract a pound of flesh for the fact that the MLB teams are not just signing Blank Checks anymore. MLB and/or the MLBPA also want a few other things – things which the other side may be against:

• Pitchers must face at least 3 batters before being removed (unless injured);
• A HARD trade deadline before the All-Star Game;
• A 20 Second pitch clock;
• A 26-Man Roster in the regular season;
• A 28-Man Roster in September; and
• Reducing the number of mound visits even more.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan outlines the changes. The MLBPA is not down with all of that so it may not happen this off season. I think we will know in a week or less. I still have hopes it will happen. If I had to predict what will happen, I would say the DH in the NL, the 26 Man Roster, the altered trade deadline and reducing the number of mound visits could still happen for 2019.

Those are really “no brainers.” The Dodgers would benefit immensely with the DH, as Max Muncy and David Freese would fit the bill. Look at this lineup:

AGAINST LHP:

1. Taylor LF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Pollock CF
6. Freese DH
7. Hernandez 2B
8. Verdugo RF
9. Martin/Barnes C

Against RHP:

1. Pederson LF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Pollock CF
6. Muncy DH
7. Hernandez 2B
8. Verdugo RF
9. Martin/Barnes C

That would be outstanding. Why sign Harper? I just do not see it! Let Verdugo play and if he can’t cut RF, then make another move at the trade deadline. That won’t be necessary – he’s the next Tony Gwynn – that’s how you misquote me.

There are even bigger change afoot, changes that I don’t believe will happen but you can read about them in The Athletic . These changes involve moving the mound back and changes to the strike zone. The NBA talked about raising the baskets, but ultimately didn’t. I believe that moving the mound back is a fundamental move that should never happen.

OTHER STUFF

• It was amazing to watch the Pacers give LeBron the biggest beat-down of his career – 42 points! Yikes! Without Vic! Tonight we will try and do the same to the Clippers.
• The Athletic has a nice piece on the Lakers’ Lance Stephenson and his relationship with Indy and the fans relationship with him. He will be back soon enough. My wife wore a Lance Stephenson Lakers’ jersey to the game Tuesday night. She loves Lance! To me he is Yasiel Puig – a loveable knucklehead!