Although the focus of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations has gone to economic issues such as free agency and the luxury tax, there also is the potential for rule changes.
The last CBA, which was agreed to in 2016, did not make any major changes to the game. However, after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to multiple new rules, including seven-inning doubleheaders, MLB and the Players Association could use this offseason to further evaluate matters.
MLB utilized the Arizona Fall League to test a 15-second pitch clock, two pickoff attempts per plate appearance, and infielders were required to remain on the dirt with two positioned on each side of second base, among other changes.
Potentially regulating defensive shifts has been hotly contested, though MLB commissioner Rob Manfred doesn’t view such a rule as being a radical change, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
“Let’s just say you regulated the shift by requiring two infielders on each side of second base,” Manfred said. “What does that do? It makes the game look like what it looked like when I as 12 years old. It’s not change. It’s kind of restoration. That’s why people are in favor of it. I’m hopeful that we will have productive conversations with the MLBPA about non-radical changes to the game that will restore it to being played in a way that is closer to what many of us enjoy historically.”
The rule is being considered because the offensive numbers in the league are comparable to where they’ve been in the worst offensive periods in baseball history.
The league-wide batting average dropped to its lowest since 1968, the season that became known as the year of the pitcher and caused the rules committee to lower the height of the mound and adjust the strike zone after the season.
Eliminating or regulating the shift would likely help a lot of players and would cause an uptick in offense, but MLB also needs to consider they changed the baseball to make it less hitter-friendly and the average pitcher is better than they’ve ever been.
Manfred already said it is likely that the league will eliminate the seven-inning doubleheaders and the runner starting on second base for extra innings rules, as well as possibly adding the designated hitter to the National League.
MLB used two baseballs
On top of enforcing rules against the use of foreign substances, MLB used two different baseballs throughout the 2021 season. The league did not voluntarily reveal as much, but rather the revelation was made through an independent study.
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