Of all the gyrations orchestrated to make the 2020 season work, I come away with one thing I hope they keep. The playoffs with no off days in the DS and CS. I like it because it makes teams use all their players. The whole team becomes involved. I also like that team depth becomes as important as front line starters. Teams that have a habit of cashing in their depth for big front line starters might have to adjust their strategy. I hope this is something to come in 2021, but I kind of doubt its even considered.
2021 will start on time. I would expect 50% capacity for fans to start the season. I also expect $18 hot dogs and $21 beers
Not one... but two off days between games 1-2 and 3. Ironically, when that schedule was released, people said it favored the Astros who would be able to throw Randy Johnson sooner in the series. Little did they know the true anchor of the series.... Sterling Hitchcock.
I understood the idea of the expanded playoffs for *this* season. I do not like it in a full season, at all, **** that. It would make a 162 game season meaningless. The extra inning ghost runner rule is a joke, kill it with fire. Napalm if necessary. The 3 batter or finish an inning rule is not ideal, but tolerable I maybe sorta guess. So is the limit on mound visits. I would still rather (also?) see a pitch clock if shortening games is the goal. I thought the "no days off" format would lead to worn down pitchers (which I still think it would, if they had pitched a full season) and thus ugly 5 hour games, but it's been fun. Don't see how that could continue if there's ever a "regular" regular season again eta: looking at yall's posts more closely...it could work, but you'd have to guarantee 2 days off between series. (1 for travel 1 for rest). The bubble made it easy this year. How would you do it if you had to play a series in 2 different cities? 2-3-2? 3-3-1? Get the NL to use the DH, keep the rosters expanded to 26, pay the minor leaguers a living wage, and let's go from there. Play ball.
I don't like the ghost runner, but if they want to keep it don't start it until the 13th. I am surprised they went to a 3 batter minimum. I assumed they would start with 2. I do like it, however and have been an advocate of it. Keep the universal DH. I don't think my 2013 self would have ever said that. 26 man roster is a good compromise for the NL for the DH.
I think they will play a full season. IMHO they should have a bubble set up in Florida and Arizona so that if covid isn’t under control they can still play. If by Feb the pandemic isn’t over they need to prepare as if it will be here thru the season. But I expect an effective vaccine to be available before opening day, and that combined with people getting it this fall/winter and the improved treatment options that lower the mortality means people should be pretty much back to normal by Memorial Day 2021.
I absolutely loathe the expanded postseason, 5 teams per league is already too many IMO. The whole purpose of the absurdly long season is to determine who is most deserving of the prize. If I were god of baseball I would go back to the 2 division format, with 2 wild cards so there is even less of a chance for lousy division winners. I honestly actually like the no days off format. Not really practical when travel is involved, but I like that the postseason mirrors the regular season and doesn't reward teams for top heavy pitching staffs with no depth.
While I don't mean this very seriously, a progressive approach to extra inning games comes to mind that would be interesting. 13th - Guy on 1st 14th - Guy on 2nd 15th - Guys on 1st and 2nd 16th - Guys on 1st and 3rd 17th - Guys on 2nd and 3rd 18th and beyond - Bases loaded
They never let us play bombardment with baseballs, if Manfred wants the games to end early that should do it. Also, use kickball rules starting in the 11th...you can hit the runners with the ball
You guys are starting to win me over with some of these ideas. Start putting targets on the field worth 100 runs. Well do this rock and jock style like MTV back in the 90s.
