MLB

MLB News/Rumors: Do you know the rules for the 2021 baseball season?

by

The question was, do you know the MLB rules for the 2021 season? Your answer is probably not. After reading this article, you will have some information but probably won’t know any more than you do now for what the rules ultimately will be for the season. The reason for that is the contentious relationship between the owners and the players. MLBPA, the MLB Players Association (players union), represents the hundreds of MLB players. MLB represents the owners of the 30 MLB teams.

If you remember, before last season, the owners and players fought for weeks over the length of the season and the rules of play, along with what the health protocols would be. Don’t expect this pre-season to be any different. Part of the reason is that the players want to show strength going into a year when they will revisit the player’s CBA (collective bargaining agreement), which expires after the 2021 season. It’s entirely possible the long era of labor peace — or, more accurately stated, the long era of the MLBPA permitting itself to be dominated by ownership without a genuine fight — may be at an end. Although there are many issues to be ironed out, the union’s main request will be for the players to receive a greater share of MLB revenues.

Here is what we know for sure at the moment. Pitchers and catchers will report on February 17, with the rest of the players following the 21st. The regular season will start on April 1 and be 162 games with no universal DH and no expanded playoffs. July 11-13, 2021, will be the MLB Draft. July 13th will be the 91st All-Star Game; it will be held at Truist Stadium, the Atlanta Braves home. July 25th will be the Hall of Fame induction ceremony that will see Derek Jeter and others inducted after the ceremony was canceled last year. August 12th will be the Field of Dreams game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. And on August 22nd will be the Little League Classic between the Los Angeles Angels and the Cleveland Indians at Williamsport, PA.

Those are the only things we know for sure, or do we? Like it or not, the coronavirus will still be the deciding factor on dates, whether fans will be allowed in stadiums, and what health protocols will be in place for players, staff, and fans alike.

Right now, the owners want a 154 game season starting almost a month later, the players have rejected that. The owners would like to see a universal DH, the player on second after nine innings, and an expanded postseason. The players have rejected that as well. As it stands now, the players are firm on returning to the rules for 2019.

The Players Association released this statement:

“Late last week the MLBPA for the first time this offseason received a proposal to delay spring training and the opening day for approximately one month.

Under the proposal the end of the season would be delayed by one week, the regular season would be shortened to 154 games, and all 30 teams would be required to play several doubleheaders. Players would also be required to accept previously rejected proposals that link expanded playoffs with expansion of the designated hitter.

Although players salaries would not be innitially prorated to a 154-game season MLB’s proposal offers no salary or service time protections in the event of further delays, interuptions or cancellation of the season.

The MLBPA Excutive Board and player leadership reviewed and discussed the owner’s proposal over the weekend and today. The clear-cut result of these deliberatons is that the players will not accept MLB’s proposal, and instead will continue preprations for an on-time start to the 2021 season and will accept MLB’s commitment to again direct it’s clubs to prepare for an on-time start.

We do not make this decision lightly. Players know first-hand the efforts that were required to complete the abbreviated 2020 season, and appreciate that significant challenges lie ahead. We look forward to promptly finalizing enhanced health and safety protocols that will help players and clubs meet these challenges.”

The owners and Major League Baseball countered with:

“In light of the MLBPA’s rejection of our proposal, and their refusal to counter our revised offer this afternoon, we are moving forward and instructing our Clubs to report for an on-time start to Spring Training and the season, subject to reaching an agreement on health and safety protocols,” said the league.

Bob Nightengale and others have said that 7 inning doubleheaders and the universal DH will be back in 2021. How they came to that conclusion, I have no idea. So as it stands now, the baseball rules will be as they were before the pandemic in 2019. But like with everything else, everything is subject to change before the season actually starts. Stay tuned.

 

s

New York Mets: Mickey Callaway is Not a Mets Issue, It’s a Baseball Issue

by
New York Mets, Mets, Mickey Callaway

Just two weeks after the New York Mets fired Jared Porter over unsolicited sexual messages; the same scandal surrounds former manager, Mickey Callaway. Major League Baseball has immediately launched an investigation into the allegations against the Los Angeles Angels pitching coach.

Callaway’s past employment links him with the Mets, but this issue encompasses the entire sport. The degrading responses from men regarding women in sports keep this behavior alive. We also cannot forget about the people with power who misuse it. Victims are afraid to come out and speak their truth for many reasons, one being the lack of action taken to punish the abuser.

Bring in More Qualified Women

After watching Mickey Callaway manage for two seasons, it is easy to say that there are plenty of women who would have been a better manager. The biggest challenge is getting those women the opportunities they deserve. Alyssa Nakken, Kim Ng, and Bianca Smith are the beginning of women receiving prominent baseball positions. Their credentials show they deserve their opportunities, but we can only imagine what they have dealt with on their way up.

Combatting this issue is a team effort. When men see or suspect this behavior taking place, there has to be something done about it. Stepping in, reporting it, or doing more than nothing is a way to fight the issue. Working together to keep predators out of the game will allow it to grow in character. Once Callaway is fired, it will be another person kicked out of the game for good. Hopefully, others are not far behind him.

 

The New York Yankees likely won’t have a true starting left fielder in 2021

by
New York Yankees, Clint Frazier

With Spring Training inching closer, the New York Yankees have just one question mark remaining. Despite having one of the most productive off-seasons across the league, the team still doesn’t know who’ll play left field in 2021. The Yankees reportedly tried to snag Michael Brantley in free-agency to fill the position, but he returned to the Houston Astros on a two-year deal. Marcell Ozuna remains on the market, but it’s unlikely the Yankees have space to sign him.

That being said, the Yankees may not have a true starting left fielder in 2021. The team has Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman on the roster in 2021 and will likely re-sign Brett Gardner to a short-term deal. New York has three options for left field, but neither of the three may play every day.

Frazier finally began to piece things together last season, batting .267 with a .905 OPS and a 149 OPS+. His defense made massive strides, even becoming a Gold Glove Award finalist.

Tauchman wasn’t bad in 2020 either, except that his power really lacked. His OBP was just shy of .350, but his slugging was just .305. He had six extra-base hits in 95 at-bats.

Gardner is the veteran player the Yankees need in the clubhouse, but his play has fallen-off significantly over the past couple of seasons. His defense remains reliable, but he bat just .223 with a .747 OPS in 2020.

It could come down to the handedness of the pitcher the Yankees are facing each night. Frazier and Tauchman are both solid against lefties, while Gardner struggles. Frazier’s OPS against lefties is .818, while Tauchman’s is .763 with a .371 OBP.

However, against righties, Frazier’s splits are the best of the three. With a .260 average and a .802 OPS, he bests both Gardner and Tauchman, who both have an OPS below .770.

Each of the three left fielders have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’ll be interesting to see who gets the most playing time. A lot of nights, it may be whoever is the hottest or whoever has the best stats against a given pitcher.

This is all assuming that the Yankees re-sign Brett Gardner, which seems inevitable at this point. However, if the team changes course and decides to let the 13-year veteran walk, the left field situation will be a completely different story.

Baseball’s Hall of Fame Needs To Fix Their Selection Process

by

Tuesday marked the ninth time no players were selected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame since the first class was inducted back in 1936. The BBWAA also set a record with 14 blank ballots because of the controversial Curt Schilling and steroid tied candidates.

Baseball is the only Hall of Fame among the four major sports where only the writers are the judge, the jury, and the executioner. This flawed process allowed writers with bruised or exacerbated egos to severely damage the voting process’s integrity.

Election rules state, “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” Some voters stick to the rules provided while others insert “did I like him?” to the end of that sentence. This year’s fiasco heightens the need for change in the selection process.

By no means is this a rebellion against the writers, considering that I fall into the same category. The issue is that people who never spent a day playing, coaching, or working in the front office of a Major League Baseball team hold the fate of all-time great players in their pens. 

If writers do not have egos, then explain why Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, or Greg Maddux never got 100% of the vote or why certain biases against first-ballot players exist?

Enlist a Committee

It is not a matter of kicking writers off the vote; it is about bringing in the perspective of people who had to play and manage against the considered players. Committees already exist for separate eras, but it should encompass the entire Hall of Fame. The other three major sports use a committee filled with writers, executives, Hall of Famers, and other experts in their respective sports.

Earning a spot on these committees is a thorough process and eliminated the current situation in baseball. Plenty of current voters do not deserve their vote, and plenty of former players have different opinions that would allow deserving players to get their moment in Cooperstown.

Holding a vote from Schilling is reasonable due to his support for a terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol. There are plenty of gray areas for the rest of the ballot. It has been a struggle for “steroid era” players to enter the Hall even though MLB did not implement PED testing until 2004.

Bud Selig was the commissioner during this era and did next to nothing to solve the problem quickly. Selig got his day in Cooperstown, while the players who kept baseball alive might not get theirs. During Selig’s era, taking steroids was as normal as drinking Gatorade in between innings. Even players who did not have the special talents of the potential Hall of Famers were juicing.

It is impossible to describe baseball’s past without these names in the Hall of Fame. When they are enshrined, the steroid conversation does not fade away. It will never be engraved on their plaques, but it will always be attached to their names. Post-2004 abusers like Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano deserve to miss out on enshrinement. They tested positive in an era where mainstream cheating comes in the form of technology.

Players See The Game Differently

Most players and managers would tell you Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens belong in the Hall. If you are against steroid users, ask about Billy Wagner or Jeff Kent; you would get the same results. Instead, all four of them, along with much more, are polling at numbers that will keep them out for the rest of their time on the ballot.

There are plenty of great media members who deserve to keep their vote, but others have egos as large as the players they despise. Some voters are not even covering the sport at the moment. Replacing media members with other baseball voices will bring back lost integrity from the most historic and illustrious sports Hall of Fame.

BREAKING: Cactus League asks MLB to delay start of spring training

by

In an attempt to prioritize public safety in the middle of a pandemic, the Arizona Cactus League urged MLB to delay the start of spring training until at least mid-March. The reason behind the petition is Maricopa County’s high COVID infection rate.

The petition is signed by Bridget Binsbacher, the executive director of the Cactus League; Mayors of several Arizona cities; and other authorities.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Cactus League “has no authority over spring training starting. But the health-and-safety issues remain an unanswered question for MLB and MLBPA. And this is something that is going to need resolution very soon, with spring training set to begin in mid-February.”

The Maricopa County has been hit hard by COVID-19 infections, and the location hosting 10 teams could result in some unwanted consequences that could include players and staffers getting infected.

What will MLB do?

Florida is in a similar scenario, although the Grapefruit League authorities haven’t made any petitions to MLB. There are COVID-19 concerns in several locations in Florida that could potential affect a normal spring training.

In the statement published by the Cactus League, they refer to projection numbers from the University of Washington that says cases should decline by mid-March, at least in theory.

If MLB decides to concede the Cactus League’s petitions, it will obviously mean that the start of the season will be pushed back once again. With pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in about three weeks, any decisions by the league should come very soon.

As a reminder, COVID-19 and a dispute between MLB and the players’ association delayed the start of the 2020 campaign by months, with the show starting in late-July. Such a scenario is unlikely this time around, but the possibility of another late beginning exists. Stay tuned.

MLB News: Update on the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron

by

Earlier in the day, I reported on the death of MLB legend Hank Aaron at the age of 86. At that time, there were few details available. This is an update on that article. The hugely popular baseball player and Hall of Famer died earlier this morning from complications of a massive stroke being suffered. Sympathies are coming from all over the baseball world and beyond. The Atlanta Braves recently released this statement.

“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank,” Terry McGuirk, Braves chairman, said in a statement. “He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.”

Within the hour, MLB Players Association director Tony Clark offered this statement:

“This is a profoundly sad day for baseball and indeed for our entire country. On the field, off the field, for 23 remarkable playing seasons and beyond, Hank Aaron was a Hall of Famer in every sense of the phrase. Generations of players have walked, and will continue to walk, on a trail that Hank Aaron blazed with his determination, courage, singular talent and grace. We send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and legion of fans throughout the game.”

Hank Aaron began his career in baseball in 1951 with the Indianapolis Clowns of the negro leagues. Just seven months after starting with them, he signed with the Boston Braves. When they moved to Milwaukee and eventually to where they are now in Atlanta, he was with the team. He was the first baseball play in history to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

He was a player that transcended the sport. In 1974, Aaron hit home run number 715 in a game against the Dodgers, beating Babe Ruth’s record. He ended his MLB career in 1975 after hitting 755 home runs. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

 

Breaking: Baseball legend Hank Aaron dies at 86

by

It’s a sad day for Major League Baseball; baseball legend Hank Aaron has passed away. The report arises after several Atlanta, Georgia media outlets spoke with a friend of the Aaron family. No details of his death were given. CBS News also reported the death.

Aaron began his career in baseball in 1951 with the Indianapolis Clowns of the negro leagues. Just seven months after starting with them, he signed with the Boston Braves. When they moved to Milwaukee and eventually to where they are now in Atlanta, he was with the team. He was the first baseball play in history to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

He was a player that transcended the sport. In 1974, Aaron hit home run number 715 in a game against the Dodgers, beating Babe Ruth’s record. He ended his MLB career in 1975 after hitting 755 home runs. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com for more details on this story as they become available.

MLB News: Yankee’s Cashman my be good but the Padres Preller has worked magic

by
New York Yankees, Blake Snell

The New York Yankees went out in 2019 and made the biggest heist in baseball, acquiring arguably the best available pitcher in baseball in Gerrit Cole. The year before that, Cashman got a little known player by the name of DJ LeMahieu. Outside of that Yankee general manager, Brian Cashman has little to sing about. When the Yankees were making a run for the 2020 postseason, he did nothing by the trade deadline when the Yankees obviously needed pitching help. This offseason, with the Yankee’s priority being resigning DJ LeMahieu, Cashman got that deal down on the cheap. He also signed pitcher Corey Kluber to a one year deal but has done little else.

The San Diego Padres and their general manager A. J. Preller has been the biggest movers and shakers in baseball for the last two years. Last year by the trade deadline, they signed nearly a whole team of players. Major ones included Mike Clevinger and Greg Allen from Cleveland; Austin Nola, Austin Adams, Dan Altavilla, and Taylor Williams from the Mariners; Jason Castro from the Angels; Mitch Moreland from the Red Sox; and Trevor Rosenthal from the Royals. That’s four relief pitchers, two catchers, one outfielder, first baseman, and starting pitcher apiece. If you’re not doing the math, that’s 26 players to the Yankees zero players.

This year the Padres have become a true contender for the Los Angeles Dodgers, making more headline trades than any other baseball team. First, they traded for the Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell to head up their pitching rotation with Clevinger out for the 2021 season. Next, they traded for the Cubs co ace Yu Darvish. But the Padres weren’t done; they just traded for Joe Musgrove of the Pirates. These trades have given them one of the best starting trios in baseball, plus they will have Clevinger back next season.

In both of these years, the San Diego Padres spent little money but basically traded away their one deep farm system. That pantry is now pretty bare, but the Padres are going for their first World Series, a Championship they have never won.

The San Diego Padres were founded in 1969. Since then, they have had 15 winning seasons. They have won 5 NL West Division titles and two NL pennants. They went to the World Series twice in 1984 and again in 1998 but came away winless. The Padres have been so bad at times that they had become the laughing stock of the National League. Not the case anymore. In 2019 they went 70-92. In 2020 they were 37-22 and came second in the West only to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The fact is that the Padres were a better team last year than the New York Yankees; they were 33-27. General manager A. J. Preller has certainly done his job improving the club big time and turning them into a true contender in the upcoming season. Yet the Yankees have yet to make moves that will improve the team from last year. Although the Yankees have won more World Championships (27) than any other baseball team, they haven’t been World Champions since 2009. That team was built by Gene “Stick” Michael, not Brian Cashman.

MLB wants the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and a runner on second in extra-inning games

by

The 2021 MLB season is starting to take shape. After Liam Hendriks signed with the Chicago White Sox this week, several deals were agreed upon on Friday, including DJ LeMahieu to the Yankees. And now, the owners and the players association are beginning to discuss on-field matters.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, MLB will propose the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning with a runner on second base in 2021 to the union.

From a time of play perspective, both approaches were successful in 2020, and both, especially the seven-inning doubleheaders, will help MLB navigate through potential COVID-related suspension crisis.

Per Nightengale, the MLB Players Association is expected to approve both ideas. But, as you can imagine, they will probably want something back in return.

Will MLB allow the universal DH rule? Will players accept expanded playoffs?

To this point, MLB still doesn’t know whether there will be a universal DH or an expanded postseason with the rosters remaining at 26 players.

As the players want the return of the universal DH rule, and there is goodwill on MLB’s part regarding that specific point, it is expected that both sides reach an agreement as long as the MLB PA agrees to play, once again, with expanded playoffs.

In 2020, the postseason had 16 team, but MLB’s idea this time around is to lower the number to 14, according to Nightengale, “with the best record in each league receiving a first-round bye,” per Rotoworld.

As it turns out, and after an ugly 2020 that had the season pushed back because of coronavirus and some ugly negotiations between MLB and the union, the 2021 campaign is expected to start on time.

Commissioner Rob Manfred recently sent a memo to teams urging them to prepare as if spring training was starting on time in February, so that’s the plan.

MLB: Commissioner tells teams to plan for spring training to start on time and a full 162-game season

by

Too much ink has been spilled in the last eight or nine months explaining how MLB and the players association, together with the COVID-19 pandemic, managed to cut the regular season calendar to 60 games in 2020. For weeks, even months, they couldn’t agree on essential, minimum requirements.

This time, however, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, informed clubs on a conference call Monday that they “should be preparing for spring training to start on time in February and to plan on a full 162-game season being played.”

The threat of the virus hasn’t gone away, but MLB learned a lot about social distancing, health and safety protocols during the 2020 season. And with talks about eventually letting fans into stadiums to enjoy the games, it appears that this time, every factor is pulling in the same direction.

A few weeks ago, reports came out about MLB and its 30 ownership groups hoping to delay the start of the 2021 campaign with the intention of allowing more time for players, personnel, and fans to be vaccinated.

MLB free agents could start signing after the news

Naturally, the MLB players association said it has no interest whatsoever in forfeiting salary for a second consecutive year. Fewer games would mean less revenue, and players losing more money.

According to Rotoworld, the reported conference call could potentially spark some movement on the free agency front, as teams now know that the odds of a full, semi-normal season happening are high.

Indeed, after the reported conference call, the Chicago White Sox made a major signing, filling a need in their bullpen by adding All-Star closer Liam Hendriks to a lucrative three-year deal with an option for a fourth.

With spring training a little over a month away, teams should be starting to look at free agents to fill their roster needs.