CLEVELAND, Ohio -- MLB officially announced its rule changes for 2020 on Wednesday although most of them have been known since last spring.
The one that has caused the most waves, especially for manager Terry Francona, is the three-batter rule. It requires a starter or reliever to face a minimum of three batters. Commissioner Rob Manfred believes this will help his pace of play platform, but it has cramped the style of matchup managers such as Francona and relief specialists whose job it is to retire one batter -- be he right-handed or left-handed -- and then head to the dugout.
The three-batter rule goes into effect on March 12 during spring training games in Arizona and Florida.
Here is a rundown of the rule changes from MLB’s release:
Three-batter minimum: The Official Baseball Rules have been amended to require the starting or any relief pitcher to pitch to a minimum of three batters, including the batter then at bat (or any substitute batter), until such batters are put out or reach base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire crew chief’s judgment, incapacitates him from further play as a pitcher.
Rosters through Aug. 31 and postseason: Active roster limits from Opening Day through Aug. 31 and including postseason games shall be increased from 25 to 26. In addition, clubs will be permitted to carry a maximum of 13 pitchers from Opening Day through Aug. 31 (plus postseason games).
September rosters: From Sept. 1 through the end of the championship season (including any tiebreaker games), all clubs must carry 28 players on the active roster. In addition, clubs will be permitted to carry a maximum of 14 pitchers during this period.
Two-way player designation: Players who qualify as “two-way players” may appear as pitchers during a game without counting toward a club’s pitcher limitations. A player will qualify as a “two-way player” only if he accrues both: (i) at least 20 major league innings pitched; and (ii) at least 20 major league games started (as a position player or designated hitter) with at least three plate appearances in each of those games, in either the current championship season or the prior championship season (for 2020 only, this will include 2019 as well as 2018). The club must designate that player as a “two-way player” in advance of that game. Once a club designates a qualified “two-way player” that designation will remain in effect, and cannot change, for the remainder of that championship season and postseason.
Position players pitching: Any player may appear as a pitcher following the ninth inning of an extra inning game, or in any game in which his team is losing or winning by more than six runs when the player enters as a pitcher.
Extra player rule: The previous “26th player rule” will be replaced with the “27th player rule” for all applicable championship season games prior to Sept. 1. The 27th player shall not count toward any pitcher roster limits described above. Thus, a club may designate 14 pitchers in games under circumstances where the major league rules would permit a 27th active player.
Injured List reinstatements and option period for pitchers: Clubs may not reinstate pitchers or two-way players from the Injured List until 15 days have elapsed from the date of the initial placement for such injury – an increase from 10 days. In addition, the option period for pitchers will be lengthened from 10 days to 15 days.
Reduction in challenge time: Managers will now have up to 20 seconds to challenge a play instead of 30.
Limiting active September rosters has been proposed for years. In the past teams could activate as many as 40 players in September, creating an unfair advantage for some teams.
The injured list for pitchers was increased from 10 to 15 days. Pitchers who are optioned to the minors must stay there for 15 days instead of 10. This is to prevent teams from putting pitchers on the IR with phantom injuries.
The injured list for position players remains at 10 days. If a position player is option to the minors, he only has to stay 10 days.
Last year the active roster was limited to 25 players. Now it has been increased to 26. The rule changes also allow for teams to add a 27th player for certain doubleheaders.
The only rule that was not previously announced was the shortening of a manager’s challenge time for replay reviews from 30 to 20 seconds.
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