Prior to the New York Yankee vs Washington Nationals game just a few days ago, (July 23) Major League Baseball had not played a game since the 2019 World Series ended, a span of 266 days, the longest baseball drought in major league history. COVID-19 has caused the Minnesota Twins to miss 105 games before they opened the season on July 24 in Chicago against the White Sox in a season like none of us have ever seen before.
The 2020 MLB season will be just 60 games long, a sprint and not a marathon like we are used too watching in a season that usually lasts 162 games. The changes in MLB this season are mind boggling starting with the fact that the games will be played with no fans in the stands. The Toronto Blue Jays can’t play their home games in Toronto. There is no minor league baseball in 2020. Sixteen teams will make the play-offs. Opening day rosters have 30 players, a couple weeks later they drop to 28 and then a couple weeks after that they drop to 26. No traveling announcers, they will work out of the home ballparks, official scorekeepers will do their work from home by watching games on television with some special feed links.
To limit travel, teams will play teams in their own division and teams from the same division in the opposite league. In the Twins case they play teams from the American League Central Division and the National League Central Division.
Let’s take a look at some more changes. The three-batter minimum, a rule change that was instituted this past offseason, will remain in place. It requires pitchers to face at least three batters or pitch to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries and illnesses.
Universal designated hitter
While the American League adopted the DH rule in 1973, pitchers have continued to hit in games played at National League ballparks. That won’t be the case in 2020, as both leagues will use the DH to avoid overtaxing pitchers by having them hit.
Runner on second to begin extra innings
During the regular season, every half-inning after the ninth will begin with a runner on second base. If that runner scores, the pitcher won’t be charged with an earned run. The runner placed on second base at the start of each half-inning will be the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter, or a pinch-runner. However, if the player in the batting order immediately preceding that half-inning’s leadoff hitter is the pitcher, the runner placed on second base may be the player preceding the pitcher in the batting order. This rule will not be in place for the postseason. Over the past five years, 8.26% of all regular-season games have gone to extra innings. There were 208 extra-innings games in the 2019 regular season, counting for 8.56% of all games.
Position players pitching
There will be no restrictions on position players pitching in 2020. A rule change installed this past offseason would have required teams to designate every player on the active roster as either a pitcher or a position player, and position players would have been unable to pitch unless it was extra innings, their team was ahead or trailing by more than six runs, or they had qualified for the “two-way” designation. That rule won’t be in place during the 2020 season.
Suspended games
If weather forces a game to be cut short before it is official, it will be continued at a later date rather than started from scratch.
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Players and managers will be expected to maintain physical distance from all umpires and opposing players on the playing field whenever possible. Players or managers who leave their position to argue with umpires, come within six feet of an umpire or opposing player or manager for the purpose of argument, or engage in an altercation on the field will be subject to immediate ejection and discipline, including a fine and a suspension. Discipline will be consistent with past precedent, and shall not be reduced or prorated based on the length of the season.
Wet rag
Pitchers will be permitted to carry a small wet rag in their back pocket to be used for moisture in lieu of licking their fingers. Pitchers will not be able to access the rag while on the rubber, and they must clearly wipe the fingers of their pitching hand dry before touching the ball or the rubber. Water is the only substance that will be allowed on the rag.
No Spitting
There’s also a ban on spitting, which many baseball players do conspicuously. Spitting, “including but not limited to saliva, sunflower seeds or peanut shells, or tobacco,” is prohibited.
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The Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster can be seen here.
I was concerned that there wouldn’t be any major league baseball this year as the bickering between MLB and the players association went on and on. I know I don’t like the idea of a 60 game season, just too short to determine a real winner but then again maybe some baseball is better than no baseball. If someone hits .400 this year or wins a triple crown it won’t measure up in my book, but then again, in my book Hank Aaron is still the home run king. I guess I am just an old cuss that likes old style baseball over todays baseball but it is what it is. Before you jump all over me for saying that, just remember that you are getting older every day and you too if you are lucky enough might just have the same opinion down the line. My biggest concern is that even the 60 game schedule will not be completed due to COVID-19 and all this work, risk and excitement will be for naught. I hope that I am wrong and that the season will get played to its entirety including the 16 team (OMG) playoffs. Sadly even after all that and a winner is finally crowned, I will say OK, but they only played a 60 game season so they don’t compare to all the other winners. I will say that even if the Minnesota Twins are the last team standing.
I have watched the games the Twins and White Sox have played so far, the Twins scored 10 in game 1, the White Sox scored 10 in game 2 and the Twins already have 10 on the board in game 3 and it is only in the fifth inning, so much for the pitchers being ahead of the hitters this year. Then again Guaranteed Rate Field is kind of a bandbox anyway.
In spite of all of this I will keep watching the Twins and keeping this website updated. Enjoy the season folks, with the way things are now days we need to find happiness and enjoyment someplace. If you get a chance, drop by this site again and let me know what you think. Go Twins!