I woke up this morning to an article in my inbox about “The Golden At Bat” which is this: “A manager can use one Golden At-Bat per game to slot their preferred batter into the order for a single at-bat. I’m in the on-deck circle with the bases loaded, and Juan Soto is on the bench. So you simply send Soto to the plate instead of me.“
The Athletic goes on to say: “There are different permutations being discussed. Maybe teams can only use this in the seventh inning or later. Maybe it’s only something a trailing team can use. They’d have to figure out how to adjust the batting order, too. What if Soto’s spot on the card is up after mine? Does he just bat twice? No clear answers here yet.”
Honestly, I have always felt that each team should have a regular DH and a DH who could hit 2-3 times a game for a player without having to take that player out. It’s simple: you can use two or three at bats at any time in the game. Decide on the number (2 or 3?) and then that player can hit at any time. It’s the same for every team and should add more offense. What think you?
Dodger News
- From MLBTR: The Blue Jays are hiring Lou Iannotti to John Schneider’s coaching staff. Iannotti, 32, had been with the Dodgers as a minor league hitting coordinator. A collegiate catcher at Quinnipiac, he had a very brief stint as a professional player in the independent Frontier League. Iannotti quickly moved into coaching in the lowest levels of the Dodgers’ minor league system. He worked his way up to hitting coach for L.A.’s Double-A affiliate before landing the coordinator role that allowed him to oversee multiple minor league levels. This’ll be his first work on an MLB coaching staff. The poaching continues.
The game I’ve loved my whole life will fade into obscurity if Manfraud has his way.
Book em
P.S. Arena league baseball anyone?
Hope to a see little more FA action this week leading into the Winter Meetings. A lot of players still out there.
I read about that rule and it seems to be nonsense, and you can already imagine the amount of negative comments and that this rule is to benefit the Dodgers, they called it the “Othani golden rule.” I personally do not like it, there are too many changes and new rules.
And I take this opportunity to ask something, in one of the many times I’ve seen the video where they score two runs to take the lead in the eighth, why did Edman hit right-handed against Kahnle?
Did it work since he got a hit with a broken bat
He said that sometimes he just feels more comfortable hitting like that… I guess it depends upon the pitcher and the fact that Kahnle conceals the ball well and throws 95% changeups.
They did everything or almost everything perfectly, and Roberts had a lot to do with it, the use of the bullpen, which batter against which pitcher, that’s why it’s incredible and unacceptable that he only received 2 damn votes for manager of the year!
Forget the golden batter. Baseball should follow football and have an offense and defense set of players. Think how much better both the offense and defense would get. And while we’re at it, increase pitch staffs to 40. That way starting pitchers would only pitch once a month, with 10 relievers available per game. That should eliminate arm problems.
I am not sure if you are serious or not…
Change is inevitable.
Look how much basketball and football have changed.
Not serious. But like you say change is inevitable. Football at one time had nothing but 2 way players.
The Golden at bat rule would ruin baseball. I think they would turn the sport into a circus. No thank you
No
This blog and others are populated by a bunch of (grumpy) old men who have seen how it has been done for a hundred years and think it should always be done that way. Baseball has a problem with the younger generation who have lost some of the interest in it. Football and basketball have dramatically changed their rules and the games are better than ever. Change is going to have to come or baseball is going to go the other direction… and frankly… it is!
In 1978, 44 Million People watched the World Series. In 2023, it was 9 Million. With the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series last year, it jumped to $15 Million, but that is way down. If baseball does not do something to change the game and get more young peole interested, it will die when all us oldtimers die.
Change with the times… or die! You are either changing… or dying! That’s life!
By comparison, 123 Million people watched the Super Bowl
It gets worse than that. In 2024, 12.6 million watched the puppy bowl.
Super Bowl has better commercials. I propose allowing one hitter being able to replace one position player. For example your team has a shortstop that’s a gold glove every year but he hits like I would in the majors, minors, little league,etc You also think of a player that can really hit but has an iron skillet as a glove(think Joc Pederson) the hitter hits and the shortstop plays the field. The players association would love it because it creates another job for a player.
“Old grumpy man” I resemble that remark.
Yes you are a more liberal thinking young man Mark (Not). Baseball is still an exciting sport. If you don’t believe me, try getting out of Dodger Stadium after a game.
Get off my lawn!!!
Agreed about the “old men” issue ( I am one of them).
Need to think about the GAB for a bit, my initial thoughts are “no”’, but acknowledge that it would add some excitement to the games.
Another big issues is the disparity in payroll. There should be a minimum payroll per team.
The A’s and a few others make more from revenue sharing then their payroll which isn’t right if the leagues wants to stay relevant.
The A’s only have a few thousands fans show up because the owner doesn’t give a crap about fielding a team, anyone good is always traded, etc. Having an absolute shit-hole of a stadium doesn’t help, but it isn’t the main reason for the lack of fans.
Hard to get kids interested in baseball in the majority of the MLB cities when the teams are perennial loser!
One problem baseball has is it is dull. If you play a sport anything is interesting. My wife was a competitive Racewalker and we found that interesting to watch, but who else would tune that in? Football and basketball is constant action. Baseball you just stand round a lot. Plus a lot of young people don’t watch TV anymore. Plus who wants to play baseball and hope you make it to the majors after 5 years in minors. Other sports the best players play right out of college.
Anyway–Will new gimmicks save baseball???
Does the player who gets the Golden AB also get a Golden Shower afterword? This whole idea seems like a reach. MLB does not have to be reactive in this way.
When is Manfred retiring? I read where he is investigating that the Dodgers have a handshake deal to sign Roki Sasaki. Prove It!
I saw a post today while reading the MLB Trade Rumor chat log that suggested trap doors in the outfield that would open up randomly. Maybe another good idea for baseball.
I don’t like gimmicks. This is that. Bad idea.
Why not just let the team’s best hitter bat every AB. You only need one hitter that way and he will hit a million HR.
I am sure there is some happy compromise.
Your opinion is noted. I used to be a fan of the NFL and NBA but not for a long time. I’m not a fan of multi media entertainment conglomerates which all major sports league are. While the MLB might bite the dust without radical change, so be it
. Baseball is about records, stats and history. So your 100 years is kind of important. If Soto gets 1000 at bats……..no thanks. I wear the grumpy mantle, proudly.
#no to arenabaseball
Book em
Baseball is the way the game was played for hundreds of years Until Manfred showed up Leave the game as it is True baseball fans will come for another 100 years
If the playoff format never changed we probably have at least 11 rings at this point, maybe more.
Well, I have news for most of you.
Since 1978, baseball viewership is down about 75% and plummeting.
The Younger generation does not share our love of the Grand Old Game.
I no longer like the NBA and I follow the NFL less than ever, but we are the old school fools.
If the next geranerations do not embrance baseballlike we did (and they don’t) it is bound for a huge demise.
MLB has to figure something out…
Remember, many of you lost your shit when the DH came to the AL. “By God, it will never come to the NL!!”
Stay relevant my friends.