1. MiLB Players Agree to MLBPA Union Representation. It has been well documented that minor league ballplayers make significantly below poverty-level wage - often as low as $500 a week - and unlike indy ball, does not cover travel and living expenses. So it really comes as no surprise that a body of people in the thousands would agree to representation in order to make a living wage. What did come as a surprise is that Major League Baseball voluntarily agreed to recognize this unionization. Rob Manfred has publicly maintained since he took office that the MLB antitrust exemption has "improved the lives of minor league players" and is not detrimental to the sport. The acceptance of the MiLB unionization might be a "canary in the coal mine" to try to improve soured relations with the players union, or perhaps in response to increased pressure from Congress to do something about their living conditions. Or maybe this is just all to look good in the media and is really just a rouse. Whatever the motivation, it will be interesting to see where this goes as MLB now infamously owns and controls all of Minor League Baseball, which means they can pretty much do whatever the hell they want anyways.
2. 2023 MLB Schedule. For the first time in the modern era, all teams will play each other at least once in the 2023 slate. Divisional and League play is still weighted, but it is now reduced to 13 divisional games per opponent instead of 19, and 64 against the rest of the league (roughly a 3-game home and away set per opponent). The balance of the schedule will be either a home or away series with every team in the opposing league, with the "rivalry" home-and-home remaining in tact. I of course jumped out of my chair with overaction when I first heard this and shook my fist angrily at the clouds for awhile, but I've come around to liking this new schedule. It gives every fan exposure to every player in the league which in turn helps grow the game with young fans, and it really does balance the schedule for everybody. The NL Central and AL Central teams will have to go out and earn the respect of pundits everywhere and not be able to fall back on weak divisional schedules anymore. I vividly remember times when I blocked out weekends to see Derek Jeter and the Yankees or Mike Trout and the Angels play in Milwaukee because those teams only came here every 6+ years, and you won't have to do that anymore. One overlooked aspect to the schedule next year as well is that every single team plays on July 4th, which is mind-boggling that it's not always the case - it's supposed to be AMERICA'S pastime!
3. MLB Rule Changes. On to Rob Manfred's specialty - tinkering with the game itself. Among the rules that were tested in MiLB and Partner Leagues and will be enforced in MLB as of the 2023 season:
- Pitch Timer Regulations
- Pitchers have 15 seconds with bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on to throw a pitch.
- Hitters must be ready to go with 8 seconds left on the clock.
- Pitcher may only disengage the rubber twice per plate appearance (not including mound visits). A third disengagement must result in a runner being tagged out, or else is called a balk.
- Hitters only get one timeout per plate appearance.
- Umpires may provide additional time at their own discretion.
- Limitations on Defensive Shifts
- Two infielders must be on either side of second base with both feet on the infield dirt at the time of the pitch.
- Infielders cannot switch sides
- No limitation on outfielder shifting or outfielders playing the infield (i.e. 5-man infield in a crucial game situation).
- First, second, and third bases increase from 15" square to 18" square.
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.
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