The owners and MLB Players Association are discussing rule changes.

"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Tigers AnalysisDetroit Tigers Prospect NotebookDetroit Tigers Game ThreadsDetroit Tigers NewsDetroit Tigers PodcastsLatest MLB NewsMLB is discussing rule changes again Jed Lowrie Jersey , so let’s rank how much we like themNew,117commentsThe owners and MLB Players Association are discussing rule changes that could take effect as early as 2019.ESTShareTweetShareShareMLB is discussing rule changes again, so let’s rank how much we like themGregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY SportsThe powers that be in Major League Baseball are once again discussing potential rule changes for the upcoming season. I’m not sure why they do this so close to spring training, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the owners and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) have exchanged proposals of various rule changes that the two sides would like to implement, possibly as early as 2019.The highlight of Rosenthal’s article is a proposed rule that would force pitchers to face a minimum of three batters upon entering the game. This would apply to both openers, who became a new fad during the 2018 season, as well as late-inning relievers. Other rules proposed by the league (read: owners) include a reduction in mound visits in both 2019 and 2020, and a 26-man roster for the 2020 season. Baseball also wants to return the minimum time a player can spend on the disabled list to 15 days.The MLBPA responded to baseball’s proposal with a few potential rule changes of their own. The big nugget? A universal designated hitter, something the union has wanted for years now. The MLBPA also voiced concerns about “competitive integrity and service-time manipulation in multi-faceted fashion,” but aside from a vague mention of lowering a team’s draft position if they do not win enough games, did not introduce any specific rule changes on that front.Rosenthal also noted that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to implement a few rule changes he proposed prior to the 2018 season.Including the rules Manfred can put into place at his discretion, lets rank the proposed changes, because the internet demands lists.1. Universal designated hitterThis one will obviously ruffle some feathers, but this is an American League site and we want to see all baseball played at the highest level possible. This means letting pitchers focus on pitching and, watching hitters do their best to turn around all that high-90s heat in today’s game. As Rosenthal notes, pitchers hit an abysmal .115 with a .144 on-base percentage last year. Even with our concerns about what the Tigers are going to do at the DH position in 2019, no one will be that bad.Another short-term plus to this rule change: it would open up a much larger trade market for Nicholas Castellanos http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , who would be a much hotter commodity for National League teams looking to fill a new roster spot in 2019.2. The 26-man rosterIf approved, this rule would not take effect until 2020. However, expanding the everyday roster has been a long overdue change that baseball needs to make, especially as relievers have taken on more specialized roles over the years. Sure, it might slow games down a bit more if teams carry more eight and even nine-man bullpens, but it will also allow clubs to give their stars more rest throughout the year, especially for players — looking at you, Miguel Cabrera — who tend to play through minor aches and pains during the season, potentially to their detriment.Another tweak not mentioned earlier: this rule also includes a reduction of the September roster from 40 players to 28. We are not sure whether this means the full roster, or just a modified “game day roster,” as some have proposed. Either way, this would help speed things along in those mid-September games when a gung-ho manager — looking at you, Robin Ventura — empties his bullpen in search for a meaningless W.3. 20-second pitch clockI’m cool with it. Don’t @ me.4. A three-batter minimum for all pitchersWe’re already into “best of the worst” territory here, and the three-batter minimum gets top billing simply because I don’t think it’s going to have that big of an impact on the game. As Rosenthal noted, only five “openers” faced fewer than three batters during the regular season. Most of those pitchers were tasked with getting through the entire first inning, if not a bit longer, so the rule would not have much (if any) impact on that particular strategy.Even the number of relief appearances affected by this proposed rule seems overstated.Teams and players will do everything they can to skirt around this rule — there will be some sort of “injury clause” to it Walt Weiss Jersey , I’m sure — but of all the remaining rule changes proposed, this one doesn’t seem all that bad.5. Whatever that draft rule is going to beI don’t know if it will have a huge impact on tanking, and it will penalize teams that were accidentally bad — including each of the last three teams to pick No. 1 overall — but I’m interested to see what the MLBPA comes up with on this front. I don’t see any way it gets passed, though.6. The “runner on second base in extra innings” nonsenseThe only reason I didn’t put this rule change at No. 37,249 on our list is because it only seems to be slated for use in spring training (whatevs) and the All-Star Game. Now that the Midsummer Classic is back to being an exhibition like the good man upstairs intended, they can do whatever they want with the extra innings. I’d rather watch the Home Run Derby anyway.7. The reduction in mound visitsTaking away a single mound visit from teams in 2019 isn’t so bad, but reducing a team to just three mound visits by the 2020 season seems like a ridiculous way to address pace of play. There is data showing that the mound visits aren’t the problem, yet baseball continues to offer up half-brained rule changes that will have a minimal effect on how long it takes to play the game. I don’t want to see 20 mound visits a game on either side, but limiting a team to just three seems excessive (and ripe for plenty of shenanigans from catchers around the league).8. A 15-day minimum for the disabled listThis is the one rule I am seriously hoping does not take effect. By reducing the minimum stay on the disabled list to just 10 days, it allowed teams to be more cautious with injured players and rest them for a few days, rather than a player potentially coming back too soon and getting re-injured. Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers (and other teams, probably) took advantage of the rule a bit, but I’d rather see teams game the system than the system be an impediment to players taking care of their bodies. CHICAGO (AP) — With every big swing, every defensive gem all over the infield, Javier Baez is making an argument for NL MVP.It’s turning into quite a case.Baez homered and the Chicago Cubs took advantage of huge mistake by Ryan LaMarre, beating the crosstown White Sox 8-3 on Saturday night to increase their lead in the NL Central.Ben Zobrist added two hits and two RBIs as the Cubs moved 2½ games ahead of second-place Milwaukee. Coupled with the Brewers’ 3-0 loss at Pittsburgh Marcus Semien Jersey , the Cubs lowered their magic number for clinching their third straight division title to six.“We got a long ways to go,” pitcher Jon Lester said when asked about the standings. “I don’t ever want to jump too far ahead on that one.”Lester (17-6) labored through five innings to move into a tie with Washington ace Max Scherzer for the NL lead in wins. The left-hander allowed three runs, two earned, and eight hits in his second straight victory.With the Cubs looking to hold off the hard-charging Brewers, Baez delivered once again. He hit a screaming liner for a two-run homer in the first and a run-scoring single in a three-run ninth. He has 34 homers and an NL-best 110 RBIs.“I feel like I can slow down a little bit and let the game come back to me,” he said, “and the pitchers, make them throw more strikes. That’s what I’ve been doing and it’s been working.”Tim Anderson connected for the White Sox, who lost for the fourth time in six games. Lucas Giolito (10-12) was charged with five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field.Anderson’s leadoff drive in the third tied it at 2 and made him the first shortstop in franchise history with at least 20 homers and 20 steals in a single season. But LaMarre’s defensive miscue in the fifth helped the Cubs grab control.With one out and runners on first and second, Daniel Murphy hit a drive to left field. LaMarre broke in on the ball and it sailed over his head for an RBI double. Zobrist followed with a bouncer up the middle for a two-run single, giving the Cubs a 5-2 lead.“Basically I didn’t think he hit it as well as he did,” LaMarre said. “So I took a couple steps in, lost it in the lights just for a split-second. When it came out, it still had a little bit of steam on it, so it was a misread, a mistake, and I feel terrible.”The White Sox got one back on Matt Davidson’s RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. But Carl Edwards Jr. http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , Jesse Chavez, Justin Wilson and Steve Cishek closed it out for the Cubs, combining for hitless relief after Lester departed.THEY GONEAnderson and White Sox manager Rick Renteria were ejected by umpire Joe West in the ninth after a hard slide by Baez into second helped break up a potential double play. Anderson also committed a throwing error, allowing Zobrist to score.Asked about West, Anderson responded: “I don’t have much to say about him. Everybody knows he’s terrible. But I didn’t say much. He threw me out. It’s OK.”MAKING MOVESThe Cubs selected Mike Freeman’s contract from Triple-A Iowa to provide some infield depth after Addison Russell was placed on administrative leave Friday following fresh allegations of domestic violence from his ex-wife. Russell has said the allegations are “completely false.”Freeman’s wife, Caroline, is pregnant with their first child, a girl. She is due Oct. 1.“She’s been great with it all. Knew this was a possibility,” he said. “I feel like I’m definitely more nervous about it than she was. She was excited for the opportunity and very gracious and very encouraging to me, which is a huge testament to her.”TRAINER’S ROOMCubs: OF Kyle Schwarber (lower back) went 2 for 3 with a walk while serving as the designated hitter for the second straight day. Manager Joe Maddon said he isn’t sure if Schwarber will be ready to play the field when the Cubs open a four-game series against Pittsburgh on Monday.White Sox: INF Leury García was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list. He had been sidelined by a strained left hamstring. … It’s unclear if 1B Jose Abreu will play again this season. Abreu was treated for a right thigh infection at a Cleveland hospital on Tuesday. “We’ll see how it goes in the next few days,” Renteria said.UP NEXTCubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (12-11, 3.58 ERA) and White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (6-6, 3.30 ERA) pitch Sunday in the series finale. Hendricks is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in his last five starts. Rodon has struggled in September, going 0-3 with a 5.25 ERA in four outings.