MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred met the media, after the owners meeting today and touched on numerous topics, from Pete Rose lobbying for the Hall of Fame, to collusion, franchises and rules changes.
Rules changes are what caught my eye. Of course, MLB is instituting changes next season, from restrictions on the shift to the pitch clock, pick off attempts and the number of times a batter can step out of the batter’s box. But according to The Athletic (paywall), the commissioner says MLB is considering rules changes for 2024 as well, “but Manfred did not want to float ideas at this stage.”
My hunch is one of the changes will be the highly anticipated automatted strike zone. Baseball will step up its experimentation with the technology in the minor leagues in 2023. Without being critical of umpires, who have a difficult job, this past post season is proof the time has come to utilize the technology in some form.
With betting on games more prevalent than ever and being pushed by MLB, getting the call correct is a must, especially with billions being generated by wagers on games. Although the commissioner is mum on what’s next in rule changes, the betting here is the strike zone is the favorite to head the list for 2024.
