In case you didn't already know, I'm pretty excited about the MLB rule changes for this season. I'm especially excited about the three-batter minimum (there was nothing worse than when the top of the seventh took a half hour because they made three pitching changes for five batters) and the fact that pitching staffs will be limited to 13. That means the 26th roster spot every team will have starting this season will likely go to a position player.
As the game became more and more specialized and teams began carrying more and more relievers, the number of spots on the bench became fewer and fewer. And since every team needs a backup catcher, that left them with only two or three other players available. Needless to say, that limited the options (which became even fewer if an AL team was DHing its starting catcher). But, since the 13th player will be a position player, that creates 30 more Major League jobs while also giving teams a lot more lineup versatility.
National League teams, which aren't bound by the DH, will now have five additional bats at their disposal. Just think about the possibilities that creates! And while AL teams don't need to pinch hit nearly as much, they'll have so many more options, too. They can pinch hit or pinch run without worrying about emptying their entire bench to make one move! One extra body can make that much of a difference.
Teams that have full-time DHs were especially limited in what they could do. Their benches, for the most part, consisted of the backup catcher, a utility infielder, and an outfielder who can play all three positions. The regulars essentially had to play every day. And since there weren't DH at bats available, they had to play the field everyday. Not anymore!
There are a number of ways teams can go with the extra position player, and I'm sure they'll all have different strategies for it when they construct their rosters. The days of teams carrying three catchers are probably a thing of the past (although I wouldn't be surprised to see a third catcher get one of the two extra roster spots in September, another long overdue change). But it's not out of the realm of possibility. Especially in the AL, where teams will be able to DH their catcher without worrying about it.
Likewise, National League teams may utilize the extra roster spot on a guy who's primary job is to pinch hit. There used to be those guys--Lee Mazzilli and Lenny Harris come to mind--but they were among the first to go when teams started carrying so many relievers. There is value in it, though. I'll use Jay Bruce as an example. The veteran guy who isn't good enough anymore to be an everyday player, but can still hit. Essentially a National League DH, except only used once in the game.
Thinking about this moving forward, the Edwin Encarnacions and Nelson Cruzes of the world would still be more likely to play for American League teams where they can be permanent DHs. But they wouldn't be limited to just 15 possible teams any longer. Or, more likely, career National Leaguers could latch on (or stay with their existing team) in a reduced role, knowing that their value will be primarily as a pinch hitter.
The professional pinch hitter is one use for the extra roster spot. The third catcher is another. Although, I'd figure most teams will take a different approach. Which is good news for the speedsters and glove guys.
Pinch running is all but nonexistent in the modern game. Not because teams stopped caring about the running game, but because with limited roster spots, you're not going to waste one on a guy who only does one thing (and burn two subs to replace one player). I'm not talking about going back to the 1970s A's who had a guy on the team whose only job was pinch running. But you don't have to keep your big, slow first baseman out there running the bases in the 8th inning of a 5-4 game if you have a speedster on the roster who can go in there to run for him.
Same thing with defensive replacements, who could be the same guy that does the pinch running. In the past, if you were a weak-hitting middle infielder and you wanted to make the team, you'd better have been good defensively at multiple positions. Because otherwise, there was no chance you're making the roster. I'm not saying that versatility will no longer be necessary. But with an extra roster spot, you can carry both that middle infielder AND another first baseman/DH. Or maybe even a second backup outfielder.
I'm curious to see how this will all play out in Spring Training. Because instead of fighting for two roster spots, the potential bench guys will be fighting for three (four in the NL). And 30 different teams will have 30 different approaches for how they want to fill that spot. Some will opt for speed, some will opt for defense, some will opt for more power.
Let's not forget, too, that there's a three-batter minimum for pitchers beginning this season. How much of an impact will that have on roster construction? Because now you can send up that lefty pinch-hitter without the other team automatically countering with a LOOGY. Knowing that, do you build your roster a certain way to regain that late-inning platoon advantage?
It's not just the position-position roster construction that will be different because of the new rules, either. Most teams carried 13 pitchers already, so the eight-man bullpens won't change. But who occupies those spots very well might. Do you still carry that pitcher who used to be your LOOGY now that he'll inevitably have to actually face some righties? Or do you go with someone who's more used to the less-specialized role and can get out both righties and lefties?
Spring Training just started. We're still a long way away from seeing what kind of an impact the new roster rules will have. But they're already making a difference just by their sheer existence. And that difference will be felt from now until October.
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