MLB mulling rule changes

Major League Baseball and its players are discussing bold changes to spark the sport that include a three-batter minimum before a pitching change except at the start of an inning, a single trade deadline set before the all-star break and expanded rosters.

The union renewed its push to extend the designated hitter to the National League, suggested amateur draft incentives for winning records and penalties for losing records, and proposed a change in service-time rules that would lead to faster free agency for top rookies held in the minor leagues early in the season. Management proposed expanding minimum time on the disabled list and optional assignments to the minor leagues to 15 days.

The talks are an expansion of the ones last offseason in which management threatened to implement a pitch clock, then backed off but did institute limits on mound visits without pitching changes. Management made its proposal on Jan. 14, the union responded last Friday.

Management is concerned about a drop in offense that saw strikeouts exceed hits for the first time last year and the big league batting average drop to its lowest level since 1972.

Some of the most interesting changes appear likely to be put off until 2020 at the earliest.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Michigan finished the football recruiting cycle with the top class in the Big Ten and four other conference programs were ranked in the top 25 in the nation on Wednesday.

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh added one player on the second letter-of-intent signing day to a 26-man class that was No. 1 in the Big Ten according to the 247Sports.com.

Penn State coach James Franklin assembled a 23-man class made up of players from 11 states, including three from Florida and one from Oregon. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 2 in the league.

Ohio State slipped to No. 3 during the coaching transition from Urban Meyer to Ryan Day.

Nebraska and Purdue had the top two classes in the Big Ten West.

HOCKEY

Joel L’Esperance scored just 61 seconds into the game and the goal stood up in Texas’ 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday night.

Both goalkeepers combined to stop 56 shots.

Landon Bow blanked the Admirals (22-18-8-1) with

29 saves.

GOLF

Six weeks into the new year, the new set of golf rules have their first adjustment on caddies standing behind their players.

Golf ’s governing bodies released a clarification on the rule aimed at caddies no longer being able to help players line up a shot. The rule now says a player can avoid the penalty if he backs away from his stance and starts over anywhere on the golf course.