PROPOSED RULE:
A three-batter minimum for pitchers
Generally, I’m opposed to most rules that interfere with the natural evolution of the game. This one stinks of artificial manipulation.
Natural evolution has taken the game toward specialization, with the number of pitching appearances that last fewer than three batters reaching an all-time high in 2015 (2,588), more than tripling from 50 years earlier (714). But that number has slowly gone back down the last three years, with many successful teams bucking the trend of using specialized pitchers like a LOOGY (lefty one-out guy) for just one or two batters.
The World Series-winning Red Sox ranked 27th with only 50 pitching appearances lasting fewer than three batters last year, while the Yankees, who have built one of the best bullpens in the game, ranked last with just 36 such appearances.
Alex Cora has voiced his belief that teams don’t need specialized pitchers. The Sox bullpen was, and is currently, stuffed with long relievers and pitchers capable of going multiple innings while facing righties or lefties. Only occasionally will the Sox target a brief matchup advantage; they had seven appearances of fewer than three batters in the postseason (the Dodgers had 18).
But those decisions should be left to each individual manager, giving the teams the right to decide how they want to use their rosters.
To eliminate the option to match up might shave a few minutes off game times, but at the sacrifice of the strategic element. Pinch-hitting may become less important. Saving pitchers for late-game situations will become less frequent. Managers will have less work to do and fewer decisions to make. Alternating lefty-righty in the lineups will be imperative, thus altering optimal roster composition.
To put this rule into effect for 2019, with the offseason nearly over, would be unfair and impractical.