New rules here to stay?
Q: Greetings Patrick, of the different rule changes that still apply in 2021, which do you think will stay? I have come to like the seven-inning doubleheader, and the runner on second base. I was hoping the universal designated hitter would stick. Being an old guy (go figure), I have come around to “change.” Thank you.
— Robert Emmerling, Limon
Patrick: Hey Robert, I think all of the rule changes will stay in place. I think fans, players and ownership like them. If any of them go away after 2021, I would imagine it would be the seven-inning doubleheader, in part because baseball plays relatively few doubleheaders.
But here’s a thought: In an attempt to shrink the length of the season and make sure the World Series doesn’t run into November, why not schedule a few seven-inning double headers throughout the season?
As for the DH, I think it’s a given that it will be incorporated into the National League when the new collective bargaining agreement is discussed after the current season.
Q: I entered 2021 with few expectations for C.J. Cron and yet I’m still disappointed. He’s been lackluster at the plate and his fielding is suspect. Isn’t there a better option? I’d rather see Josh Fuentes over at first, Ryan McMahon at third, bring Garrett Hampson to second and give either Sam Hilliard or Yonathan Daza more of a shot in the outfield.
— Gregory Stephenson, Lakewood
Patrick: Gregory, Cron has been a big disappointment, but we’re only 16 games into the season, so I think it’s too early to write him off. He looked really good in spring training and I don’t think his skills simply evaporated once the regular season started.
I agree that Fuentes is a better first baseman than Cron, but Fuentes is not hitting well either. He’s batting .176 with nine RBIs vs. Cron’s .182 average and three RBIs. Hilliard is really struggling: .103 average, four RBIs.
Daza, who’s hitting .350 (7-for-20) in limited action, is an excellent fielder. He deserves more playing time to show what he can do.
But overall, the Rockies really are stuck in a hard place.
Q: We need to get Tony Wolters back as soon as possible. Do you think this will happen? He works so well with the pitchers. He will get his hits I’m sure of it.
— Linda, Gainesville, Ga.
Patrick: Linda, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.
Wolters’ offensive struggles have continued, first with the Pirates and then with the Cubs. He opted out with the Pirates and signed on with the Cubs as a backup to Wilson Contreras.
Wolters played in just three games for Chicago and went 0-for-4 before he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and is still in the Cubs’ organization.
Q; Patrick, with two seven-inning games scheduled, I wonder if seven-inning perfect games or no-hitters count the same in the record books as nine-inning perfect games or no hitters. Or, are we talking about new analytics?
—Judy, Denver
Patrick: Judy, here is what I found: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Major League Baseball’s official statistician, neither a team nor an individual pitcher will be credited with a no-no in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader — unless that game goes to extras. If the contest extends to at least nine innings and that pitcher (or a team’s group of pitchers) has still not allowed a hit, then it goes down in the history books as a no-no.