Atlanta Braves: Let’s level the playing field

Baseball changes at least 1 rule almost yearly. However, it is usually something small and something that won’t alter the game in much detail. With that being said, it looks like the next set of rule changes will change the game dramatically though, especially for the Atlanta Braves.

Ken Rosenthal posted an article last night outlining talks and changes that the league is looking into. Some could affect the Atlanta Braves quite a bit:

To recap, some of the item’s being discussed include

• Having the NL adopt the DH as SOON as the 2019 season
• Having a Relief Pitcher face a minimum of 3 batters upon entering the game
• Implementing fewer mound visits throughout a game
• Expanding Rosters to 26 players
• Limiting September Rosters to 28 players

Obviously, these rules will most likely anger purists and make no difference to the younger generation of fans. These rules are being looked at by the commissioner’s office because he is highly motivated to speed the game up (Why that is his main concern is a different topic).

I’m going to let someone else if they wish to write something about the bullpen guys having to face 3 batters at a minimum. My main focus point here is the Universal DH rule being looked at.

I’m not going to say whether I am for the NL adopting the DH or not. What I will say is, it is extremely unfair in my opinion that the AL has the DH. I think whether you add it to the NL or take it away from the AL, it has to be done to even out the playing field. Let’s be honest though, they are never going to take it away from the AL because, without it, we don’t have David Ortiz or Nelson Cruz for all these years.

The other part of this equation that is totally wrong is they should never begin any of these rules in 2019. We are way too far along where that should even be considered. If that is the case, all NL teams should be furious as it would have opened the door for a ton more free agents to look at back at the beginning of the offseason.

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The DH rule was implemented in 1973 on a trial basis and obviously, the American League decided to keep it on a full-time basis. Interleague play was introduced in 1997 and following the 2018 season, the American League holds an all-time record of 3,032 to 2,732 versus the National League.

The American League has almost won 60% of the World Series as well since that time. The two major disadvantages I see with it are the fact that AL teams can give hitters a longer contract than NL teams can due to the fact that the last couple years on that contract, they can serve as the team’s DH. Also, when a team like the Braves go to Yankees Stadium or Fenway Park and we have to use Tyler Flowers as the DH because NL teams aren’t made that way is a big advantage to the American League team in my opinion.

So as we all know, interleague play is now year round and I think it’s only fair if the rules were the exact same for everybody. No other league has different rules for the Eastern and Western conferences, why should Baseball be any different?

So that’s how I view it and I would love to hear your thought’s on these potential game-changing rules and how they impact the Atlanta Braves. Let us hear you below!