Nats should be pleased with widening of runner's lane by MLB

Davey Martinez argues Houston

The Trea Turner Rule is finally getting amended. Not eliminated altogether, but amended in a way that should at least somewhat appease the star shortstop and Nationals manager Davey Martinez after both were burned by it multiple times in the past.

Major League Baseball announced a series of rule changes for the 2024 season Thursday afternoon, and the most notable one for anyone with current or recent ties to the Nats surely was the alteration to the first base running lane.

The runner’s lane will now be widened to include the dirt area between the foul line and the infield grass, MLB announced. In other words, a batter-runner will now be permitted to run in fair territory as long as he stays on the dirt and doesn’t venture onto the infield grass.

Because dirt cutouts aren’t universal across baseball, there will be some leeway for dimensions. The distance between the foul line and the infield grass will be between 18 and 24 inches in every MLB park, with some limited grace periods granted due to difficulty in modifying fields (such as ballparks that use artificial turf).

“Widening the lane allows batters to take a more direct path to first base while retaining protection from interference,” the league said in announcing the change.

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Agent says Povich has "goals and he’s doing everything the right way to get there"

Cade Povich Bowie 3

MLB Pipeline’s top 30 prospects lists won’t be updated for a few more months. The highest-ranked Orioles pitcher is Chayce McDermott at No. 10. Two-thirds of the group are position players.

Right behind McDermott, the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, is left-hander Cade Povich, the former third-round draft pick of the Twins who was part of the trade package for reliever Jorge López in 2022.

A lopsided deal, for sure, considering that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias also got future All-Star reliever Yennier Cano and low minors reliever Juan Nuñez, ranked 28th in the system. Elias claimed López off waivers in September before the right-hander’s release and signing with the Mets.

Povich, 23, averaged 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings this summer between Double-A Bowie (18 starts) and Triple-A Norfolk (10), but also 4.7 walks. His final numbers, including a 5.04 ERA, didn’t tell the whole story.

Within the inconsistency to Povich’s season are the five scoreless innings against Double-A Akron, Richmond and Harrisburg within his first six starts, and seven shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and 13 strikeouts against Richmond on June 15.

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Baseball's latest effort to get more action in the game (plus O's notes)

Baseball's latest effort to get more action in the game (plus O's notes)
Major League Baseball is a taking a distance that was kind of sacred in baseball and changing it later this year. Not in the American League or the National League, but in August in the independent Atlantic League. That is when 60 feet, six inches becomes 61 feet, six inches. MLB will experiment with one of its partner leagues when its second half starts Aug. 3. The pitching rubber will be moved back one foot in the Atlantic League. This is expected to lead to more balls put in play, fewer...
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Experimental rules coming to the farm during 2021 season

Experimental rules coming to the farm during 2021 season
When minor league baseball begins in May, there will be some changes with new rules. It's Major League Baseball's attempt to look at new rules on the farm to see if they want to bring them to the big leagues. MLB said it would "closely monitor and analyze the impact of each rule change throughout the 2021 season and report to clubs on their effects for further analysis. Consistent with the preferences of our fans, the rule changes being tested are designed to increase action on the...
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Will some MLB rule changes be used again in 2021?

Will some MLB rule changes be used again in 2021?
Today is sort of a follow-up on yesterday's entry, where we discussed whether defensive shifts should be eliminated or at least reduced. Today I pledge my personal support for two rules I would like to see continue in 2021. And maybe just in 2021. The current collective bargaining agreement runs through the coming season. Why not take another look at some of these rules and then decide whether they stick around more long-term starting in 2022. See what they look like through 162 games - or...
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After Dodgers eclipse Rays in World Series, what's next for baseball?

After Dodgers eclipse Rays in World Series, what's next for baseball?
The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Clayton Kershaw are finally celebrating a World Series victory, the franchise's first since 1988, the year the Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics. Dodgers infielder Justin Turner tested positive for COVID-19 and is under investigation by Major League Baseball for joining teammates in the on-field celebration. How fitting is that for the coronavirus season? So what's next? There's always second-guessing, trade and free agent talk, and discussion about how...
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Manfred: Investigation of Astros on sign stealing continues toward uncertain discipline

Manfred: Investigation of Astros on sign stealing continues toward uncertain discipline
SAN DIEGO - Evev though Major League Baseball has interviewed 60 witnesses, and read 76,000 emails and troves of instant messages investigating the Astros' alleged electronic sign stealing, commissioner Rob Manfred isn't sure when the investigation will finish and what the appropriate discipline will be. "The review has caused us to conclude that we have to some followup interviewing," Manfred said at a Winter Meetings press conference Wednesday at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. "It is my...
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Some thoughts on new rules being implemented for 2019, 2020

Some thoughts on new rules being implemented for 2019, 2020
Baseball in 2020 will be finally getting rid of the most confusing rule in the game: the waiver rule that allows teams to make trades - even after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. What good is a July 31 trade deadline if teams can use a convoluted rule to make trades anyway? In 2019, the old system will stay in place. Teams can make any trades they see fit before the July 31 trade deadline. This season will be the final August that a team can trade a player after he clears waivers. It's...
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Will proposed rules changes help commissioner speed up the game?

Will proposed rules changes help commissioner speed up the game?
Major League Baseball is getting serious about quickening the pace of a game. And, MLB isn't just talking about cutting a few minutes here and there. The idea is to get away from games that drag for three hours. It's better to get the average time of game down to 2 hours, 30 minutes. MLB is discussing several rule changes with the players association. ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that his sources say that owners and players are thinking about a variety of ideas and rule changes that would...
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