
BRADENTON (93.7 The FAN) - Whether it be in an effort entertain fans or speed up the game, Major League Baseball is constantly considering different rule changes to the game. This year, you'll see one of those put into place on the field.
Under a new rule, pitchers will have to face a minimum of three batters, meaning you're likely to see less of the bullpen specialists you saw in the past that would come in to face one batter and then be pulled.
Manager Derek Shelton address this new rule and the impact it could have.
"I think how you build your pitching staff of your bullpen, it's surely going to affect it because now left-handers have to get right-handers out and right-handers have to get left-handers out and you can't functionally just say 'You're going to face these two guys.' I think all mangers are probably in a situation right now where they're looking, all organizations are looking at how we're going to attack this."
So does that mean Shelton likes it?
"It's going to be different. Having never managed I can't tell you that I didn't like it the other way. It'll be interesting. It's something I know as a staff and as a baseball-ops group we're talking about a lot, just functionally how it's going to work."
Shelton mentioned the way lefties will now have to face right-handed batters more so I went and talked with one left-handed reliever in the Pirates clubhouse, Sam Howard. Howard was picked up this offseason from the Colorado Rockies and he discussed the impact this will have on him.
"When I saw this rule was coming in to play, to me it's no big deal...Yeah, you try to put lefty specialists on some lefties or whatever, either way you got to go out there and get the job done. If you're going to get two lefties, what's one more hitter?
Howard pointed out another way this rule could impact the game.
"It's definitely going to speed up the game where you can't be bringing in all these relievers back-to-back."
First baseman Josh Bell echoed a similar sentiment about the game potentially speeding up because of this rule
"I like the move, I think it speeds the game up for sure. There's time during the season where you're like, 'Geez, like come on.'"
As for the impact it could have on him at the plate, Bell is choosing to worry more about himself than the pitcher brought in to face him.
"For me, it doesn't really matter. I'm just trying to be locked in from both sides at all time."
Lastly, left fielder Bryan Reynolds had a very Bryan Reynolds-like response to the move. We saw last year that nothing rattles the slugging switch-hitter, and this rule is no exception.
"I don't know how that affects me...They're not going to be able to pinpoint specific matchups, I guess. I don't really think it would impact me as much as it might impact somebody that hits one side."
There is one thing about this rule change you can be sure of, teams are thinking about it and already looking for ways to find an advantage within it.