As we know, the new regulations introduced by Major League Baseball are essentially aimed at reducing lengths and raising the level of spectacle by favoring the offensive.
After about fifty games, the results are going in this direction, but it is the pitchers who pay the price.
According to super agent Scott Boras, they need to be better protected by allowing teams to field more players.
Currently, Major League rosters cannot have more than 26 players, including a maximum of 13 pitchers. Boras suggests raising the cap to 27 or 28 players in uniform to allow managers to have more arms available to deal with the pressure resulting from the new rules.
Since the start of the season, starting pitchers have struggled to make it past the fifth inning mainly because of the dial forcing them to pick up their pace.
Boras, who counts Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer among his clients, fears pitchers will end up burnt out and more prone to serious injury.
In his position, he has every interest in protecting his clients so that they can have long and lucrative careers.
Having 14 or 15 pitchers on hand would allow managers to better manage their presence and thus ensure that starters are kept in a better state of mind and in better health.
However, such a change would represent the addition of thirty or even sixty pitchers in the Majors. The risk of seeing the quality of the gunners be diminished is a reality with which we must deal. This certainly does not sit well with team owners who want a better show in order to fill the stands and make more profits.
One thing is certain, the Boras proposal will not be echoed this season and major league baseball authorities will continue to see the results of their changes with delight.
