The Major League Baseball season may be shortened to 60 games but a lot has already happened. Including a lot of changes, the latest reportedly being doubleheader games moving to seven innings instead of the regular nine. Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed the latest news and why it makes sense for the sport from both a time and injury standpoint during this unique season with Max Goodman of InsidethePinstripes.
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00:00 This year's Major League Baseball season will be shorter and it just started, but we've already seen a lot, including a lot of changes.
00:08 And reportedly another one is on the horizon with doubleheaders being shortened to seven innings apiece.
00:14 For more on that, I'm joined by Max Goodman of Inside the Pinstripes.
00:17 Max, what would be the rationale behind shortening the doubleheaders?
00:21 Right, Robin. Well, if there was ever a time to try new things in Major League Baseball, it would be this season.
00:27 We've seen so many different changes from three batters for each pitcher to the expanded postseason and I could go on.
00:34 But the perks of this new rule is because with all the postponements and cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
00:42 we're going to see a lot of doubleheaders this year for the Yankees.
00:45 And I can attest to this as I cover the Yankees, we're going to see that next week.
00:50 The Yankees have three days to play four games against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
00:55 So if they're going to get one doubleheader in instead of playing 18 innings, having them play two seven inning games,
01:02 that just alleviates the amount of innings that they'll need to play.
01:06 It makes it easier on pitchers. We spoke to Adam Adovino the other day, a veteran in the Yankees bullpen.
01:12 And he's he's a little nervous about this because it could marginalize his role as a late inning reliever.
01:18 But I you know, I mean, I'm not really opposed to this from my personal perspective,
01:23 because all you're really doing is just taking the last two innings out.
01:27 If it's still a close game, it'll still be a quality finish to these games, Robin.
01:31 And I think that if it makes the players healthier and prevents injury, then I'm all for it.
01:37 We've already seen a lot of pitching related injuries and we've talked about the pace of play in the past.
01:42 Right. So seven innings would help that the extra innings rules help that.
01:46 So hopefully baseball can continue to have a season to implement all of these new changes.
01:52 Max, appreciate your time, as always. Thanks.
01:56 Thanks.
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