Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18
Wednesday 18 July 2018

As MLB

mulls rule NATIONALS

changes,

union hints TREASURE

at work

stoppage

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ma-
jor League Baseball wants
a broad discussion with
players about rule chang-
es to combat decreased
offense and longer games,
an initiative likely to be met
by a testy union stung by
declining free-agent pric-
es and already raising the
possibility of a work stop-
page after the 2021 sea-
son.
Commissioner Rob Man-
fred and players’ associa-
tion head Tony Clark out-
lined their differing agen-
das during separate ses-
sions with the Baseball Writ-
ers’ Association of America
before Tuesday night’s All-
Star Game.
“There is a growing con-
sensus or maybe even bet-
ter an existing consensus
among ownership that we
need to have a really seri-
ous conversation about
making some changes to
the way the game is be-
ing played,” Manfred said.
“We are not at the point Harper wins Home Run
where I can articulate for
you what particular rule
changes might get serious Derby at Nationals Park
consideration. I can tell
you the issues that concern
people: I think that the pe-
riod of time between put- Washington Nationals Bryce Harper (34) celebrates his
ting balls in play, the num-
ber of strikeouts, to a lesser winning hit during the Major League Baseball Home
extent the number of home Run Derby, Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington.
runs, the significance of the Associated Press
shift and what it’s done to
the game, the use of relief Page 20
pitchers and the way start-
ing pitchers are going to
be used.”

Continued on Page 21