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sports Diaranson 14 Juli 2021

Manfred: Banning defensive shifts would be restoring MLB

“So I’m hopeful without go- ceptivity than we have found en that the rule’s in place, it’s
ing into the specifics of rule to date,” Manfred said. hard to change it midstream
by rule, that we will have Seven-inning doubleheaders because of the competitive
productive conversations and the extra-inning run- impacts. And given the de-
with the MLBPA about — I ners were adopted for the mand we have for the tickets
want to use my words — pandemic-shortened 2020 that are available, we kind of
non-radical changes to the season and kept for 2021. think splits are making the
game that will restore it to best out of a bad situation.
being played in a way that is “I see the extra-inning rule But believe me, I understand
closer to I think what many and the seven-inning dou- it’s not perfect from the fans’
of us enjoy historically. bleheader as rules that were perspective and we’re wor-
adopted based on medical ried about that.”
“Remember, the game advice to deal with COVID,”
evolves, right? What we play Manfred said. “I think they Manfred said the crackdown
today don’t look all that much are much less likely to be- on the use of foreign sub-
like 1971. And the question come part of our permanent stances on balls had been a

(AP) — Banning or limit- or get it,” he said. is, which version would you landscape than some of the success since umpires started
ing defensive shifts would like to get to?” other rules that we’ve talked checking all pitchers on June
about over time that relate to 21.
be an effort to restore Manfred said MLB was con-
Major League Baseball to sidering having umpires ex- MLB is trying an experi- sort of how the game’s being “I think the substance checks
ment this year at Double-A played.”
how it was played before plain video review decisions
offense was suffocated to fans at ballparks over the requiring infielders to keep have been an important step
by analytics, according to public-address system, simi- both feet within the outer Some fans have felt short- forward for the game,” he
baseball Commissioner lar to the procedure in the boundary of the infield dirt changed when they paid full said. “I think that enforcing
Rob Manfred. NFL. at the start of every play, but price for tickets for separate- our rules is really important.
not preventing three or more admission games as part of They’re on the books. They
Speaking before Tuesday’s MLB’s collective bargaining defenders to either side of seven-inning doubleheaders. should be enforced. Equally
All-Star Game to the Base- agreement with the players’ second base. Triple-A is using important, I think that the
ball Writers’ Association of association expires Dec. 1. 18-by-18-inch bases rather “At the point in time we ad- process has already shown
America, Manfred said sev- than the traditional 15-by- opted seven-inning double- very promising effects in
en-inning doubleheaders and “Let’s just say you regulated 15-inch. headers for this year, we terms of the play of the game
starting extra innings with the shift by requiring two didn’t know that the country on the field: batting average,
runners on second base likely infielders each side of sec- Management has the right to was going to look like it looks slugging percentage, all those
will be dropped after this sea- ond base. What does that change major league playing right now,” Manfred said. “As offensive categories have im-
son. do? It makes the game look rules with an agreement with a matter of fact, we were re- proved. Strikeouts are down.
like what it looked like when the union, or MLB can im- ally scared that it was going to Base on balls are down. We
He said extending the desig- I was 12 years old,” he said. plement changes unilaterally look very, very differently. If I have not seen any material
nated hitter to the National “It’s not change. It’s kind of with one year of advance no- knew it was going to be like increase in players being hit
League could be possible, but restoration, right? That’s why tice. Manfred has been reluc- this, might we have done dif- by pitches. Those are all huge
not definite. people are in favor of it. And tant to change playing rules ferent rules? Maybe. positives for us.”
they do believe, I think front absent an agreement.
“I think it would be a non- offices in general believe it “And again, last year when He said the crackdown “is a
radical change, but I’m not would have a positive effect “We’re hopeful that in the we used them because there step along the road to a re-
turn to a more entertaining
going to speculate on wheth- on the play of the game. context of the CBA negotia- were no fans, they were tra-
er we’re going to propose it tions, we will find more re- ditional doubleheaders. Giv- form of baseball.”

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne retiring after 15 seasons

(AP) — Pekka Rinne made Henrik Lundqvist (65).
sure to stick around Nash-
ville longer than usual af- His career goals-against aver-
ter the season ended with age of 2.43 is tied for fourth
the Predators’ first-round best among goalies with at
playoff exit. least 350 wins in NHL his-
tory behind only Dominik
The 2018 Vezina Trophy Hasek, Martin Brodeur and
winner needed time to make Jacques Plante. He also is one
a very tough decision to retire of 12 goalies in NHL history
after 15 seasons. with at least 350 wins and 60
shutouts.
“There were two options,”
Rinne said Tuesday at a news Rinne had three 40-win sea-
conference. “Either retire or sons, which is tied for second
either continue playing with most in NHL history; he is
the Predators. And I appreci- one of seven goalies to reach
ate (GM) David (Poile) and that mark.
everybody else for giving me
enough time to make this de- A four-time Vezina finalist
cision on my own and make a and twice runner-up, Rinne
decision that I feel is the right went 369-213-75 in his ca-
tone. And deep down I do reer after being the 258th pick
feel that.” Players’ Tribune. that.” tied Tom Barrasso for No. overall in the eighth round of
“It’s been an unbelievable 19 in NHL history with his the 2004 draft. The native of
Rinne, 38, announced his journey,” Rinne said. “I feel He made his last start on 369th victory. That also was Kempele, Finland, also has
decision Tuesday morn- like you need so much luck May 10 in Nashville’s regu- his 60th career shutout, third the most games played, victo-
ing through a release by the on your side too along the lar-season finale, a 5-0 win among active goalies behind ries and shutouts by a Finnish
Predators and a post on The way, and I feel like I’ve had over Carolina in which he Marc-Andre Fleury (66) and goalie in NHL history.