Baseball is back, but it’s not exactly business as usual.
The 99-day lockout finally reached a positive conclusion on — a 162-game season in 2022 — but it also led to some changes to what you’ll see on the field this season and when you’ll see it.
First, let’s look at the important dates.
Free agency begins now, as the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified on Thursday afternoon. This should mean the next few weeks should be extremely busy when it comes to player movement on the open market and via trade.
Players can begin reporting to spring training as early as Friday, March 11, but most camps are expected to open on Sunday, March 13. The first slate of games is expected to begin around March 18. The Giants are currently scheduled to play the Padres in Arizona that evening.
Opening Day was originally postponed until April 14, but the MLB announced after the CBA agreement to push that back to April 7, and extend the season by three days. Each team’s first four series —originally canceled — will be rescheduled rather than eliminated. The Giants have an off day on April 7. As of now SF is scheduled to open the season on April 8 vs. the Marlins at Oracle Park.
Now for the rule changes.
Many changes made during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season have been eliminated. Doubleheaders return to being nine-inning affairs as opposed to seven. Extra innings will no longer begin with a runner starting on second base. This will make many purists happy, but also increase average game times.
The universal designated hitter has been implemented in both leagues, meaning pitchers not named Shohei Ohtani will no longer hit.
The postseason has been expanded to include 12 teams, six in each league. The one-game wild card has also been eliminated. The first round will feature three-game series between the No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seeded teams in each league. The higher seed will have all three games played at their home ballpark. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will get a first round bye.
The No. 1 seeds will then play the winners of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup, and the No. 2 seeds will play the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the NLDS. The top seed won’t get to choose their opponent.
The 163rd tiebreak game has also been eliminated. Instead, seeding tiebreakers will be implemented in the event teams finish the year with the same regular season record.
The infield shift, bigger bases and a pitch clock won’t be implemented in 2022. The league bargained for the ability to make in-game rule changes in 45 days, so those changes and others could happen for the 2023 season at the earliest.
Players can now only be optioned a maximum of five times. Last year, the Giants optioned four players at least five times.
It likely won’t affect the Giants in 2022, but the teams with the six worst records will be included in the draft lottery for the amateur draft. This rule is intended to reduce tanking.