MLB rules

WISE Sports Radio baseball: Pitch clock, no shifts, Braves peak, Yankees concerns, Giants’ downward turn

/ Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

After a week off for Labor Day and schedule switcheroos, we’re back for a baseball segment on Asheville’s WISE Sports Radio. And we’re just in time to discuss new rules changes in baseball, including a (much-needed) pitch clock, getting rid of the defensive shift, and larger bases on the field.

Our conversation also includes asking whether the Atlanta Braves peaked too early in their surge up the National League East standings, the New York Yankees’ recent struggles, the downward turn of the San Francisco Giants, and the future of Tony La Russa as Chicago White Sox manager.

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WISE Sports Radio baseball clip: Hector Santiago is Major League Baseball’s first sticky-stuff guy

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Unfortunately, I botched the recording of our WISE Sports Radio baseball segment. I had my computer doing too many things and it took memory away from the recording app.

But the opening part of the segment where we discussed Seattle Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago getting caught with a sticky substance in his glove by umpires resulted in him being ejected. With that, Santiago is the first pitcher penalized under MLB’s new crackdown on foreign substances and draws a 10-game suspension.

You can stream The WISE Guys from 3 to 6 p.m. ET on wisesportsradio.com (courtesy of Mars Hill University) or the TuneIn app. Locally in the Asheville area, dial up 1310 or 970 AM and 102.9 FM. And thanks to Happy Hill Restaurant for sponsoring the MLB segment.

WISE Sports Radio baseball talk: Mets-Phillies rivalry, Bryce Harper’s face, and Jesus Luzardo’s pinky finger

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The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies could be giving us another good baseball rivalry. On WISE Sports Radio, we discuss this past weekend’s series where tensions heated up between the two clubs.

Also, how is Phillies slugger Bryce Harper after taking a pitch to the face? How absurd is MLB’s three-batter rule for relief pitchers? And baseball’s amusing history of strange injuries has a new entry, thanks to Oakland A’s pitcher Jesus Luzardo.

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WISE Sports Radio baseball talk: New rules! Well, maybe. And other news

/ Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

Broadcasting from Asheville, North Carolina, Major League Baseball’s initiative to shrink the minor leagues cut close to home with the Asheville Tourists in town. The Tourists were apparently never in danger of losing MLB affiliation, but did switch parent clubs from the Colorado Rockies to the Houston Astros. And they moved up a level from low-Single A to high-A.

Another factor in MLB wanting more control was the ability to use the minor leagues as a testing lab for the many rules changes the sport is considering. On WISE Sports Radio‘s weekly baseball segment, Pat Ryan and I discussed several of the new rules we’ll see in the minors this year, some of which will surely be seen in the majors soon.

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WISE Sports Radio MLB hit: Dec. 18, 2019

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For Wednesday’s WISE Sports Radio baseball segment, Pat Ryan and I focused largely on Major League Baseball’s new rule that mandates pitchers must face at least three batters (or pitch to the end of an inning) when they’re brought into a game.

How that could affect game strategy and roster construction were part of our conversation, in addition to trades that could still be made, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona getting back some treasured keepsakes, and the Detroit Tigers finally deciding to retire Lou Whitaker’s No. 1 jersey next year.

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