While it is still unclear if or when Major League Baseball will return due to a financial disagreement between the league and Players Association, several Los Angeles Dodgers players have vowed to be prepared to start whenever they are asked.
In fact, Dodgers players have been very vocal during the league’s shutdown, even coming up with some creative ideas for the 2020 season.
With the season likely being shortened and there being a potential for doubleheaders so they can get in as many games as possible, having enough pitching to get through it will be an issue for some teams.
Justin Turner proposed a solution for that, saying instead of continuing to play extra innings when games are still tied after the 10th, there should be a home run derby to decide the winner, similar to penalty shootouts in both soccer and hockey.
It’s unclear if MLB is considering the option, but a lot of Turner’s teammates and even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed that it could be a good solution at least for the 2020 season. Third base coach Dino Ebel became the latest to agree with Turner, stating in an interview on SportsNet LA that he believes it will help keep fans engaged:
“I’m all in. When I read that, I thought, ‘You know what? It’s a proposal he’s throwing out there to keep the fans in the stadium.’ I know there’s certain nights when we’re winning big or losing big, you look up and the fans are starting to leave the game. But, yes, if it’s tied and we’re in the 10th, 11th or 12th inning, and they want to bring out a home run derby, and the guys want me to throw to them, I would never say no. I look forward to doing that if it ever happens. I think it’s a great idea. It’s going to keep the fans involved and be exciting at the end of the night.”
If the home run derby format were to be adopted, it would be a huge benefit to a team like the Dodgers, who have plenty of players capable of hitting it out of the ballpark.
The Dodgers also have more pitching depth than perhaps any team in baseball, so they are well-equipped for whatever format the league decides to go with for the 2020 season.
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