MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says he is not opposed to returning to 154 games in the regular season at some point.
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The new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has began his tenure by showing his public interest in making changes to the game, if necessary. Most recently he said he was not against banning the defensive shift and now he’s also saying he would be in favor of returning to a 154 game regular season.
“I don’t think length of season is a topic that can’t ever be discussed,” Manfred told ESPN.com. “I don’t think it would be impossible to go back to 154 [games].”
Manfred added that obviously the league already has 154 game seasons on the record book, as well as the current 162, so there would be natural flexibility to return. As compared to going down to less than 154 games, he clarified.
Of course, Manfred says there’s no in-process plans to cut the season short, and similarly to the defensive shift ban, he didn’t say how he would garner favor for the idea or put it into practice. Length in baseball has definitely been in discussion lately, regardless. Last week, the league implemented rules that they hope will cut the average game time, which currently sits at three hours, two minutes, down for 2015. That’s generally supported by everyone, from bored fans to players.
However, trying to take eight games out of the schedule might not get so much support. The switch was made from 154 to 162 in 1961 by the AL and in 1962 by the NL. Eight games less means eight games less of tickets and concession sales from stadiums and eight games less of broadcasting revenue. It’s not huge, but it’s significant in terms of revenue.
On the other hand, less than nine position players played in at least 150 games last year, which is the lowest amount in league history. That gives credence to the fact that players are not easily coasting through 162 games and in fact, not even 154.
As Hard Ball Talk points out, it’s not like this is officially on the table for discussion…yet. However, the fact that Manfred is putting it out there makes it likely to generate at least unofficial discussion, which could lead to something at some point.
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