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Opening Day 2015: Top 5 storylines for 2015 MLB season

By FanSided Staff

Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of Wrigley Field during batting practice prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; MLB newly elected commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at a press conference before game two of the 2014 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; MLB newly elected commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at a press conference before game two of the 2014 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Age of Rob Manfred

Rob Manfred is officially taking over for Bud Selig. And he is doing so by hitting the ground running. Was anything wrong with Bud Selig? Not really. Compared to his professional sporting league commissioner counterpart in Roger Goodell he seems like a complete Saint when it comes to running things. He has acknowledged that baseball needs some changes. So he is doing his best to make some things happen in the MLB.

Manfred has been a strong proponent for adjusting the strike zone in the MLB. There has been an obvious decrease in the amount of offense generated among teams in the baseball. Some think that this has less to do with pitchers getting better and more to do with a strike zone that favors pitchers. Manfred has proposed that the strike zone should be smaller giving hitters a fighting chance to make games a little more run heavy.

Additionally, talks of shortening the amount of time pitchers have to deliver the ball could boost the hitter’s chances. Taking your time on the mound is a clear advantage for pitchers. And Manfred is all about offense. So imposing a pitching shot clock could appear in major league baseball sooner than people think.

Another important rule change that Manfred wants to adopt is having a designated hitter in the National League. It seems that this rule change is talked about almost every year. But with Manfred coming into the picture, it seems that this could be on the agenda to address at some MLB owners meetings in the future. But with neither the AL nor NL really looking to change anything, this could be difficult.

Whatever changes come in the future for MLB baseball could leave quite a legacy for Rob Manfred. The 2015 season will be the first time we see the new commissioner in action and try and see some of these proposed changes potentially come to fruition in 2015.

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