Post by Cubs GM on Aug 20, 2024 10:21:08 GMT -5
A few seasons ago we changed the rule, or rather added to the rule, regarding pitcher rookie eligibility. The old rule was simply 100 innings, but this approach completely negated relief pitchers. As a result, we implemented the 60 games rule for pitchers regarding rookie status, which I think has been a positive.
This year, we recognized a need to implement a rule change to the mid-season draft which used to only allow players who were under the rookie minimums and on the roster at the all-star break to be eligible. In the past, we also dialed that rule back because MLB teams would often send players down prior to the final series before the break which would greatly diminish the available player pool. This resulted in teams quite often passing on their pick or simply not having much interest. The new rule allowed any rookie player who appeared in at least 1 MLB game to be eligible to be drafted regardless of current roster status.
For the first time that I can remember, this resulted in 100% participation and no "trades" of said pick. This created so much talent being available that we all began to wonder about adding a round to the draft as well.
Currently, the rookie threshold for batters is 400 ABs. This seems an archaic approach at times as we completely disregard games appeared in or worse, the amount of time a batter actually appeared at the plate. Essentially, a rookie batter who walks a lot will have his rookie status prolonged because he won't get credit for an at bat. Which seems silly. Good hitters will typically accumulate 100 or so plate appearances more than at bats during the course of a season.
As a current example I will use David Fry. Fry crossed 400 PA's August 2nd and still only had 343 AB's at the time. Approximately 3 weeks later, Fry is still unavailable with 379 AB's. Using Heliot Ramos as an example, he would have still been draft eligible with 380 PA's at the AS break.
Now, I used Fry as an example and obviously he wasn't going to make a break a playoff race. But what if it's a player who would?
With the new approach of allowing all rookie players who made an appearance during the season to be in the mid-season draft, I think we should consider allowing some players to become eligible before the draft so we can take more prospects during the draft. Although it may not impact the draft by much, it would also allow players to be signed prior to making trade deadline decisions also. Most of all, using at-bats and not plate appearances just doesn't make sense. I know the intent was to mirror MLB but MLB doesn't only use AB's. They also use days on the roster regardless of AB's. That would be too hard to monitor so I think plate appearances makes the most sense.
So for 2025 ...eliminate the 400 at bat standard and change to 400 plate appearances. While not a drastic change, it will make more players eligible faster than they would normally be.
This year, we recognized a need to implement a rule change to the mid-season draft which used to only allow players who were under the rookie minimums and on the roster at the all-star break to be eligible. In the past, we also dialed that rule back because MLB teams would often send players down prior to the final series before the break which would greatly diminish the available player pool. This resulted in teams quite often passing on their pick or simply not having much interest. The new rule allowed any rookie player who appeared in at least 1 MLB game to be eligible to be drafted regardless of current roster status.
For the first time that I can remember, this resulted in 100% participation and no "trades" of said pick. This created so much talent being available that we all began to wonder about adding a round to the draft as well.
Currently, the rookie threshold for batters is 400 ABs. This seems an archaic approach at times as we completely disregard games appeared in or worse, the amount of time a batter actually appeared at the plate. Essentially, a rookie batter who walks a lot will have his rookie status prolonged because he won't get credit for an at bat. Which seems silly. Good hitters will typically accumulate 100 or so plate appearances more than at bats during the course of a season.
As a current example I will use David Fry. Fry crossed 400 PA's August 2nd and still only had 343 AB's at the time. Approximately 3 weeks later, Fry is still unavailable with 379 AB's. Using Heliot Ramos as an example, he would have still been draft eligible with 380 PA's at the AS break.
Now, I used Fry as an example and obviously he wasn't going to make a break a playoff race. But what if it's a player who would?
With the new approach of allowing all rookie players who made an appearance during the season to be in the mid-season draft, I think we should consider allowing some players to become eligible before the draft so we can take more prospects during the draft. Although it may not impact the draft by much, it would also allow players to be signed prior to making trade deadline decisions also. Most of all, using at-bats and not plate appearances just doesn't make sense. I know the intent was to mirror MLB but MLB doesn't only use AB's. They also use days on the roster regardless of AB's. That would be too hard to monitor so I think plate appearances makes the most sense.
So for 2025 ...eliminate the 400 at bat standard and change to 400 plate appearances. While not a drastic change, it will make more players eligible faster than they would normally be.
