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Around the Horn: An International Draft?

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WBC Champs Dominican Republic. Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters.

WBC Champs Dominican Republic. Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters.

Over the past couple of years, Major League Baseball officials have talked about instituting an international draft, or making the current Rule 4 Draft open to international players. Since we posted our first mock draft of the 2013 season, we are now tackling the idea of an international draft in baseball.

Many believe that an international draft is very close to occurring because of the new restrictions placed on international spending for amateur free agents who are not eligible for the draft in the United States. The new restrictions on signing bonuses take effect on June 1, 2013, but an international draft would not occur until at least 2014 if it is approved. [Read more…]

Around the Horn: A Look at the MLB Playoffs from 1995 to 2009

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Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Baseball has seen its fair share of renovations and realignments over the past three decades, but one of the most significant changes in the history of the game came in 1995 when commissioner Bud Selig put a whole new spin on the way the league would operate.

1995 saw the creation of a new division in each league and a Wild Card in each league. The Wild Card in each league also led to a second round being added to the playoffs.

The League Championship series was added to baseball’s post-season play in 1969. That meant that the top two teams in each league had to play a best of five series before advancing to the World Series. Since the addition of the Wild Card team in each league the Championship Series has been changed to a best of seven format and the Division Series was added to the playoff roster. This new round (in 1995) is a best of five series. [Read more…]

Around the Horn: Forget Instant Replay

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Yet again, the umpires across Major League Baseball have added fuel to the instant replay fire across the country during these 2009 playoffs. The crews who worked all four League Division Series and the two League Championship Series have missed call after call at first, second, third and at home when it comes to balls and strikes.

Just because the umpires have struggled mightily this fall does not mean that instant replay should be expanded to include more of the game than it already does. [Read more…]

Around the Horn: Players Who Need to Call it Quits

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We have finally hit the month of October, which means the playoffs have finally arrived, and three of four teams have already reached the League Championship Series (Dodgers, Angels, Yankees). Every off-season brings important decisions from front office personnel, on-field staff members, and players alike.

One of the hardest decisions for some players to make (see Brett Favre of the NFL) is whether or not to end their playing career. Once you make it to the Majors, if you pitch or hit well enough, you will hang around for a long time. [Read more…]

Around the Horn: Time to Change the Draft

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After the signing deadline spectacle came and went on Monday night I sat back and pondered about previous draft signing deadlines and how much money has been spent on draft picks over the years.

Let’s not forget that these players have yet to step foot on a professional baseball field and throw one pitch or record one at-bat with a professional team but they still obtain million dollar contracts and million dollar signing bonuses right out of high school and/or college. Bud Selig, the game’s commissioner, needs to revamp the draft and how much money can be spent on draft picks. [Read more…]