3 Things You Should Know About the MLB 2022 Season
The MLB lockout recently ended, which means that it’s baseball time. Since the league ratified and passed a new MLB collective bargaining agreement, the MLB 2022 season will look much different and will have some nuances and changes you need to know about.
Baseball is making a big push to bring in viewership since ratings have been declining over the years and lagging behind other sports. A hotly contested matchup between the Cubs and Cardinals drew 1.5 million viewers, while the NFL’s Monday Night Football regularly brings in 12 million viewers, even for games of no consequence.
So what is Major League Baseball doing to keep up? The lockout is over and there are big changes on the way to boost interest and make the game more interesting.
Here’s what you should know about the MLB 2022 season moving forward.
1. The Universal DH Is in Full Effect
Perhaps the most noticeable change you’ll see at the 2022 MLB season start is that there’s a universal designated hitter (DH). This is the end of an era since the American League (AL) has always used the DH, but the National League (NL) has traditionally allowed pitchers to hit.
The move to the universal DH is polarizing with a lot of baseball fans. This move is intended to make the game more exciting since pitchers aren’t the best hitters.
Fans that oppose the move will miss the element of strategy that comes with having your pitchers hit. They enjoy the uniqueness of each league having a different set of rules.
2. The League Is Embracing Technology
Technology is definitely changing the landscape of baseball for the MLB 2022 season. For starters, you’re going to see a lot more players mic’d up during the game.
On Opening Day, the Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman, Joey Votto, was mic’d up for an inning when they played the defending champion Atlanta Braves. Other players have been mic’d up in the past, but it’s generally been outfielders during local broadcasts.
Having an infielder mic’d live and in-play during a national broadcast is part of an effort to build stars and connect with the public in a meaningful and relatable way.
Teams are also showing more data on the scoreboard during games. For instance, teams are showing the different pitch types and speeds in real-time during at-bats.
These changes will help to educate fans and make it easier for people to embrace the game and enjoy it.
3. Playoff Seedings and Formats Will Change
We also have some changes to the playoff format and seedings. There are now 12 teams that will be featured in the playoffs. There will be three division winners and three wildcards teams that will receive playoff berths.
The top two seeded teams will get first-round berths, while the remaining teams in the wildcard rounds will play three-game series’. The MLB is also doing away with one-game series’ that used to happen in the wildcard round.
Make sure to read more on oskeimsportspicks.com to research which teams are poised to challenge for the World Series title.
Tune Into the MLB 2022 Season
The MLB 2022 season is here and we have a lot to be excited about. While things were looking iffy during the lockout and the season started later, we’re finally on track for an exciting new season.
Consider these points and check out our other articles to learn more about sports and entertainment.
