MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is "aggressively experimenting with the automated strike zone," having tested it in the independent Atlantic League this season in what he called a "nice partnership." Appearing on "Baseball Tonight" ahead of Game 6 of the World Series, Manfred said, "We're going to use it in minor league baseball next year. We want to make sure it's as good as it can possibly be, but I do think it's where the game's headed over the long haul." He also said one of the "big limitations right now is that we are doing a technology overhaul that we think between this year and next year will materially improve the system, so we're at least a year away" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 10/29). MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre, appearing yesterday on "MLB Tonight," said he could not see "how far in the future" automated strike-zone technology would be "seriously considered for the big leagues." Torre: "But obviously you're testing things to see how it plays to begin with" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 10/30).
TALKING THE TALK: Manfred also discussed the ongoing CBA negotiations, noting next year is a "bargaining year," and the "goal is to reach an overall agreement with the (MLBPA) but to have a comprehensive set of changes that could be rolled in over a period of time that would address both the length and pace issues" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 10/29). Manfred added in the next round of CBA talks, the league is "going to try to have a little longer-term vision changes and agreement on changes that can be phased in over time" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 10/30).
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes "poor TV ratings are an indictment of MLB's inability to market the game and its stars, including the biggest two" of the World Series: Astros 3B Alex Bregman and Nationals LF Juan Soto. MLB's "biggest problem is it has no Tom Brady, the kind of star known by people who don't even follow the sport." However, MLB does have "many great young stars on the rise." Aside from Bregman and Soto, the league "also has the likes" of Cubs 2B Javier Baez, Yankees RF Aaron Judge and Mets 1B Pete Alonso, young players with "plenty of flair performing for big-market teams featured prominently on ESPN and Fox telecasts" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/31).
