MLB's Manfred Says He'd Consider 154-Game Season
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has touted the benefits of modernizing baseball. But apparently he's also open to going old school.
Manfred told ESPN.com on Monday that, if it were proposed, he would consider shortening the current 162-game regular-season schedule.
"I don't think length of season is a topic that can't ever be discussed," Manfred said. "I don't think it would be impossible to go back to 154 (games)."
Both the American and National Leagues adopted a 154-game schedule in 1904, which remained in effect for nearly 60 years. Eight games were added at the dawn of the expansion era, with the AL moving to 162 games in 1961 and the NL following suit in '62.
"We already have some of our record books which reflect a 154-game season and obviously some of it reflects a 162-game season," Manfred told ESPN.com. "So there's some natural flexibility there. But if anyone suggests to go to something like 110 games, then there's a real problem. That will throw all our numbers out of whack."
Manfred has picked up the baton left by Bud Selig, who pushed to improve the pace of play during his final season as commissioner in 2014. MLB announced minor changes earlier this month to speed up individual games. Manfred has also talked about other possible changes, including eliminating defensive shifts.
"I'm really intent on the idea that we're going to have an average game time that's going to start with a 'two' next year as opposed to a 'three,'" Manfred told reporters Monday, according to The Associated Press.
The pace of play changes were announced jointly with the Major League Baseball Players Association. Shortening the season -- if there's interest -- would need to be approved by the players' union.
