Colorado Rockies Quick Hits: A 2020 vision, MLB Network

The Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball could be seeing a lot of changes in the near future. Also, the Rockies will also be featured on MLB Network later today.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLB Player’s Association are close to an agreement that would bring a lot of changes to Major League Baseball in 2020.

Included in the deal would be an “Election Day” process for selection for the All-Star Game, an increase to a 26-man roster with a 13-pitcher limit, a three-batter minimum for relievers, and an increase in the price money for the Home Run Derby to entice players to take part in the event.

The “Election Day” process is, perhaps, the most intriguing item mentioned as it has been discussed the least, at least recently.

Under the proposed plan, per Passan, the “Election Day” voting would actually take place this season. The regular process of online voting would take place but instead of the winner being decided by that, the top 3 players in each positional category would go into their own separate election against each other on “Election Day.” Whichever players received the most votes on that single day would determine the All-Star Game’s starting players.

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According to Passan, the two sides see the “Election Day” process as an opportunity to “better engage fans and bring more excitement to the All-Star voting process — and encourage an uptick in social media activity surrounding the game.”

As Passan also notes, it is very rare for the two sides to come to an agreement on changes in the middle of a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). However, it could be a good faith move for each side as Rob Manfred has agreed to put off a pitch-clock deal and the DH in the National League until at least 2022 and the MLBPA has had its issues with the free agency system recently.

The Rockies on MLB Network

The Rockies will be featured on 30 Clubs in 30 Days on MLB Network at 5 PM MT tonight on MLB Tonight on MLB Network.

You can check out their predictions, insight, and interviews with Bud Black and some Rockies players as Brian Kenny, Sean Casey, and Carlos Pena were in Rockies camp today.

Also, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo spoke to Bud Black earlier today on High Heat. You can check out part of that interview here.

Stay tuned for our coverage both on Twitter and on the site as our own Kevin Henry is in Spring Training at camp (and even got this picture of Bud Black and Brian Kenny earlier) so we will have more from camp soon.