Hot Button: Did MLB save its game with new rule changes? ... Minor league baseball gets union approval ... Allen, Bills bash Rams in NFL season opener

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hot Button is a 'round-the-clock feature that covers anything across the scope of sports. We're here to bring you everything hot: News items, highlights, takes — everything but hot meals — whether local, national or international. Better yet, it’s interactive. Share your thoughts in comments, and even post your own links to interesting, safe-for-work sports stories.

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MLB APPROVES SEVERAL
RULE CHANGES FOR 2023

Friday, September 9: Major League Baseball passed several rules changes for 2023 in an effort to shorten games and increase offense. First a review of the new rules:

• No shifts: There must be two infielders on either side of second base and none can be on the outfield grass.
• Pitch clock: 15 seconds with bases empty; 20 seconds with runners on base. Catchers must be in position with 10 seconds remaining on the pitch clock and hitters must be ready with eight seconds remaining. Alex Stumpf covered the pitch clock in depth in his most recent Mound Visit.
• Pitcher and hitter limitations: Pitchers can only step off the rubber or throw to a base for a pickoff twice per plate appearance. In pitch-clock testing at the minor-league levels it was found pitchers would step off to reset the clock — this eliminates the frequency of that. Similarly, batters are permitted only one timeout per plate appearance.
• Larger bases: Bases are expanding from 15 square inches to 18 square inches. The reasons are three-fold: One, it shortens the distance between first and second and second and third to promote stealing bases and turning doubles to triples; second, it provides greater area to avoid tags; third, in that same way it provides safety at each base, limiting player-to-player contact. The distance between first and home and third and home is still 90 feet.

The players on the competition committee voted against the shifts and pitch clock rules. The larger bases and pickoff/step off limits were unanimous.

Robot umpires were not discussed or voted on. It is expected they will be introduce in spring training next year — the plan pre-lockout for 2022 — with possible implementation in 2024 or 2025.

The big question is, will this work? The league is obviously attempting to increase batted balls, limiting strikeouts and reducing the time of games. "Small ball" seems to be the focus, with shorter distances between bases on each side of second. By eliminating dramatic shifts and keeping all infielders on the dirt or infield grass, the league is encouraging contact and hitting for greater average. This equals, in theory, less swing-and-miss and a more station-to-station approach.

Living in a Triple-A city, I can tell you the games are shorter with the pitch clock and that there has been a subtle difference with the larger bases, though not as dramatic as I had anticipated. Do you like the new rules? Does this help address what has become a pretty boring game to watch? What else woful you change to improve the on-field product? Would you consider going to or watching more games if they wrapped up in a reasonable amount of time? Let's here what you've got. — Bob

MLB APPROVES MINOR 
LEAGUES UNIONIZATION

Friday, September 9: In a day dominated by discussion of Major League Baseball's rules changes, there was another momentous decision by the league — it recognized the Major League Baseball Players Association to collectively bargains for the minor leagues, officially unionizing affiliate baseball.

MLB did so voluntarily after the MLBPA sent out authorization cards two weeks ago to all active minor-league players, needing 30 percent to allow the union to ask MLB to accept it as a collective bargainer for the affilated players. The response was well over 50 percent voting for MLBPA, a threshold need to pass if MLB refused to voluntarily accept MLBPA representation on behalf of the minor leagues. 

Despite some improvements to the living conditions, pay and treatment of minor-leaguers, the union can now address those issues further and others, like improved travel and diet.

My take: This was always going to happen once MLB took over the minors. It's why some teams have already started addressing some of these issues on their own, but it will be nice to have a minimum standard and it serves all parties well in the end — the players will be better prepared, physically and mentally, to develop and the MLB teams will directly benefit from that. — Bob

BILLS STIFLE WORLD
CHAMPS ON THE ROAD

Friday, September 9: The Bills looks every bit the favorite to win the AFC this season with a convincing 31-10 win over the reigning champion Rams Thursday night in Los Angeles. The game was tied 10-10 at the half, despite three Bills turnovers — they had four total on the night — but Buffalo pulled away with three unanswered second-half touchdowns. 

Buffalo controlled both lines of scrimmage, registering seven sacks on defense — former Ram Von Miller had two — and generating 413 yards of total offense. Josh Allen, an early favorite for league MVP, was efficient completing 26 of 31 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, with two of those over 45 yards — one to Stefon Diggs, who had a big day with 122 yards on eight catches, and one to big-play threat Gabe Davis, who had four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Allen also led Buffalo in rushing, gaining 56 yards on 10 carries and scrambles, with a touchdown.

Matthew Stafford, who missed much of the preseason recovering from an offseason elbow procedure, played inconsistent football, looking slow in his reads and missing open receivers, leading to three interceptions. He had his usual chemistry with Cooper Kupp, who had 13 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, but the Rams could not generate any running game, amassing only 243 total yards, and they could not contain Allen in the pocket on defense.

The Rams (0-1) stay home to host the Falcons on September 18, while the Bills (1-0) play host to the AFC South -favorite Titans on Monday night, September 19.  

My take: Good to have the NFL back in action. This was a drubbing, If the Bills hadn't coughed the ball up four times (they lost the turnover battle, 4-3), they would have won by a couple more touchdowns, at least — the Rams had no real answers on defense. This definitely serves notice to the AFC, though hardly a surprise, while the Rams need to find their championship mojo — perhaps a Super Bowl hangover, combined with all the pregame celebration? They'll get nine days before getting an expected breather against the Falcons. — Bob

GARRETT'S NON-RESPONSE
PROOF OF MAYFIELD FRICTION?

Thursday, September 8: Myles Garrett made an admission Thursday that he did not respond to a text Baker Mayfield sent him after the quarterback was traded to Carolina, saying he enjoyed the time they spent together. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported Garrett said "I didn’t really have much to say and I didn’t know how reply to it, so I didn’t." Garrett went on to say he wished Mayfield well but that its his job to beat him and the Panthers Sunday.

This is the latest jab at Mayfield, who had alleged troubles with teammates last season, with Odell Beckham Jr. forcing a trade out of Cleveland and the father of Kareem Hunt accusing Mayfield of intentionally not throwing his son the ball, an accusation Hunt did not publicly refute. 

Nick Chubb seemed to make an apparent dig at Mayfield's inconsistency Wednesday when asked about facing his former teammate in Sunday's season opener, saying, “We all know Baker, so I don’t know what to expect.”  

My take: No love lost, that's for sure. They all say the right thing, wishing Mayfield the best, but none of them seem to miss the drama that surrounded the former No. 1 overall pick. If only they had draft Josh Allen, huh? — Bob

BRITISH SPORTS HALT WITH
NEWS OF QUEEN'S DEATH

Thursday, September 8: Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch at 70 years, died Thursday at age 96 after a brief illness.

When news of her passing reached the public, many sports organizations offered their condolences to the Royal Family and the people of Great Britain with the Premier League leading the way:

The All-England Club (home of Wimbledon), Formula One, the Rugby Football Union, and the Royal and Ancient Club each extended condolences.

It had an immediate effect on the BMW PGA Championship being played outside London in Surrey. With news of her passing, DP World Tour officials immediately halted play and will not resume until Saturday. All horse racing in the United Kingdom — the queen was a lifelong equestrian — was also suspended for two days. 

There is speculation that the Premier League may go quiet for this weekend or next. In the United States, the U.S. Open tennis tournament will hold a moment of silence this evening ahead of the women's semifinal matches.

My take: Rest In Peace. It's amazing to think her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill and that when she became monarch, Stan Musial led the National League in batting average and Ralph Kiner did so in home runs; the Brooklyn Dodgers topped the New York Giants to win the pennant; Billy Martin and Phil Rizzuto were the double-play combo for the Yankees; the Minneapolis Lakers were champs of the NBA and the Lions — the Lions! — were NFL champs. Saw a graphic that showed in the year of her birth — 1926 — Babe Ruth was baseball's all-time home run leader ... with 310. A remarkable life in length and accomplishment. — Bob

SWINNEY INKS NEW 10-YEAR
DEAL WITH CLEMSON

Thursday, September 8: Dabo Swinney has been rewarded for his long-term success at Clemson with a new 10-year contract worth $115 million, making him the second-highest paid NCAA football coach by annual average behind Alabama's Nick Saban. It takes effect immediately and runs through the 2031 season.

Swinney, 52, has coached the Tigers since taking over after five games in 2008 and resurrected that school's proud football tradition to become perennial national championship contenders, winning two titles (2016, 2018) and playing in two other title games. Before Pitt in 2021, Clemson had won six consecutive ACC conference titles. He has a current streak of 11 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins and has finished in the nation's top four in six of the past seven seasons, accumulating a 151-36 record over 14 campaigns.

My take: A terrific coach, to be sure, and interesting to listen to about the hot topics surrounding the game. I don't expect a decline in that program anytime soon, and he has a distinct advantage recruiting inside the ACC with that massive fan and booster base, all those high season-end rankings and players graduating to the NFL. — Bob

KELCE SETS CHALLENGE
FOR EAGLES IN PRESSER

Thursday, September 8: Four-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce didn't mince words during questioning from reporters Wednesday, dropping several f-bombs in describing his hopes on the upcoming season and the city's lofty expectations:

Kelce, 34, is entering his twelfth season, a sixth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2011.

My take: Kelce sure knows of what he speaks. He's won a Super Bowl there and has seen good seasons and bad. Regardless of how this year goes in Philly, it won't be Kelce's fault if it's poor. — Bob

RECEIVER SANDERS RETIRES
AFTER 12 NFL SEASONS

Wednesday, September 7: Former Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has announced his retirement from the National Football League. The 35-year-old made his announcement through the Broncos social media accounts:

Sanders played for the Bills last season and told Buffalo reporters on clean-out day that he would have to reflect on what to do next "and possibly retire." 

He played six seasons with the Broncos after he was let go in free agency after four seasons with the Steelers, who drafted him in the third round the 2010 draft out of Southern Methodist University. The Steelers decided to keep Antonio Brown instead, but Sanders had productive seasons in Denver with Peyton Manning, winning a Super Bowl and earning two Pro Bowl nods. He finished his career with parts of two seasons in New Orleans before signing with Buffalo in 2021.

In 172 career games, Sanders caught 704 passes for 9,245 yards and 51 touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per catch.

My take: A very good player and good possession receiver who could extend drives — more than 67 percent of his receptions went for first downs. The Steelers were obviously right to keep the more talented Brown, but Sanders had the last laugh, for sure. — Bob

CHELSEA FIRES TUCHEL
AFTER SLUGGISH START

Wednesday, September 7: Chelsea isn't waiting around to find out if it made the right decision in giving Thomas Tuchel the team he wanted to keep the club in Premier League prominence, firing the German national early into his second season, following a 1-0 loss to Croatian club team Dinamo Zagreb in the first match of group stage Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League. The club will now be managed on an interim basis by assistant Anthony Barry. 

Tuchel had successful three-season stints at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and Paris Saint-Germain in France's Ligue 1 when he was hired to take over for fired Chelsea manager Frank Lampard in January 2021. Tuchel went undefeated in his first 14 matches and got Chelsea to third in table, eventually losing to Leicester City in the FA Cup final, but won the UEFA Champions League with a victory over Manchester City. The club then shelled out over £250 million (approx. $288 million) on salaries in the offseason, acquiring players Tuchel wanted for his system. Over six Premier League matches this season, Chelsea have three wins, one draw and two losses for 10 points, currently sixth in table and just five points behind 5-0-1 Arsenal.

My take: Chelsea must be run by a former NHL GM, firing a coach after a very successful championship season because of a slow start. So it goes. Perhaps Barry will get Christian Pulisic into games before the 80th minute. On the plus side, Pulisic ran a low risk of getting hurt under Tuchel, with limited action, but the negative is the U.S. national team would like him in some kind of form ahead of the World Cup. — Bob

Update: Chelsea hired Graham Potter away from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. to be its new manager. Brighton has finished mid-table each of the last two seasons and had the Seagulls currently fourth at 4-1-1.

TIAFOE ADVANCES TO SEMIS, 
ENDING U.S. FUTILITY

Wednesday, September 7: Frances Tiafoe became the first American man to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open in 16 years after a straight set victory Wednesday over Russia's Andrey Rublev, who entered the tournament ranked ninth in the men's bracket.

Tiafoe beat Rublev 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, to become the first American since Andy Roddick in 2006 to advance this far. The big-serving 24-year-old, who hit 145 mph on the gun Wednesday, will face the winner of the match between No. 3 Jose Alcaraz of Spain and No. 11 Jannik Sinner of Italy. That match will likely be Friday. Fifth-ranked Casper Ruud of Norway will face No. 27 Karen Khachanov in the other semifinal. The last American champion was Roddick in 2003.

My take: Tiafoe's been on the rise the last couple years, advancing further in Grand Slam events to rise in the rankings. Now he has a chance to end the longest drought for American men in the history of the tournament and become the new face of American men's tennis, something sorely lacking over the last decade and change. — Bob

BROWNS NAME FIVE
TEAM CAPTAINS

Wednesday, September 7: The Browns have named five full-time team captains for 2022, the first time that's happened during Kevin Stefanski's coaching tenure. In his first two seasons, captains were selected on a week to week basis. Stefanski did say that the team would still have individual captains each week to supplement the team captains selected:

C Joel Bitonio
RB Nick Chubb
EDGE Myles Garrett
ILB Anthony Walker Jr.
LS Charley Hughlett

My take: No surprises with the choices. Stefanski was never against team captains but didn't wan them with a roster in flux his first season and continued the practice last year. Now with established leaders, he's gone ahead and allowed the teams to name a few. — Bob