Marlins Mattingly Wants September Roster Rules Changed

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly is asking that Major League Baseball take a look at how the September roster expansion be examined because it changes how teams play the final month of the season.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has a point. Major League Baseball has changed the way team’s play baseball in the final month of the season. The Marlins skipper is asking that Major League Baseball take a look at the rules regarding September roster expansion.

"As Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com wrote on Sunday, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Sunday that Major League Baseball should consider limiting roster sizes in the final month of the season, because “the game you play for five months is not the game you play in September.”"

The Marlins have made plenty of changes to its roster over the course of the season and have revamped its pitching staff more times that some actors change wardrobes.

While the Marlins don’t have a dog in the playoff fight and firmly sit at the bottom of the National League East, he is calling for an examination of how roster expansion changes things for all teams, including the ones fighting for postseason positioning.

More from Marlins News

The rules that exist now call for teams to from 25 to 40 players in September. Teams do not have limits as to how many or how few players they can use in that month’s time.

For the Marlins, it would appear to give Mattingly an opportunity to assess more talent with a roster full of youngsters and minor league prospects.

"Per Crasnick, “Mattingly said expanded rosters change the fundamental nature of games in the final month of the regular season, and suggested that MLB requires clubs to name 25 active players for each game while relegating inactive players to a designated ‘taxi squad’.”"

The Marlins have lost two players – Pablo Lopez and Martin Prado – this month to season-ending injuries. The team may also lose veteran pitcher Dan Straily for the remainder of the year as well.

"“If you’re in the hunt and you’ve got a chance, you don’t want to get to any situation and be like, ‘Well, I could use a pinch-runner here,’ and not be able to do it,” Mattingly said following his team’s 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. “As long as you’re eligible to use 40, if you’re in the hunt, there’s no reason to have them here.”"

Next. Marlins Third Baseman Brian Anderson Held Out On Sunday. dark

The concern Mattingly has is nothing new and dates back to 2005 when former Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin questioned the same process.

Home/Marlins News