Brewers players sounds off on new MLB rules, replays

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- With Major League Baseball's best record, the Milwaukee Brewers are so far, so good in handling the new rules of the game. The league is using expanded replay for the first time ever this season -- but what do the players think about it?

"The game is evolving, you know, it's been evolving since the 1800's when they started playing," said Brewers outfielder Logan Schafer. "You know, we'll see how it goes, how it plays out and you know, in order to see how it will affect the game as a whole, you have to implement new things and that's what we've done."

With the new system, some obvious missed calls have been corrected. The very first successful challenge in MLB history took place at Miller Park on Opening Day.

On the negative side, some calls have still been incorrect, fans have been subject to some almost interminable delays, but that is less of an issue for players than you might expect.

"If you let it affect you, it will affect you -- but baseball is a game where you're going really hard for ten seconds and then you've got a couple minutes before you even see the baseball so we're pretty good at being able to keep a soft focus," explains Schafer.

Because of the safety net of replay, many players are now thinking about keeping a sharp focus on plays that used to be mostly accepted.

"There are times on steals and stuff where you steal a base and you kind of pop up and you leave the bag for a second, you have to make sure you're staying on the bag because with replay, if they hold the tag on you, there are just little things that you have to kind of focus on, but you're still staying aggressive and trying to play the game the right way," said Schafer.

One of the more notable offseason rules changes involves home plate -- the idea is to protect the catcher on any potential collision plays there.

"I'm going to be running the bases like I do and, personally, if I'm being honest, if I see the catcher block the plate, I'm going to hit it. If I get suspended, I'm not going to get hurt for sliding and I get my hand stuck or hit my feet when the catcher is staying on the plate. If he gives me a chance, if you give me a little opening to try to slide, I'm going to slide clean. But if you're in the middle, I'm going to run over you," said Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez.

Schafer adds, "you know, I was always trying to slide at home plate if I was given a lane anyhow, so when it comes to that, no, nothing really changes. If they're blocking the plate and they don't have the ball, they're getting bowled over."

As a rule, the Brewers believe in aggressive base-running, and they seem to be of the belief that they'll worry about scoring first and worrying about how they did so after that.