I, like you, wasn't too sure about the new rule changes. But it does appear that they have helped them game. (I really hate giving Manfred any credit )

Well, there's always next year!

Still don't like the guy, seems phony.

But honesty compells me to give Robot Rob some credit here

Luis Arraez is flirting with hitting .400, the pitch clock and shift rule are working. Baseball TV highlights are now more than just home runs and strikeouts.

We're in good shape (I still hate the Tribes' name change though, they could've done way better...like maybe "The Tribe" which has been their nickname for decades).

But "The Tribe" would've been cool too. "The Guardians" sounds like a Youth Hockey team

It favors large market teams and reduces the number of times historic rivals play each other. Horrible decision.

as there are fewer head to head games - and that sucks

On the other hand, and I hate to say this, more visits from big drawing teams like the Dodgers Yankees and Red Socks will help the gate receipts at small market venues - Like Pittsburgh and Denver

And my wife and I got to see Shohei and Mike Trout this year - with the old scheduling system, The Angels only came to St Louis for one series in the previous 6 years.

So there are silver linings to it.

Biggest payroll in baseball too.

It's hell being a fan of this team.

And yet...here I am.

Mike Krukow, one of the Giants' announcers pointed out that the people being brought up from the minor leagues are having less problems with the new rules because the minor leagues have been playing under these new rules for the last two years.

best color announcer in the biz. One of the best ever.

I used to say the same things that others say about the game. It's boring, it's too slow, not enough action, etc. I was always a bit of a Giants fan, though. When I was ten I saw Willie Mays play. When the Giants looked like they were making a run at the pennant in 2010, I started watching. Krukow and Kuiper are the reason I am a baseball fan now. They have taught me so much about baseball that I now see all those negative thing I mentioned go away the more you know about the game.

Now a 1-0 game can really interest me because I see things about the game I never saw before.

Baseball unspools as you learn. It has layers you never notice until you spend time watching and learning

I like hockey and football, and I love basketball - but none of those sports engrosses me like baseball does.

Baseball is my drama, the story I follow daily and the obsession I can't kill from the day Pitchers and Catchers report until the 27th out in the last World Series game

One of the guys in our daily golf group is big Cardinals fan.
He's ok with the bad start, because he says they're rare enough. Expects them to fix it next hear.
Unlike you, I was a big proponent of the changes. But, just like you, I'm glad they achieved their intended purpose.
Oh, and yes, Ohtani is amazing.