By now, everyone should be aware of the fact that MLB has been looking to speed up games. An uptick on pace means fewer time in each game. And quicker games could lead to a bigger fanbase, especially among the youth who doesn’t like to spend 3+ hours in each game.
However, the league is about to make a terrible decision. They will experiment with it during the World Baseball Classic and the MiLB season, but trust me: it will be bad.
According to several reports, the league is about to confirm a bizarre rule that would affect extra innings of games. And if it’s successful, it could find a path to the Majors sooner than later. The aforementioned plan is to have extra innings all start with a runner at second base. Yes, you read that right.
Joe Torre has been strong supporter of this rule. Only a few days ago he spoke and said that “it’s not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch. As much as it’s nice to talk about being at an 18-inning game, it takes time.”
So yeah, Torre is forgetting something really important: the fans actually enjoy that kind of stuff. Sure, it takes a toll on players and it forces managers to make controversial decisions. However, we can’t deny it’s fun. Especially because some position players can really throw heat on the mound.
We have to admit that a change of pace in the game would be a good decision. I mean, games DO take forever and when they go to extra innings, we can see marathons where players finished exhausted. But adding a runner on second base IT’S NOT THE WAY TO GO. For instance, can you imagine the Cincinnati Reds leading off on extras with Billy Hamilton on second base? That’s an automatic steal to third, and it would give them an advantage they shouldn’t have.
Rules should be the same for every single team. And when it involves to add a player with a specific skill set to potentially determine the outcome of a game, it becomes blurry. And it could lead to several problems in the near future.
We’ll see if the strategy works at the WBC and the Minor Leagues. But one thing is certain: it shouldn’t be an MLB rule in the near future. It’s going to create havoc across the league offices.