Take Me Out Of The Ballgame

Baseballs the best, isn’t it? Most of us can’t live without it. most of our ancestors couldn’t live without it either. The games rules for the most part, have been largely untouched over the course of history (rightly so). Preserving the games originality and purity, especially in comparison to the other major American sports. America’s Favorite Pastime is just perfect right? Well..

There does happen to be a small handful of rules and regulations that sometimes make me wonder why they’re there to begin with. Whether it be a rule that takes away from traditionalism, or simply slowing the game down. There are a couple that have been implemented since the game’s inception, while others are more modern additions to baseball.

Extra Inning Designated Runner

Let’s start this off with one that most would guess would be on this list. One of the newest rules put into the game at the hands of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the “ghost runner” rule dictates that if a game is to reach extra innings, the player that made the last out of the previous inning will start the inning on second base.

Boy, oh boy. While the reasoning for adding an extra inning automatic runner is understandable. Cuts on time for the fans and lowers the chances of those marathon 15+ inning games. It however goes against the game’s originality and tradition that has gone without such a rule for over 100 years. All the games that went to extras with pivotal implications. All the playoff games in the past that went to extras. It’s essentially a cheap RBI. It’s not even a hit to begin with. Even if the first batter of the inning is walked, you won’t get that classic cat and mouse battle between pitcher and baserunner of pickoff attempts to first.

All in all, an incredibly unnecessary rule that wasn’t being asked for before it was put in, isn’t being raved about today, and isn’t wished to stay a part of the game by the majority of the baseball world.

In-Game Dugout Interviews

Ok, ok it’s not a rule, but listen. Put yourself in the lineup or coaching staff of your favorite team. Tie game. 7th inning. Playing a division rival. Tensions high. You get a tap on your shoulder, look down and see 4’7 tall Ken Rosenthal in his (probably) neon yellow bowtie, asking you for a minute interview.

And we all love Ken he’s one of the good ones we’re not picking on him here, but the absolute LAST thing a coach wants to do is tell the media what you think about the quality of your at bats during a full count with runners in scoring position.

It’s amazing David Ortiz is the only one caught destroying a bullpen phone on camera with this going on.

Yeah, they’re making millions. Yeah, the media is where the moneys at. Have to do what the network says, but good lord can we wait until after the game to ask your questions? Isn’t that what post-game press conferences are for?

Get this out of baseball now.

Automatic Intentional Walks

Pitchers have recently not been required to throw the four intentional pitches to walk a batter, and the manager can simply signal to the umpire that they want to intentionally walk the batter, and instantly award him first base.

Again, an unnecessary attempt to cut down on the length of time of games. There’s no pitches thrown so no extra effort needed to put in for the pitcher. Eliminates the possibility of a pitch trying to be intentionally thrown out of the zone but is swung at and resulted in a hit, which HAPPENS. It’s in a way bailing out the pitchers from having to throw extra pitches.

All we’re asking for is to leave the game alone. It was perfect for over a century. Now we have free walk off RBIs, annoying interviews and lazy pitchers. We might be sounding too much like an old man screaming at clouds here, but if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Baseball needed no fixing. Leave it be.