MLB to put runner on second base to try and speed up play

MLB and the commissioner have some good ideas and then some bad ideas

Maybe call me a traditionalist on this topic, but I’m not a fan of this proposal. I can usually see a positive in most new changes the MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred put in place, but this one I’m not seeing it.

Of course, even I’m thinking, who am I to say? But if we get enough people behind it, maybe it could make a difference.

I’m not a fan of the MLB putting a runner on second base in extra innings. This is coming from an Associated Press report that came out earlier today.

Is it just me? I’m not sure, but don’t take extra inning excitement away from us! Any extra inning game, I’m tuning in…I don’t care who’s playing. If the MLB makes it easier to score, I think the excitement level comes down bit.

And this just isn’t playoffs either for me. Yes, extra innings in the playoffs are amazing, but even regular season games. After playing for many, many years, I know how difficult it is to score runs. When you’re drained tired after playing an entire game and going into extra innings, it’s only the tough that survive.

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The MLB is going to experiment with putting a runner on second base at the start of the 11th inning at the 2018 All-Star game and each additional inning that follows — according to the latest pace-of-game proposal by Major League Baseball.

Putting a runner on second base would also be tried out during Spring Training games. Except instead of the 11th inning, it would be the 10th inning.

This concept was used last year at the rookie level Gulf Coast, World Baseball Classic and Arizona leagues. By average, it reduced extra inning games by 16 minutes.

I’m sure the players and even the coaching staff wants this…it would hypothetically reduce injury opportunities as well as reduce the innings the pitching staff would have. But I dunno, just looking at the concept on paper, I’m not a fan.

Don’t get me wrong though, I’m pro speeding up pace of play. I just wouldn’t like this option if the MLB went in this direction. Mound visits, time between innings, between hitters, hell even pitches I’d be okay with.

Now before you all freak out about this, the MLB is not considering using this in MLB regular season games…yet.

Next: Is this still 2017's Braves? Not quite.

These guys are smart fellas, they have to think of something other than this!

This week, baseball owners are discussing their next steps at their meetings that run through Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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