Atlanta Braves: Extra-Innings Rule Good for Game?

Atlanta Braves: New extra-innings rule actually good for the game? I offer my logic and one suggestion to improve the rule.

The Atlanta Braves suffered a frustrating Opening Day loss to the Phillies in extra-innings and the complaining about the extra-innings rule ensued.

“It’s not baseball!” fans declared as they licked their wounds and blamed Rob Manfred for the loss.

The reality of that game is that the Braves started the 10th inning with Ozzie Albies on base and had the heart of their lineup up. They didn’t get it done.

It was a clean loss.

The new extra-inning rule was implemented last year as a part of Major League Baseball’s “Don’t waste a good crisis” strategy. They used the pandemic to hastily add some of the modifications to the game that needs none.

Much to many of our surprises, the rule has held over to the 2021 season, despite having a full slate of games in 2021.

Let’s hope they don’t do this with the two-pickoff rule they are running through the lower levels of the minor leagues.

Extra-Inning Rule is Good for the Game

It seems that I am in the minority here but I think the new rule is exciting as hell. I recall a period of my life without cable and before streaming. I had to wait until Saturdays to watch the national games on FOX.

I really cherished my opportunities to actually watch a baseball game back then. I had a very young family and lots of things to do.

April 17, 2010 – I sat down to watch my game. The in-market Cardinals and the New York Mets. My wife was already a little irritated that I chose to spend a portion of that particular Saturday watching television… It was also her birthday.

If you remember this game, then you know how this ends.

That game went 22 innings.

As her birthday approaches, 11 years down the road, I am still reminded of that game.

Let’s face it, nobody has the time to sit through 22 innings in one day. We want to see a resolution! We love our baseball, but most of us do have lives to live.

New Extra-Innings Rule Offers Increased Intensity

I love the intensity and the increased anxiety of every pitch. The runner starting in scoring position puts enormous pressure for the offense to come through. It brings fundamental execution to the forefront of the game.

How Could MLB Improve the Extra-Innings Rule?

Let each team start with the leadoff or number two hitter up to bat. Let each team choose which spot in the lineup starts the tenth inning.

Since we are discarding the regular rules of baseball, this seems like a nice way to make it all fair and square.

Let me know what you think? You hate it? You do have time to sit through a 22-inning game? Is it just that 22-inning games do not happen very often and I’m being stupid? Let me know in the comments!

What are your thoughts? How can they improve it? Should they just scrap it?