(Philadelphia) The rule that allows Major League Baseball teams to start extra innings with a runner on second base in the regular season could stay in place.
Posted yesterday at 11:06 p.m.
This is what Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred hinted Monday evening about this rule put in place during the pandemic in order to reduce the duration of games.
“Both fans and players love him. Teams love him. I feel like (this rule) has a way to go, ”illustrated Manfred, after announcing the postponement to Tuesday of Game 3 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, because rain.
“There are a few people emailing me who don’t like it,” he also said.
According to Elias Sports, home teams have posted a 113-103 cumulative record in extra innings this year, and are 262-263 in games requiring extra innings since the rule was introduced in 2020.
Also according to Elias Sports, home clubs posted a favorable record of 312-294 in extra innings from 2017 to 2019.
Major League Baseball does not use this rule during the playoffs. In a first-round American League game this year, the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 in 15 innings to complete their best-of-three series sweep.
In the next round, the Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 in 18 innings to wipe out their three-of-five series.
The extension of this regulation requires the conclusion of an agreement with the Players’ Association.
“It’s a decision the players will have to make,” Players’ Association director Tony Clark said Friday before the start of Game 1 of the World Series.
“That’s one of the things we’ll have to talk to the players about. »