Changing the Game: 7-Inning Doubleheaders and a Runner on Second Base

This past week it was revealed that during Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred wants to introduce a pair of rule changes for the 2021 season. These changes are designed to deal with Manfred's pet project, the pace of play, as well as the Coronavirus.

Manfred wants extra-inning games to start every inning with a runner on second base and for there to be the ability to schedule 7-inning doubleheaders. In addition, it is expected that the Major League Baseball Players' Association will push hard for the adoption of a universal designated hitter during any negotiations that take place.

MLB will again have 7-inning doubleheaders and runner on 2nd base in extra innings in 2021 subject to union approval, while the two sides still are discussing universal DH and expanded postseason.https://t.co/mi1KGCOvQl-- Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale)January 16, 2021

MLB will again have 7-inning doubleheaders and runner on 2nd base in extra innings in 2021 subject to union approval, while the two sides still are discussing universal DH and expanded postseason.https://t.co/mi1KGCOvQl

I'm going to leave the universal DH out of most of this discussion. It should exist, and even if it doesn't I've reached a point where I'm pretty nonplussed on the idea either way. If there is a universal DH I do believe the quality of the baseball played will be slightly better. However, without a universal DH, I don't believe there will be enough of a drop off in quality for it to make an actual difference. There are labor concerns with the universal DH or lack thereof, but this article is about the play between the chalk lines and not labor relations.

At one point in time, I was vehemently opposed to the idea of 7-inning doubleheaders. That's not the case today and I doubt it's a topic that will ever draw much of a reaction from me moving forward. Plenty of leagues have adopted the 7-inning doubleheader as a method to try and make sure games remain on the schedule when dealing with postponements and cancellations. That's the only key factor when it comes to 7-inning doubleheaders. As long as it is used as a mechanism to reschedule postponed games, it has its place. If it's being used in regular scheduling then I think the league has gone a step too far.

Lastly, the real reason we are here, the runner on second base rule. Listen, folks, I know that plenty of you have voiced not caring about this rule one way or another. I am not one of those people; I absolutely loathe this in theory and in actuality. It perverts the game of baseball in a way that I find distinctly unappealing. There are leagues that have already implemented this rule and it's terrible in those leagues as well. You've taken a game that was played one specific way for nine innings and decided to change it for no good reason. No thank you.

There's no need for it to be the go-to option when the concern is extra-inning games that go on too long. The easier solution is right in front of everyone's faces, declare games a draw. I know that some people are stringently opposed to this idea. I'm not one of them and in actuality, I think it is the best way to deal with any extra innings concerns. Sometimes in life, there are situations where things end on equal footing. Why should a baseball game be any different? Now, before you get all in a tizzy, I'm not suggesting this rule be implemented in the playoffs where there should always be a winner. But, in the regular season? Sure thing buddy, sign me right up.

Change happens, it took me a long time to realize that. If it were up to me none of these rules would be in effect (sans the universal DH, just implement it already). I don't mind long doubleheaders or extra-inning games, they have always been a part of baseball and I enjoy the languid pace of baseball anyway. Still, I'm not foolish, I know when the winds of change are upon us. With change coming my only hope is that MLB implements the right type of change as opposed to some of their current ideas.