-
Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
The “Golden At-Bat” rule will not be coming to a ballpark close to you — a minimum of not anytime quickly.
Speaking at an occasion on the Italian American Baseball Foundation on Thursday night time in New York, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred clarified feedback he made on a podcast final month concerning the potential rule change which has led to dialogue in regards to the viability of the thought.
“To go from the dialog stage to this really exhibiting up in MLB is a really lengthy street,” Manfred advised the Yes Network on Thursday. “You don’t love the thought? I would not be too involved about it proper now.”
The “Golden At-Bat” rule, which Manfred says he isn’t personally in favor of, permits groups the power to ship any hitter of their selecting to the plate — probably at any time — as soon as per sport.
In different phrases, if Bryce Harper had simply ended the eighth inning with an out, the rule would permit him for use once more to lead-off the ninth and even simply in back-to-back plate appearances in the identical inning. This would permit for one of the best gamers within the sport to get an additional at-bat in important conditions, probably bringing extra pleasure to the game.
Manfred’s feedback on the podcast introduced some on-line backlash after he revealed there was some “buzz” in regards to the rule popping out of the competitors committee through the homeowners conferences in mid-November.
“It was a really preliminary dialog which did create some buzz,” Manfred reiterated on Thursday. “I do encourage the homeowners to have conversations in regards to the sport.”
But a rule change of that magnitude can be years from making it to the massive leagues, if ever. Rule adjustments — such because the pitch clock — endure vigorous testing within the minor leagues. The “Golden At-Bat” rule can be no completely different, and a league official confirmed there are not any plans to institute it within the minor leagues subsequent season.
“It has come out that I’ve spoken publicly about this type of change years in the past, that I used to be not significantly in favor of it,” Manfred stated Thursday. “That stays the case.”
