Gear Grinder Thursday comes out with a vengeance today, as Major League Baseball released brand new pace-of-play changes and initiatives for Minor League Baseball this season. Chief among them? Extra innings beginning with a runner on second base.
The baseball world immediately exploded with how this is appalling and is in fact, not baseball. If this were a rule change for the Major League level, this would be a perfectly rational response. But in the minors? Where teams routinely change their names to popular food items such as Tacos and Cheesesteaks or give away bobbleheads of obscure celebrities? It's perfect.
In the minors, developing young prospects should not have to exceed pitch counts or pitch without proper rest between appearances to win a Single-A game in July. 20 year olds do not need to be taking their 9th at-bat of the night around midnight with an 8-hour bus ride to the next city looming. Guys who are learning the game and learning what it takes to be a professional baseball player are not ready. You don't run 3 miles a day for 4 weeks and immediately sign up for a marathon.
Take a listen and at least digest the other side of the argument. Would this rule be ok at the Major League level? Absolutely not, I'm there with you. But in the minors? Why the heck not.
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