By Mike Rifkin
Baseball’s popularity has dropped a considerable amount over the years. To get the 2020 baseball season in during the COVID-19 pandemic, baseball had to change specific rules. The pace of play was big in this endeavor. Baseball needs to figure out how to expand its popularity, which is the job of one person Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Seven inning doubleheaders were brought back this season after debuting last season. Madison Bumgarner threw a no-hitter on April 26th for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves, except it might not count.
It might not count because it was the second game of a doubleheader, only seven-inning games under new rules. So there is a discussion within MLB whether seven innings can constitute a No-Hitter. If the game is official, then the no-hitter is official as well. The no-hitter is something that Bumgarner can add to his hall of fame resume. If Manfred knew how hard it is to throw a no-hitter, especially in today’s game, there would be no argument that seven innings no-hitters should count.
Another rule that has been kept from last season is that the team at bat will start the inning with a runner at second base at the beginning of extra innings. I understand that we don’t want games lasting forever, but you are ruining the integrity of the game. Teams should have to earn their baserunners and the runs they score. By putting a guy at second base to start the inning gives the away team an advantage. So a pitcher will get a loss, and their ERA will rise when a runner they didn’t put on base scores? Here is an idea: instead of doing extra innings, let’s do a home run derby to decide who wins the game.
After this season, MLB’S CBA is up, and if I were a rep in the Player’s union, I would say if you want to keep the seven-inning doubleheaders, then the no-hitters should count the extra-inning rule has to go. If a deal cannot get done, there will be one person to blame, and his name is Rob Manfred. If you want people to fall back in love with the game, don’t try to change it: Embrace what makes the game remarkable and do a better job showcasing some of the stars people don’t get to see as often. Let them see more Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Mookie Betts for people on the east coast. Let people on the west coast see more Francisco Lindor, Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuna.
Best way to grow the game.
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