July 30, 2020

Extra! Extra!

Sam Miller of ESPN decides he likes the extra-inning man on second rule:

It only took five games, covering six extra innings, to see how wrong I was. The new rules, introduced temporarily for this anomalous season, work. Rather than force routinized late-game strategies, putting a runner on second base to start each half-inning has created more variety. 

ESPN.com

In general, I try to stay open minded about changes to the game. Some work (wild cards), some don’t (All-Star game mattering). A man on second seems to cause a lot less disruption than people thought.

A note on the lack of bunting. I believe it happens more in the minors because minor leaguers, in general, are weak hitters. If it’s the top of the tenth, and the opponent has three power hitters coming up in the bottom of the inning, playing for one run does not seem like that great a strategy.

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