The International Baseball Federation (or IBAF) is launching a new baseball league in Europe and having the 2009 Baseball World Cup there in order to get European support for admitting baseball back into the Olympics. I’m not the slightest bit interested in that, but something that the IBAF is going to try out is very interesting. The rule would change the manner of extra innings, in order to not have the game drag on.
When the game enters the 10th inning, the next players on the roster are placed on first and second base and each team starts with one out,” he said. “We feel that this proposal will help bring the game to an end in a timely manner.
This is a fantastic idea for many reasons.
- After watching 9 innings of baseball some people might be burnt out and not willing to watch anymore unless something interesting happens. With 2 men on and 1 out at the start of every inning the bored viewer might not be so bored anymore
- If the game takes place at night, extended games will keep you up which will fuck you over if you have to be somewhere in the morning
- When a team has to use its pitchers for 12+ innings, its bullpen will be taxed. The next day you had better hope your starter goes 7 or 8 innings because your bullpen will have few arms ready to go.
Traditionalists will certainly oppose this, but I’d take this modfication any day then having to see each member my team’s bullpen have to pitch 2 innings and have the game last until 3 AM.
