Ghost runner may be back for 2022

[Otto von Ballpark]

Bad news for traditionalists: the extra-innings runner on second (aka "ghost runner") may return for 2022 after all.

Apparently the players "heavily support" it.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/mlb-mlbpa-discussing-reinstating-extra-innings-ghost-runner-rule.html

[tony&rodney]

  On 3/14/2022 at 9:27 PM, Otto von Ballpark said:

Apparently the players "heavily support" it.

Expand  

What a damning commentary on the players. Apparently it is a drag to play extra inning games. I would rather see ties.

This is worse than yesterday's trade. I turned off extra inning games the past two years. 

[KFEY93]

Dumb

[Otto von Ballpark]

  On 3/14/2022 at 9:32 PM, tony&rodney said:

What a damning commentary on the players. Apparently it is a drag to play extra inning games

Expand  

I don't know if it is as simple as that.

Specialization has increased rapidly in the sport. Marathon games are too infrequent for teams to change that approach.

But when one of those marathon games happens, the players bear most of the burden on their health, effectiveness, and even roster status (teams may have to juggle the roster, but the players are the ones who will get benched, optioned, or waived for a fresh specialist afterward).

As a fan, I understand the opposition to the change -- but it's probably more natural than it appears.

[tony&rodney]

  On 3/14/2022 at 11:21 PM, Otto von Ballpark said:

the players are the ones who will get benched, optioned, or waived for a fresh specialist afterward).

Expand  

A big omission of the players in the recent CBA was not slowing the constant shuffling of players through waivers. It was cut to 5 times per year but going back to the rules of 15 days mandatory in the minors when sent down before recall, cutting the number down to three or four waivers, and eliminating all of the exceptions was a miss because the players lose days and are used poorly. The managers can play every game as a low scoring affair. If baseball doesn't want extra innings go with a tie (I don't like that either). Baseball loses much of its charm as an athletic form of chess whenever needless rule changes are enacted. 

[stringer bell]

Can’t say this is my idea—I believe I heard Bremer suggest it last season—but using the ghost runner after a couple of “normal” extra innings sounds like a compromise that would work. 
 

It would eliminate the marathon games, but a great majority would be decided with regular baseball rules. 

[tony&rodney]

  On 3/14/2022 at 11:21 PM, Otto von Ballpark said:

As a fan, I understand the opposition to the change -- but it's probably more natural than it appears.

Expand  

I'm totally opposed to Manfredball, but want to acknowledge that your sentence above makes sense.

[h2oface]

  On 3/14/2022 at 9:27 PM, Otto von Ballpark said:

Bad news for traditionalists: the extra-innings runner on second (aka "ghost runner") may return for 2022 after all.

Apparently the players "heavily support" it.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/mlb-mlbpa-discussing-reinstating-extra-innings-ghost-runner-rule.html

Expand  

It's such hard work to get to play baseball for millions of dollars and actually have to play a few more innings now and then.

Ghost runners, ghost wins in playoffs. 

Who ya gonna call?

Ghost Busters!