More predictable game length allows the free runner rule to change
2020 was five years ago
Baseball purists and even casual observers, hate the 2020 MLB rule to place a runner on second base in the 10th inning. That rule came about because of the Covid-19 pandemic and was a reasonable approach to keeping player health at the forefront. Let’s face it, as fans we were not sure there would even be a 2020 MLB season, so if putting the DH in the National League and having a runner on second base in the 10th inning were necessary compromises, we fans would roll with it since the players did. It wasn’t a terrible idea. Keeping the players in contact with one another less made sense at the time. But nobody thought that it would become the standard.
Another pandemic-season big change was that the DH in the NL is now, so far, a permanent reality. Why the extra-innings runner became permanent I cannot explain nor understand. I’ve gone on record saying that watching a 17-inning game isn’t all that fun for a fan, and it wreaks havoc with a pitching staff that can find it takes weeks to recover from and makes baseball worse, not better for all. Yet games that went beyond 13 innings were a minority BEFORE 2020. But there were plenty of 10 and 11 inning games before 2020 comparative to those that went more than 13 innings.
Adding a runner on 2nd base in extra innings has made game lengths more predictable
Television (broadcast, cable, and now, streaming), has made deals with MLB since the game began being televised in the 1940s. Part of that agreement included the contingency that if the game went past nine innings, the carrier would continue to air the game through its completion. Problem was that it was impossible to predict how long the game might take. Since networks and cable channels had scheduled programming after the game was completed, that programming would be pre-empted. Advertisers would have options to be included if there were extra innings, and those that were pre-empted from other shows due to late running games, would be given credits to be applied at a future time. It wasn’t great but it was what it was.
Since there are so few super-long extra-inning games today in MLB, and the fact that most MLB games are less than three hours, it’s long overdue that MLB and Commissioner Manfred amend the extra inning rules. For some unknown reason the tinkering Manfred has not bothered to amend the revised (now five years!), extra innings rules.
It's not all that hard to change the extra inning rules
At the very least the 10th inning could be played ‘clean’ like any other inning, and a runner could be placed on first base in the 11th inning, and if the outcome of the game was not determined in that inning, a runner could be placed on second base in the 12th and all following innings. And to assuage the purists, it would not bother me if the 10th and 11th were played straight up and then begin the parade of extra runners from the 12th inning thereon.
In 2019 the year before extra runner was added in 2020, approximately nine percent of MLB games went into extra innings. The average game length was 11.3 innings. In the first post-pandemic season 2021 there were the same amount of extra-inning games (nine percent), but those games lasted a full inning less, 10.3 innings. On average even extra-inning games lasted about three hours. Predictable!
BTW, I agree with writer Justin Alston who asked that in the playoffs MLB removes the extra-inning rule altogether. Shortening playoff games is a bad idea. The argument is that the rules should be the same rules that MLB has used for the regular season since players are conditioned for that over 162 games. To that I say, balderdash! Or something a little stronger. C’mon really?
In general, I have been more satisfied than most that Rob Manfred and the folks at MLB are trying to create the best version of baseball. There are plenty of debates on Manfred and MLB’s overall performance in making the game ‘better’. The impending CBA (collective bargaining agreement), between the players and owners that will follow the 2026 season is circled on everyone’s calendar as a potential lockout or player’s strike over things like a salary cap, free agency status and rule changes. All of these will be on the bargaining table and it’s my hope that changing the extra innings runner rules will be among them.
And for what it is worth I think the limitation of throws to the bases by the pitcher has always been a dumb idea. But it’s also one that just won’t go away!
Finally, MLB is taking control of many of the teams’ broadcast rights as the distributor compared to when networks such as ESPN, TNT, TBS and over-the-air broadcasters, were calling the shots. That might suggest that game lengths could be indefinite without worrying about what might be pre-empted.
Here’s my question, do baseball fans really love watching 16 inning games?
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and now Substack.com.
I like the idea of waiting until the 11th or 12th to start the inning with a ghost runner. The occasional long game is okay, but it does get a bit tedious when neither team can manage an unanswered run in the 15th, 16th, 17th… Not to mention, as you say, what it does to the bullpen.
An alternative to make the ghost runner more interesting would be to move him to 1st or start the inning with one out. Having a runner on 2nd with no outs just seems too easy for the offense.