⚾ Why MLB’s New Rule Is Wildly Entertaining

Major League Baseball has adopted a new extra-innings rule that brings more excitement to the game. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Major League Baseball’s new extra-innings rule means that someone gets to win, more quickly and in more exciting fashion ... we look at how college football teams are preparing for the start of practice during the coronavirus pandemic ... and Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum reads books to his son over FaceTime while in the Orlando bubble. Mark Sandoval loves baseball’s new extra-innings rule so much that he fears he’s going to start rooting for opponents of his team to tie the score late in games. Mike Clevinger hates it so much he called it the “whackest” thing he’s ever seen, and threw in a tasty expletive, just to emphasize the point. And right there, in a pair of disparate opinions, you can sum up Major League Baseball’s decision to put a runner on second base from the 10th inning onward when games are tied this season. Sandoval is a fan, a regular guy who lives in California and roots for the Los Angeles Angels. Clevinger is a pitcher, for the Cleveland Indians, a team that was an early casualty of an innovation designed to generate more runs, faster. Fans are going to be happy with this. Pitchers are not. “It is so exciting,” Sandoval, 45, told me last weekend. “I had my doubts when it was first announced. I am a baseball traditionalist at heart. But this brings an immediate buzz to the game. I love baseball strategy and how it evolves. And now the best thinkers in the game are trying to come up with ways to beat this rule change.” [STORY IMAGE 1] Coming out of the compacted campaign’s first weekend, there have been four extra-inning games. The first was when Sandoval’s Angels came up against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. As the 10th inning began, Shohei Ohtani was promptly sent out to second base, but quickly made a baserunning blunder and got caught in a rundown, leading to a scoreless inning. Matt Olson then blasted a grand slam for the visitors to seal the contest. In Cleveland, the Indians were on the losing side against the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, meaning Clevinger’s seven solid innings of work counted for nothing. “This isn’t travel ball,” Clevinger told reporters. “This isn’t Perfect Game. You know how hard it is to get a runner on second base off the back end of any bullpen, how incredibly hard that is? And now all of a sudden you just get a guy on second base with a guy like (James) Karinchak on the mound. “I’m not happy about it. I’m sure when other teams face the situation and this happens to them, you’re going to get similar reactions.” We are in a situation where baseball’s best minds have no choice but to go into overdrive right now. No one knows for sure the optimal way to manage a 60-game major league schedule, because no one has had to do it before. [STORY IMAGE 2] Similarly, there are going to be trends and flows and little in the way of agreement about how to handle the runner-on-second scenario. Bunting a runner across to third and then engineering a sacrifice fly would seem to be the most logical way to go about it, but that approach isn't for everyone. Successful bunts are not as common as they once were, and when you've only got three outs to work with, giving one away also seems counter-intuitive. The rule switch is just for this season, although it is far from beyond the realms of possibility that it sticks. “It might be one of those changes we wind up liking,’’ Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It makes things interesting.’‘ [STORY IMAGE 3] Pittsburgh Pirates assistant hitting coach Mike Rabelo managed under the system in the minors the past two seasons, and [told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to expect the unexpected](. “I’ve seen it every which way,” Rabelo said. “Every night you end up walking away scratching your head. Just when you think you have a plan, it doesn’t work the next time you do it. It’s wild. Believe me, you’re going to see all sorts of stuff.” Plenty of managers are avid supporters of the change, like David Bell of the Cincinnati Reds. A collection of New York Yankees are not in favor of the rule, most of them, you guessed it, pitchers. “I'm personally not a fan of it just because I don't know who wants to pitch with a runner on second and nobody out in an extra-inning game," New York’s Chad Green said. “It’s not something that you necessarily look forward to when you’re about to run out there.” It has already produced some wild oddities. In the Cleveland vs. Kansas City game, the Royals scored a run despite no official at-bats being recorded, thanks to a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly, a walk and a runner being thrown out while attempting to steal. [STORY IMAGE 4] Yes, it is odd and it is most certainly different. But it is great fun and let’s just put it this way - armchair viewers will learn pretty quickly that as soon as extras start nowadays, there is no time for bathroom breaks, coffee breaks, or get-the-grill-fired-up breaks. The new rule is heightened entertainment, contrived for purpose, certainly, but ultimately fair to both teams and an appropriate method of concluding a game. It is a savage development for those with nothing else to do and who wish for games to last into eternity. And yes, thank you pitchers, we get that it is no fun for you, either. For everyone else, it is a win-win because of the fact that someone gets to win, more quickly and in more exciting fashion. [STORY IMAGE 5]( Here’s what others have said ... Matt Martell, Sports Illustrated: "This new format keeps what I love most about extra innings: that there is no time limit. Naturally, this format creates more action, and we won't have to put all our hopes in a home run to settle the score. A bunt, error, wild pitch, hit or plenty of other outcomes—two balks!—could be all it takes to win a game." Dayn Perry, CBS Sports: “This, of course, makes it much more likely that a team will score and thus more likely that games won't last as long once they reach extra innings. The structural wrinkle has been tested in the minors, and even though it's in response to the compressed 60-game season it wouldn't be surprising to see it become permanent in the majors at some point.” Mike Matheny, Kansas City Royals Manager: “I love it. I hope we do it tomorrow. No, actually that’s not true. I hope we have a bigger lead ... It brings a level of excitement. I’ve watched it in the minor leagues first hand. The fans get engaged because there’s action. We’ve got something happening.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - On paper, the NCAA-approved college football practice plan that began last week looks normal. [ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg]( take a look at how teams are preparing for the start of practice during the coronavirus pandemic. - Is there really a case for LeBron James to edge Giannis Antetokounmpo for MVP? [Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated]( takes us inside the MVP race between the two NBA stars. - The coronavirus pandemic suspended in-person recruiting operations more than four months ago, but that hasn't stopped some schools from succeeding in these unusual circumstances. [Gabe Brooks of 247Sports.com]( explains why some programs are benefiting from close-to-home recruiting during this time. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( As fans of the NBA, we love the fact that basketball is back in action. But playing in the Orlando bubble does present several challenges for players having to spend extended time away from their families. That is what makes this social post so special. Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum brought his son’s favorite books with him to Orlando so that he could read with him over FaceTime. This is a beautiful, feel-good moment that we really enjoyed seeing on our timeline, and we hope you feel the same. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] WWE Monday Night Raw (USA, 8 p.m. ET) Asuka and Sasha Banks collide for the Raw Women’s Championship, while Drew McIntyre gets to pick the stipulation for his non-title rematch with Dolph Ziggler. MLB Baseball: New York Mets at Boston Red Sox (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET) Michael Wacha will take the mound for the Mets, who travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. MLS is Back Tournament: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (FS1, 8:30 p.m.) After winning Group B with an undefeated 2-0-1 record, the San Jose Earthquakes will match up against Real Salt Lake in a Round of 16 clash. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Zion Williamson over 19.5 points each on Opening Day: +300 The restart of the NBA season is set to get underway on Thursday as the Utah Jazz take on the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Los Angeles Lakers go up against the Los Angeles Clippers. These two matchups are loaded with superstar power, and FOX Bet is offering up a wager surrounding four of those stars. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Zion Williamson all averaged more than 23 points per contest before the NBA stopped play in mid-March. More importantly, this quartet played in a combined 185 games this season, and scored 20-or-more points in 151 of those games. With 3-to-1 odds, this looks like it could be a worthwhile bit of action for your Thursday evening. 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