For the 2020 season, and with accelerating the game speed in mind, MLB implemented a controversial extra-inning rule: each team will start with a runner on second and no outs. It’s fair to say that New York Yankees pitchers are not fans of the idea.
The complete rule states that the batting order position before the hitter due up at the plate gets put on second base, and if the team doesn’t want that specific player to run, it can put a pinch runner. That will allow the club to select its best or fastest baserunner.
While testing the rule in their training camp at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Tyler Wade was put on the keystone with Chad Green on the mound. He stole third base and scored on an errant throw.
Green, after the practice, spoke about the rule to NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty.
“Obviously, I’m personally not a fan of it,†Green said. “I don’t know who wants to pitch with a runner on second with nobody out in an extra-inning game. It’s not something that you necessarily look forward to when you’re about to run out there.â€
“I think I heard (teammate Adam Ottavino) say that he would like people to earn it and get on second, and I kind of echo that.â€
Yankees pitcher say that isn’t “real baseball”
Ottavino said that’s “just not real baseball,†and expressed concern about defending a bunt to move the runner to third base and, theoretically, only one out.
“I’ll still be going out there to get the strikeout,†he said. “I come in plenty of times with guys on base. It’s figuring out whether they’re going to bunt or not.â€
Jordan Montgomery, penciled to be in the New York Yankees rotation to open the season, said the rule is “horrible.”
“That’s just kind of making whoever can bunt and put the ball in the air wins the game sometimes. I don’t think that’s really telling that the best team is going to win the game. I think it’s not great,†Montgomery said.
“I don’t particularly like having a runner out there that I haven’t earned,†Ottavino said. “It’s not my favorite rule, to be honest.â€