Major League Baseball is facing widespread criticism over new rules.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said there has been “a bit of buzz” about “golden at-bats,” which would allow each team to allow a player who wants to be at bat just once during a game.
This is not surprising, as rule changes are often met with negative reactions in baseball, but this change could be the biggest in the history of the sport.
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Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. during the MLB Draft at Lumen Field on July 9, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Daniel Shiley/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
And, unsurprisingly, two of the greatest players in baseball history aren't participating.
Seven-time Cy Young Award winner: “This can't happen in real life'' Posted by Roger Clemens on X.
Add Chipper Jones: “How about a 'rusty bat' for the defense? It has to be fair to people on both sides!”
New York Mets anchor Howie Rhodes also does not want to appear.
Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks during the Grapefruit League's Spring Training Media Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
“What? Is this an April Fool's joke in December? Come on.” he posted.
New York Yankees anchor Michael Kay took a different approach. Although he said he wasn't participating, he said something needed to happen to fix the “broken” game and praised the commissioner's creative thinking.
“There has to be something to stop the decline of this great game. We have to appeal to more people. Young people. They are the talent we don't have,” Kaye said on Tuesday's radio show. . “So just because Rob Manfred thinks outside the box, are you going to crucify him? You all have to grow up. And you guys Everyone has to open their eyes and see what's going on in the game.”
Baseball purists may not like any change in the sport, but they are working on it nonetheless.
Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a press conference after negotiations with the players' association on March 1, 2022 in Jupiter, Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfried Lee)
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The average length of a nine-inning game in the 2024 regular season was 2 hours and 36 minutes, the lowest since 1984. He also stole 3,617 bases this season, the most since 1915. MLB took advantage of this, posting its highest attendance since 2017 despite generally higher prices. The ballpark is higher than ever. It was also the first time in more than a decade that the league saw consecutive attendance increases.
