The zombie runner rule is now permanent

[BobbyStrawberry]

I dislike it for many reasons:

1) Long extra inning games are fun
2) It feels to me, even after three years of it now , incredibly artificial. (Like they introduced an element that shouldn't be there)
3) It violates a fundamental rule of the game - you have to reach base in order to score
4) As others have stated, it messes with stats in a way that seems goofy

I get that MLB is trying to shorten games, but as fans, don't you want more of the game? I honestly would have preferred games to end in a tie after 12 innings than this.

And one other point that struck me - the fact that they will only do this for regular season games, to me, is a tacit admission that the idea is silly: "Oh, don't worry fans, we'll still play real baseball in extra innings when the games actually count"

[Mike D.]

Those zombies have a heck of a union...

Like it or hate it, but with it's stated goal being to do away with crazy long extra inning games it can't be argued that it isn't successful.

From mlbtraderumors.com:

"Though the change rankled many baseball purists, there’s little doubting that it was successful in accomplishing the goal of preventing exceptionally long games. As pointed out by Eno Sarris of The Athletic, there were only 11 games to reach the 13th inning last year, compared to 37 in 2019. There were also no games that went beyond the 15th in 2022, while it happened eight times in 2019."

[Mark17]

Put a clock on the pitcher. If he doesn't deliver within 20 seconds of him getting the ball in his hands, the ump calls a ball and the clock restarts. That's how it works in football with the play clock. Same with batters - make them stay in the box.

It seems to me that people who like the zombie rule see baseball as entertainment mostly, while people (like me) who hate the zombie see baseball more as a continuous, ongoing history.

[JollyElm]

Better yet, start extra innings with the bases loaded and blindfold the pitcher and make him pitch underhanded!! Or, how about eliminating the pitcher altogether and putting the ball on a tee?? Or, if it's entertainment baseball 'fans' want, how about just having all extra innings pitched by the botox-addicted ladies from one of the 'Real Housewives of...' shows?? That fits in perfectly with traditional baseball, right???

It saddens me to no end that there are people out there who actually think the pathetic zombie rule is a good thing.

[Jim65]

It doesn't happen enough for me to get worked up about it or feel its ruining the game. It definitely adds a different strategy, which makes extra innings a bit more interesting.

[Snapolit1]

Hate to be the one to break the news, but baseball is an entertainment product and not a religion. To some degree it has to adapt to changing societal norms.

Though even the church has to adapt. My mom loves watching mass on her iPad from around the country every Sunday.

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Hate to be the one to break the news, but baseball is an entertainment product and not a religion.

Well that statement is sacrilegious!

If they want to shorten the game, then why not just call it a tie? And maybe give everyone can get a participation trophy?

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Better yet, start extra innings with the bases loaded and blindfold the pitcher and make him pitch underhanded!! Or, how about eliminating the pitcher altogether and putting the ball on a tee?? Or, if it's entertainment baseball 'fans' want, how about just having all extra innings pitched by the botox-addicted ladies from one of the 'Real Housewives of...' shows?? That fits in perfectly with traditional baseball, right???

It saddens me to no end that there are people out there who actually think the pathetic zombie rule is a good thing.

I know change is hard for you, Darren.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

I know change is hard for you, Darren.

Ridiculously stupid change is hard for any normal person.

[DFWGrapher]

I want a hybrid of it.

Innings 10-12: play like normal, as something like 80% of all extra inning games prior to the zombie runner rule still ended in 10, 11, or 12 and should only tack on an extra hour, tops. If still tied...

Inning 13: zombie runner at first.
Inning 14: zombie runner at second.
Inning 15: zombie runner at third.
Inning 16: zombie runners at first and second
Inning 17: zombie runners at first and third
Inning 18: zombie runners at second and third
Inning 19+: zombie apocalypse: bases loaded

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Ridiculously stupid change is hard for any normal person.

As are ridiculously stupid hot takes

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

I dislike it for many reasons:

1) Long extra inning games are fun (yeah thats why more than half the stadium is empty after 11th inning or so)
2) It feels to me, even after three years of it now , incredibly artificial. (Like they introduced an element that shouldn't be there) (DH isnt artificial? banning the shift?)
3) It violates a fundamental rule of the game - you have to reach base in order to score (you only allowed to reach base if you can be tied after 9 innings, if you dont you dont reach base like that)
4) As others have stated, it messes with stats in a way that seems goofy (getting hits off fielders or scoring a double in the gap because pitcher is playing the outfield doesnt mess with the stats?)

I get that MLB is trying to shorten games, but as fans, don't you want more of the game? I honestly would have preferred games to end in a tie after 12 innings than this. (yeah thats why hockey got rid of only ties, and have expanded how ties are done because ties are so great)

And one other point that struck me - the fact that they will only do this for regular season games, to me, is a tacit admission that the idea is silly: "Oh, don't worry fans, we'll still play real baseball in extra innings when the games actually count"

NFL has different OT rules now for regular season and postseason

[Snapolit1]

I saw they have passed new rules limiting when a team can use a non pitcher to pitch. I have no issue with that either. The proliferation of non-pitcher pitchers last year lobbing 50 mph golpher balls was getting a little ridiculous. Cute once in a while, not all the time.

[D. Bergin]

Put me with the "I don't like it" crowd.

The problem in baseball is 4 hour 9 inning games. Nobody was clamoring for the rarer occasions of extra inning games being artificially shortened....except maybe the owners who don't want to pay ballpark attendants, and the secretary who has to make travel arrangements for the team the next day.

Regardless of how much money they make nowadays, I gotta think most players have an Ernie Banks "Let's Play Two" mentality, when it comes right down to it.

For what it's worth, I also hated when they introduced the Shoot-out in Hockey.

No, it's not going to ruin the game...and fans will get used to it...and it's probably somehow "for the best"...but I still don't like it.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

For what it's worth, I also hated when they introduced the Shoot-out in Hockey.

I hated the shoot-out at first too but they needed to do something. Back in the day teams played too cautious in overtime to not lose and just get the one point, now that the one point is guaranteed, teams can go for it, to get the extra point.I learned to like the shoot-out because I hate ties.

[steve B]

Part of the appeal of baseball is it's lack of a clock and fairly slow pace, even the quicker older game. The stretches of relaxing yet suspense filled time, punctuated by a few random moments of frantic activity.

If it's nonstop action and instant gratification you want maybe a nice videogame tournament?