Cleveland Indians: 3 reasons the new extra innings rules are bad for the game

Doesn’t protect players

The extra-inning rule isn’t for player safety. Don’t believe it. Don’t listen to anyone who says it. The facts are this, this virus is spread through the air a majority of the time. Yet, the MLB doesn’t mandate masks. CDC guidelines say you should be at least six feet apart. You’re at least ten times that from any base on the field when you’re the pitcher. The CDC says the virus doesn’t transfer that well from surface contact, so again, there’s very little issue with catching and throwing balls; especially if you have to wear a mask.

So what’s this about the new rule is “safer” for players? Would a reliever be more at risk if he throws one inning compared to two? No. The risk factor isn’t going up at that point. Not compared to how much more at risk he is in the dugout, on the team bus, at the team hotel, etc.

If safety was the priority, why didn’t the MLB just move all 30 teams to Montana or North Dakota where there’s next to no population to worry about and build some makeshift stadiums? Unlike a basketball court, a baseball field is relatively cheap to build. Instead the league is having players travel around various states and cities, sleeping in countless hotel rooms and interacting with people every day who aren’t being tested or quarantined.

So how is this extra inning’s rule about safety?

Now also keep in mind that despite all of its claims for “safety”, they added extra games to the playoffs by adding even more teams. How is traveling more helping keep players safe? Eduardo Rodriguez now has a heart condition because he got COVID-19. Traveling and exposing players is fine but god forbid a pitcher has to stand on a mound by himself for too long?

If this rule were in place while the league was inside of a bubble as the NBA currently is, ok, at least that’s defensible. Overreactive maybe, sure, but at least it’s a small measure against a larger list of safety procedures. It’d be like putting an adhesive bandage on top of gauze that’s covering up 40 stitches. It’s not needed, but ok, at least it makes fundamental sense.

Trying to impose this rule outside of a bubble? Like putting a small adhesive bandage on a missing limb. I’m pretty sure you’re going to need more than one Band-Aid on that missing leg.