MLB commissioner Rob Manfred responded to hypothesis that the league is perhaps contemplating a brand new “Golden At-Bat” rule.
Manfred spoke on the Italian American Baseball Basis’s annual gala on Thursday, and briefly talked about the controversial concept that had gone viral this week. The commissioner made clear that such a rule change shouldn’t be on the desk, no less than not anytime quickly.
“For these of you who’ve ‘Golden At-Bat’ considerations, put your head in your pillow and sleep soundly tonight,” Manfred mentioned, via Leif Skodnick of World Baseball Network.
Manfred tried to chill down the hypothesis after opening the door to it within the first place.
“To go from the dialog stage to this truly exhibiting up in MLB is a really lengthy highway,” Manfred informed the Sure Community in an interview (h/t ESPN’s Jesse Rogers). “You do not like the concept? I would not be too involved about it proper now.”
“It was a really preliminary dialog which did create some buzz. I do encourage the homeowners to have conversations in regards to the sport.
“It has come out that I’ve spoken publicly about this type of change years in the past, that I used to be not significantly in favor of it. That is still the case.”
In a podcast look a number of months again, the commissioner mentioned there had been “a little bit buzz” about implementing a rule that may enable groups a one-time likelihood to ship a hitter of their option to the plate at any level within the sport. The resurfaced feedback went viral, and baseball followers on social media overwhelmingly opposed such a change.
Manfred has overseen numerous latest rule adjustments to a combined reception, and more are likely coming. The Golden At-Bat concept is nearly universally unpopular. Maybe he was merely floating a trial balloon when he made his preliminary feedback. If he was, he has a fairly clear reply to how followers would reply to it.
