Whit Merrifield is hardly a fan of any of the new rules being tested by the Atlantic League this year.
A designated runner could be called upon to enter a match, without taking the place defensively of the substituted player the following inning. Additionally, it would be possible for that same runner to come back to hit or run later in the same game.
Maybe the Atlantic League will like it, but I hope to never see this rule in the Majors.
– Whit Merrifield
The Jays utility player is part of an 11-person committee to vote on new regulations aimed at improving major league baseball. We find in this group in particular a few players, owners and a referee.
There are three aspects of the game to master to be in the Majors: hitting, playing defense and knowing how to run the bases. You don’t have to be fast, but you have to know how to run on the bases. I have the impression that we are slowly moving away from the very essence of the game.
– Whit Merrifield
It would be interesting to see more fast players on the cushions. This would add extra pressure on the pitchers, while bringing more action to the game.
That said, I can’t help but agree with Whit Merrifield. A ball player must know how to run bases. It’s part of the game. This kind of regulation would lead some players to neglect their physical condition, since he would no longer have to worry about running for bases.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider, on the other hand, has less reservations about the possibility of seeing this kind of settlement in MLB one day.
You look at our training and you say to yourself that it would not be a bad thing to be able to use a designated runner, instead of an Alejandro Kirk or a Brandon Belt for example.
– John Schneider
It remains to be seen what results this new regulation will have in the Atlantic League this summer.
One thing is clear, major league baseball seems to be constantly evolving. The rules put in place this season are probably not the last to enter the league over the next few years.
2023-04-23 18:01:19
#Implementation #designated #runner #horrible #Whit #Merrifield
