Royals relief pitchers aren’t in favor of new MLB extra-innings rule for 2020
Last summer, Royals pitcher Josh Staumont got a taste of what the extra-inning rule Major League Baseball will institute this season.
When a game is tied after nine innings, a runner will start each half inning on second base. That runner will be the player who bats before the leadoff hitter. A substitute also can be used.
The good news for pitchers: if the runner who begins a half-inning on second base scores, it is an unearned run.
But that’s of little consolation to Royals relief pitchers Josh Staumont and Trevor Rosenthal.
“Yeah, I don’t like it,” Rosenthal said when asked about the rule. “I haven’t thought much about it, but I don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense changing the game the way it’s played.
“I know they want to speed things up, want to protect guys, but that’s just part of the game. I’ve been part of long games and I don’t see much reason to change the things that they’re changing. I think it’s been proven a lot of things they’ve changed haven’t had as much an impact as they thought.”
The rule was implemented because of a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was used in the minor leagues the previous two seasons and shortened the length of games. Baseball America’s JJ Cooper shared these insights:
Staumont was part of an Omaha Storm Chasers game that went 13 innings last year. Omaha, the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, lost 12-9 to San Antonio after both teams scored a run in the 11th inning.
After pitching a scoreless 12th inning, Staumont walked the first batter he faced on a 3-2 pitch in the 13th. With two on, San Antonio’s Cory Spangenberg reached on a bunt single. Staumont got a strikeout, but David Freitas followed by hitting a grand slam.
So, yeah, Staumont has already seen the new rule at work, and it left a bad taste in his mouth.
“A competitive disadvantage is something you never want, so that is something that as much as the run isn’t earned, the loss is still for the team and the loss is for yourself,” Staumont said.
“It’s a tough situation. As a guy that focuses on strikeouts and works things in that regard, getting that first guy to strike out without advancing that runner is huge. Having an open base allows for (going) right after him, try and limit contact, try to extend (the game) because if it’s the bottom of the inning.
“It happened in many minor league games, it’ll go back and forth for a few innings.”
