MLB doesn’t need ties, it demands winners

There is no tying is baseball. The game that is steeped into American history ends America’s way. But, one national writer thinks that should change.

I get it. A single game of baseball can last over three hours, and that is just the regular nine-inning variety. Should the teams be tied after that, the battle rages on into extra innings. It continues under the standard rules of the game until a winner is produced. It is the way it should be, and the way America wants it.

To paraphrase former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary, we want winners. Baseball writer Joel Sherman would not make the practice squad for Singletary’s team, as raising the white flag after 12 innings is justifiable to him. ESPN’s Mike Greenburg agrees with Mr. Sherman, posting a Twitter Poll on the matter and discussing in on “Mike And Mike” this morning.

In a New York Post article composed by Sherman, he lays out a case for ending baseball games in a tie whether we like it or not. His points are valid, I must agree. Calling a pitcher into the game that is scheduled to start the next day is not ideal. Nor is it fair for someone to perform well in the game only to move to the minors all in the name of fresh players.

Major League Baseball is America’s pastime. Or at least it was, but now we are in need to instant gratification. We want non-stop entertainment which mandates creating a zip-line in a ballpark, and having free WiFi so that we can watch Game of Thrones while Yoenis Cespedes cuts down an ill-advised base runner from the left field fence.

The problem is not extra innings, but how long it can take to resolve the game. Furthermore, the concern over rosters and health of players is paramount. That does not mean we should just throw up our hands after 12 innings and call it a draw. Not yet.

There are other options to investigate. If extra-inning modification is good enough for the World Baseball Classic or my church softball league, it is good enough for MLB. Here are a few ideas.

1. Starting after the 12th inning, put a runner on second base each half inning. It should be the player that made the last out the inning before. The batting team is not allowed to pinch run for that player, even if it were a pitcher on base.
2. Any player that enters the game in or after the ninth inning is required to play two innings, unless an injury occurs.
3. Bring an end to matchup baseball. Relief pitchers must get three outs or give up 2+ runs before being removed from the game. These are MLB pitchers, and should know how to pitch to both right- and left-handed batters.
4. Should the game go to the 15th, start the inning with a runner on second and one out.
5. Should the game go 15 innings, allow both teams to call up two players without penalty to their current roster for the following day. Allow a one-day 27-man roster.

Then, there are the fans. Didn’t most of them purchase the ticket to the game knowing that baseball can go into extra innings? Baseball players are not being overtly inconsiderate of fans or forcing them into their seats, withholding food, beverage, and bathroom rights, and making them watch the game. Should a fan by a ticket to the game and decide to leave in the 13th inning, that is well within their right. Nor does it mean they hate baseball or will never come back. As a matter of fact, those that stay long may well be back tomorrow or next week.

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These are ideas. Sure, the Cubs tied the Pittsburgh Pirates last season; however, that game was in September with zero playoff implications. Should that happen in April or August, and a team only misses the playoffs by a half-game, the frustration of team ownership, managers, players and fans would rival that of Auburn football the year they were left out of the BCS Title game.

There is no tying in baseball. These are games – games that deserve a winner and a loser.