Fansided

MLB is testing an absurb rule in the Atlantic League

By Roger Castillo

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Kelsie Whitmore stands with her teammates for the National Anthem before their game against the Charleston Dirty Birds at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on July 08, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game.  Her debut in the Atlantic League was a pinch runner on April 22, and became the first woman to start an Atlantic League game on May 1,  playing as a left fielder.  On May 4, she became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game. . (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Kelsie Whitmore stands with her teammates for the National Anthem before their game against the Charleston Dirty Birds at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on July 08, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game.  Her debut in the Atlantic League was a pinch runner on April 22, and became the first woman to start an Atlantic League game on May 1,  playing as a left fielder.  On May 4, she became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game. . (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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The Atlantic League, thanks to MLB, will be testing out one new rule that has no logical explanation of why it’s necessary at all.

The Atlantic League has been the testing ground for all the new MLB rule changes that went into effect this season. The bigger bases, the automated strike zones using TrackMan technology, the elimination of the defensive shifts, just to name a few.

So what was in store for the league this season for Opening Day on April 28? Per the press release on the Atlantic League site. 

"New to the Atlantic League this season will be the use of a Designated Pinch Runner. Each club will list a player who is not otherwise in the starting lineup as a designated pinch runner. That player may then be substituted at any point into the game as a baserunner. The player who is substituted for, as well as the pinch runner, may then return to the game without penalty."

MLB testing designated pinch-runner, new DH rules in Atlantic League

Okay, that rule seems rather strange, however, there seems to be some sort of strategy behind late in games, but why can the player who was pulled come back into the game? Whenever a pinch hitter comes in for a regular, that regular is done.

What purpose does this serve?

There is another rule being tested out that is also rather absurd.

"The ALPB will continue the use of the “Double-Hook” DH rule, which allows clubs to use the designated hitter throughout the game provided that the club’s starting pitcher has completed at least five innings. If the starter fails to make it through the fifth, the club then loses the DH for the remainder of the game."

So the idea of having an opener is thrown out the window completely. This is a rule that hopefully sticks in this league only. For pitchers who are starting the season at various pitch counts for the sake of arm health, their teams will get penalized? For what purpose?

The purpose of the DH was to add offense to the game. Now, the pitcher will have to hit again and fans will have to suffer a bad at-bat.

Lame.

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