Ever since its inception in the 2020 MLB season because of the pandemic, the “ghost runner” rule has been highly controversial.
Lots of fans don’t exactly love the idea of having a runner automatically placed at second base at every half inning after the ninth.
Some consider it unnatural and against the purpose of the game.
On the other hand, some people loved it and considered it a great (and fair) way to avoid long marathons in the regular season.
There are two camps: those who like the ghost runner and those who hate it.
It’s as simple as that.
This week, it was revealed that the rule will be enforced again in the regular season for the 2023 season and the future.
An MLB insider offered his take on the matter and also explained how MLB executives view it.
“Taking all the emotion out of it, kind of crazy this rule would not exist without the pandemic. And I haven’t talked to an executive that doesn’t love it. But then again, it just makes their lives easier. No day after 18 inning roster headaches,” Jesse Rogers tweeted.
Taking all the emotion out of it, kind of crazy this rule would not exist without the pandemic. And I haven’t talked to an executive that doesn’t love it. But then again, it just makes their lives easier. No day after 18 inning roster headaches.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 13, 2023
Rogers is right: if it wasn’t for the 2020 pandemic, the rule wouldn’t be used at the MLB level because the need for it wouldn’t have appeared in the first place.
Some executives like it, others don’t.
Whether it’s fair or not (the jury is still out on that), it does simplify roster planning for teams by minimizing the chance that a game goes 18 innings or more.
Fans who are still on the fence will have to get used to it because the league intends to apply it for the foreseeable future.
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