Sconnies Speak

Tag: MLB

  • Change is Necessary: How the MLB “Ghost Runner” Rule is Transforming the Game in a Positive Way

    By Jordan Berendt

    “They’re ruining baseball by changing the game.” 

    This is a phrase that MLB fans, players, and coaches hear all too often nowadays. Particularly, since the MLB introduced what is often referred to as the automatic “ghost runner” rule in 2020, nostalgic baseball supporters have not held back from voicing their complaints. 

    The automatic runner rule was added during the 2020 season as part of the MLB’s attempt to shorten games and reduce players’ exposure to one another in the midst of a global pandemic. This rule consists of placing a runner on second base at the start of each extra inning during regular season games. Despite the initial mixed fan reactions to this change, many baseball lovers refused to believe the rule would last much past 2020. 

    However, as the pandemic slowly subsided and the world returned to a new normal, the rule still remained. This sparked further debate over whether having a “ghost runner” was changing the beloved game of baseball. Despite critics’ arguments, the rule was permanently implemented by the MLB prior to the 2023 season. 

    So, just like life after the pandemic, can’t fans adjust to this rule being the “new normal” in baseball? 

    The answer for many – no. 

    Unfortunately, the quote “change is scary” resonates far too closely with several long-time baseball fans. 

    I would argue, however, what these OG baseball fanatics desperately need to hear is this – CHANGE IS NECESSARY! 

    Similar to how educational curriculums, the English language, people, and many more things evolve, sports do too. Now, more than ever, Major League Baseball is in need of changes like the “ghost runner” rule to appeal to younger audiences. Audiences that will make up the future of baseball. 

    Considering this rule is now official, fans might as well try and focus on the positives. Below, I have listed five advantages of the automatic runner rule that baseball purists should consider next time they feel compelled to complain. 

    Shorter Games

    Many fans and players have come to appreciate how the automatic runner rule has significantly decreased the length of games. While the average MLB game time in 2019 was three hours and five minutes, a typical game was just two hours and 36 minutes in 2024. 

    Additionally, there is no denying that this shorter game time has increased younger generations’ appeal for the game. According to the American Psychology Society, all people, but especially children, have attention spans that are continually shrinking. One of the major contributors to this is our ever-growing digital world. 

    So, let me ask you this, what fun would extra innings be if nobody is there at the end of the game to see the outcome?

    Increased Scoring 

    Beginning extra innings with a runner starting on second leads teams to a greater chance of scoring. This fact has been proven throughout the last four years ever since the automatic runner rule was implemented. Today, teams are scoring closer to two runs on average in a single extra inning, a big improvement in most player’s eyes. 

    Healthier Players

    The longer the game, the more strain players suffer. As a result, injuries are more likely to occur and starting players are replaced by those who typically sit the bench. 

    Since making the “ghost runner” rule permanent, all players, especially pitchers, have seen a reduced risk of injury and are facing less physically taxing circumstances. Moreover, because pitchers are experiencing less pain, the negative effects of an extra inning game do not carry on for days and no longer mess with team’s pitching rotations. 

    Elimination of Marathon Games 

    In baseball, marathon games refer to games that extend into 15 innings or more. While those who oppose the automatic runner rule often favor the nostalgia associated with a 17-inning game, most people today simply do not have the time or patience to wait these games out. 

    As technology has progressed, distractions have increased, and people’s abilities to multitask have slowly dwindled. Marathon games are not practical in today’s society.

    More Action

    Lastly, who wants to go to an MLB game and see only one or two runs scored? Not me. Because the automatic runner rule has helped increase scoring in extra innings, fans are likely to get more bang for their buck in terms of entertainment. This rule has also added a new layer of unpredictability to the game, forcing teams to strategize like never before.

    Ultimately, if the reasons above are not enough to convince you that the automatic runner rule is part of the facelift that Major League Baseball needs, then I am afraid you might be stuck in the past. 

    While it is understandable that many adults feel deeply connected to the “traditional” game of baseball, change is both necessary and inevitable. It is time that professional baseball lovers start accepting this and prioritizing the future of the game. 

    As every loyal MLB fan knows, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

  • Home Run Hype: New Torpedo Bats are Taking the MLB by Storm

    By Matt Kane

    With the start of the 2025 MLB season underway, the biggest story surrounding the sport is unsurprisingly centered around the New York Yankees and their newest invention – the torpedo bat.

    This so-called “torpedo bat” is taking the baseball world by storm early in the season, as several Yankees have decided to start hitting with these unusually shaped bats. 

    So, what makes a torpedo bat different from the standard MLB bat? Well, torpedo bats are unique in that, the thickest part of the bat barrel is closer to the handle than “normal”, creating a noticeable bowling-pin shape. 

    These torpedo bats are yet again another new addition to the MLB, further contributing to the League’s evolution over the past few years. Advancements such as the pitch clock and base runners in extra innings have made the game more watchable for the vast majority of fans. That being said, the recent increase in pressure on sports to prioritize viewership has caused a significant amount of buzz regarding torpedo bats and their legality and lifespan.

    Yankees’ team analyst, Aaron Learnhardt, is the mastermind behind these bats. Learnhardt is a former University of Michigan physics teacher with a Ph.d. from MIT. His past experiences, knowledge, and expertise in the field of science helped him craft these game-altering creations. The craziest part? These new bats technically stay within the rules of the game, with the rulebook stating that bats must conform within a 2.61 inch diameter. 

    Moreover, these bats are referred to as “torpedo bats” because they are designed with more mass towards the label, aka – the “sweet spot” of the bat, giving them a torpedo-like shape.

    The reason why torpedo bats have become so wildly popular is because of one team and one team only – the New York Yankees. 

    Over their first three games of the 2025 season, the Yankees knocked 15 balls over the fence, with nine of them being hit courtesy of a torpedo bat.

    Yankee center fielder, Jazz Chisholm, is among many on the team who are experimenting with the new design. As a result, Chisholm has already recorded four home runs and nine hits using the beefed-up bat. 

    While the torpedo bat feels like any ordinary bat, it also “gives you that extra confidence in your head to be able to go out there and hit anything,” Chisholm said.

    As someone who is typically on the opposing side to most rule changes, I want to hate the idea of these potential power bats. However, I ultimately believe that they will benefit the sport in the end.

    With other players around the League starting to test out the torpedo shape, such as Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz, it will be interesting to see how the MLB responds over the course of the season. 

    Overall, although it pains me and many others to see the Yankees off to a hot start, it is way too early to tell if their success in the Bronx is simply due to new tech in the dugout, or their strong team performance. 

    In the future, I am curious to see how pitchers will respond to the new bats. Nevertheless, for the time being, any publicity is good publicity for baseball and makes me excited to see how torpedo bats will further impact the game.

  • The Brewers’ Blueprint to Success with a Low Payroll

    By Matthew Ramthun

    In Major League Baseball, the trend in recent years has been clear: to win, you have to spend. And spend big. If you look at teams that consistently win and make the playoffs every year, you’ll find high-spending franchises like the Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, Astros, and Braves—all of whom rank in the top 10 in payroll this year, according to FanGraphs.

    When it comes to winning the World Series, the correlation between spending and success is even stronger. In 2024, the Dodgers won with the 8th-ranked payroll (a rank that’s a bit misleading due to the large amount of deferred money on their books). In 2023, it was the Rangers with the 4th-ranked payroll. The 2022 Astros ranked 8th, and the 2021 Braves were 10th. According to Sportrac, there hasn’t been a World Series champion without a top 10 payroll since the 2017 Astros.

    One team that has been defying the odds and finding consistent success despite a low payroll is the Milwaukee Brewers. They’ve made the playoffs in five of the past six seasons while maintaining a payroll in the bottom half of the league each year. So, how do the Brewers manage to compete? What’s their blueprint?

    Trades.

    The Brewers make the most of their limited resources by making smart trades—both acquiring key players and dealing away stars they can’t afford to re-sign.

    The trade that kicked off this successful stretch came when the Brewers acquired Christian Yelich from the Marlins. It was a landslide win for Milwaukee. The players sent to Miami were underwhelming at best. The best player the Marlins received in the trade was Lewis Brinson, who hasn’t played in the majors since 2022, and owns a career-high batting average of just .226. 

    Meanwhile, Yelich went on to win the NL MVP immediately after the trade and nearly repeated the feat the following year. He’s been the team’s cornerstone player ever since—and one of the few players the Brewers have invested significant money in.

    Another major win came when they acquired All-Star catcher William Contreras before the 2023 season. Contreras has since turned in back-to-back stellar seasons, finishing 11th in MVP voting in 2023 and 5th last year. Who might the Brewers have given up for him? Esteury Ruiz, who was recently cut from the Oakland A’s 40-man roster after a couple of underwhelming seasons. To add insult to injury, the Brewers also acquired Joel Payamps—a key piece of their bullpen.

    The Brewers have also made a habit of trading away players they know they won’t be able to afford. While these trades may not always favor the Brewers, it’s better to receive some sort of compensation for players they know they would lose for nothing in free agency. In recent seasons, the Brewers have traded away high-quality players like Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams.

    The Hader trade, at the time, was bad for the Brewers—arguably costing them a playoff spot that year. However, they received two key players: Robert Gasser, a top pitching prospect who impressed before an injury, and Esteury Ruiz, who was later flipped in the deal that landed Contreras and Payamps.

    In the Corbin Burnes trade, the Brewers received DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and a competitive balance first-round draft pick from the Orioles. Hall showed promise despite being injured much of the year, and Ortiz had a solid rookie season as Milwaukee’s starting third baseman, hitting .239 while playing great defense.

    As for the Devin Williams trade? Jury’s still out. 

    However, the Brewers received former All-Star Nestor Cortez and promising prospect Caleb Durbin from the Yankees. Despite his smaller stature, Durbin hit .275 and hit 10 home runs in the minors last season.

    One notable player the Brewers have not traded away, despite his contract expiring, was star shortstop Willy Adames. Having learned a hard lesson from the Hader trade, the Brewers opted to keep Adames to avoid destabilizing the team mid-season.

    But, of course, Adames himself was originally acquired via trade—a deal they also clearly won when they picked him up from the Rays in 2021.

    By trading away high-value players before they walk in free agency, the Brewers have been able to retool their roster with key pieces. They’ve also been able to utilize trades to acquire key players, while giving up a minimal amount in return. 

    How will the Brewers’ strategy of flipping players to stay lean work out this year?

    My guess is pretty well. But only time will tell.

  •  Golden Glove Winner to Major Batting Slump: Christian Walker’s Turnaround

    By Erica Bunting 

    Sixty Million. Three-year deal. Yet, twenty-two games into the season, he is sporting a disappointing .154 batting average. Christian Walker needs to turn it around as soon as possible. Would this jolt come during the Astros series with San Diego Padres on the weekend of April 18th? 

    Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros in 2024 as a free agent. He has previously played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is considered one of the best defensive players in the major leagues, having won three Golden Glove awards. But his defensive abilities have not done enough to compensate for his offensive woes.

    Through these first two dozen games, his performance has not been what the Astros’ organization has hoped for. His OPS has fallen nearly 50 points below the league average. It is a different Walker than the 26 doubles and 26 home runs he hit last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

    Going into the series against the San Diego Padres in late April, Astors Head Coach Joe Espada shifted Walker down in the batting order from 4th to 5th. “[I] wanted to change some things up there in the middle,” Espada said in a pre-game interview with the Houston Chronicle. “I get it,” Walker said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, “We’re here to win. And if I’m not doing what I need to be to help the team win in the four-hole, an adjustment needs to be made.” 

    On Saturday night, April 19th, Walker made his first big swing as a Houston Astro. In the bottom of the sixth inning, he smashed a two-run home run to tie the game. With a rocky start to the season, this was the at-bat he needed to turn himself around. “Really good swing–big hit, big at-bat. I’m happy for him. He’s grinding,” Espada said in an interview with Major League Baseball News. “Just to come through in a spot, you feel like you’re helping the team,” Walker told the Houston Chronicle. “That’s something I’ve been craving largely, something I need to be better at.” 

    Walker’s continuous efforts to improve have never been more evident. He has been working tirelessly in batting practice, focusing on his swing path to the ball and his follow-through. He understands the position he is in. As a three-time Golden Glove winner and an incredible defensive player, he also needs to capitalize on offensive opportunities. He has turned around his batting average within the past couple of weeks, getting better each series at the plate. Astros staff and fans are excited to see what else he can bring to the organization, hoping Walker will contribute to a hopeful playoff run in October. 

    Was it his continuous hard work? Moving him down in the batting order? – Whatever it was, a spark went off, and this was the Christian Walker the Astros have been waiting for.