I Don't Mind the Three-Batter Minimum Rule

Rob Manfred and the player's union agreed to a rule that forces every pitcher to face a minimum of three batters barring an injury (it starts in 2020). Some people may dislike the rule as it ruins the strategy portion of the game. However, the rule doesn't seem as bad as it's made out to be.

Major League Baseball has been plagued with the issue of long baseball games for a few years now. To try and remedy this situation, MLB has tried a pitch clock in minor league settings and limited the number of mound visits. If baseball wants to speed the game up, it needs to try as many things as possible. The three-batter minimum rule will certainly help.

Baseball is a strategic game, brimming with the essence of a chess match. One manager tries to outmaneuver his adversary on the field through numerous strategies, including putting in a pitcher for a favorable match-up. This instance can occur numerous times in a game, where one inning can take 15 minutes. Limiting teams to using pitchers for only three batters minimum will cut the numerous pitching changes down and reduce the time.

Critics may not like the rule since it takes away from the strategy portion of the game. However, in a time where baseball isn't generating interest among younger fans, this move makes sense. Here's hoping it'll make baseball fun for the younger crowds in the process!