The Mercy Rule in MLB?

[Dice]

Anybody think they should implement this rule?

NOTE: For those that don't know what it is, according to how the Olympics do it, the game ends when a team is up by 10 runs after the 7th inning. The World Baseball Classic in 2006 added something else to the rule which is interesting. The WBC conforms to the Olympic Mercy Rule but they also added that the games ends after 5 innings if a team is up by 15 runs.

Discuss

[Sportsforever]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

Anybody think they should implement this rule?

NOTE: For those that don't know what it is, according to how the Olympics do it, the game ends when a team is up by 10 runs after the 7th inning. The World Baseball Classic in 2006 added something else to the rule which is interesting. The WBC conforms to the Olympic Mercy Rule but they also added that the games ends after 5 innings if a team is up by 15 runs.

Discuss

Nope. I don't know that it would really affect that many games, but this is big boy baseball. Also, can you imagine if a guy had a no-hitter/perfect game going and the game is called after 7 because his team is up by 10+? They play 9 innings...that's what it should stay at.

[nemesis04]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

No way! There are not that many games where these blowouts occur. It is not softball, it is the MLB.

[ASB37]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

I pretty much agree with everything that's already been said. I'd be pretty mad if I paid money for a ticket and only saw 5 or 7 innings. I know alot of people leave by then anyway, but I like to stay for the whole thing,

[RandyMoss84]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

no no no no no

if its not broke dont fix it...

baseball is what it is because its the only sport without a clock, you always have a chance to come back. 9 innings = 9 innings

[Stroehms]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

no no no no no

if its not broke dont fix it...

baseball is what it is because its the only sport without a clock, you always have a chance to come back. 9 innings = 9 innings

+1 Totally agree.

[Husker_OS]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

Nope. Comebacks do happen. My Tribe is notorious for this.



Remember the '01 Mariners/Indians game? Trailed 14-2 but won 15-14 in extra's. More recently(early in the '09 season), they beat the Rays 11-10 after trailing 10-0.

[Blzer]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

The only kind of mercy in baseball is forfeiture. If they really want to give on the game, the team can call it themselves. There shouldn't be some rule in place that says otherwise.

[Tomahawk]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

I say "No" for three reasons.

First of all it doesn't happen that often and fans paid money to see the entire game.

Secondly, I could see a team that was down 8-0 leaving a tired reliever in or doing something like intentionally grooving one down the middle to go down 10 just so they could rest the bullpen. That wouldn't be good for baseball either.

Finally, I would hate to see something historic not happen because of the rule. Someone has already mentioned a no-hitter or a perfect game, but what about a season record or something like that. Imagine Ryan Howard standing on deck in the 7th inning of his final game of the year with a chance to break Barry Bonds' HR record. Chase Utley homers, the Phillies win 12-2 over the Mets, and Howard misses out on history because of the slaughter rule.

I say if someone doesn't want to watch once the lead gets too large then cut the TV off or leave early stadium and beat the traffic.

[Knight165]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

I say "No" for three reasons.

First of all it doesn't happen that often and fans paid money to see the entire game.

Secondly, I could see a team that was down 8-0 leaving a tired reliever in or doing something like intentionally grooving one down the middle to go down 10 just so they could rest the bullpen. That wouldn't be good for baseball either.

Finally, I would hate to see something historic not happen because of the rule. Someone has already mentioned a no-hitter or a perfect game, but what about a season record or something like that. Imagine Ryan Howard standing on deck in the 7th inning of his final game of the year with a chance to break Barry Bonds' HR record. Chase Utley homers, the Phillies win 12-2 over the Mets, and Howard misses out on history because of the slaughter rule.

I say if someone doesn't want to watch once the lead gets too large then cut the TV off or leave early stadium and beat the traffic.

Actually, it would be something more conceivable.....like this little gem from 2000.....The highlight of the season came on June 30 when the Mets beat the rival Atlanta Braves in a memorable game at Shea Stadium on Fireworks Night. With the Mets losing 8–1 to begin the bottom of the eighth, they rallied back with two outs to tie the game, capping the 10-run inning with Mike Piazza's three run home run to put the Mets up 11–8, giving them the lead and eventually the win.

M.K.
Knight165

[jetercanoturn2]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

Baseball isn't over till the final out, let's keep it that way. I don't want any changes to this game that I love, except more use of replay

[mKoz26]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

Mercy rules don't belong in professional sports.

[jetercanoturn2]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

Mercy rules don't belong in professional sports.

What he said^

[Dice]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

The only kind of mercy in baseball is forfeiture. If they really want to give on the game, the team can call it themselves. There shouldn't be some rule in place that says otherwise.

I think you might be on to something. I do believe that if they added an agreement between both teams on the Mercy Rule then I feel it can work. So let's say if a team is up by 10 runs after the 7th(or the added WBC rule of if a team is up by 15 after 5 innings) then BOTH TEAMS have to agree on ending the game. I think this can work and preserve the integrity of the game. So in the case of a no-hitter, the winning team can decline to have the game end early to get the no-hitter. I think that's fair.

[ryan36]

Re: The Mercy Rule in MLB?

No. Definitely not. Playing like **** gets you beat. These players with incentive clauses for AB's , hits, IP etc. do not want this. Nowhere in any professional sport should be a mercy rule. And a team already can forfeit, manager just pulls his players.