The automatic runner on second for extra innings is back, according to multiple reports.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached a tentative agreement on multiple rules for the upcoming season, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. In addition to the automatic runner, rosters will be expanded from 26 to 28 players through May 1 and pitchers can remain in the game after being pulled from the mound if they are also serving as their team’s designated hitter. Teams will also play traditional nine-inning doubleheaders.
Those rules are set to go into effect for the 2022 season only; MLB will have the right to institute new rules within a 45-day window starting next offseason — a power the owners won during the collective bargaining agreements. A pitch clock, bigger bases and a shift ban are reportedly on the table when that time comes.
But all that will have to wait. These new reported rules are in addition to the CBA terms that included the universal designated hitter and expanded playoffs.
The automatic runner place on second — commonly known as the “ghost runner” — started in 2020 to reduce the length of games and stress on pitchers. The rule is popular with players, but detractors believe it makes scoring the winning run too easy. Pitchers also have complained about how to fairly charge a run allowed when nobody put the runner on base in the first place.
Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow has supported the idea of a delayed ghost runner, with teams playing the first couple extra innings straight-up before introducing the automatic runner in the 12th inning.
The ghost runner rule introduces increased variance into game endings. Though the Giants were excellent in close games last year — SF went 31-17 in one-run games — they won just 10 out of 19 extra-inning contests.
The Giants were anticipating the expanded roster rule. With a shortened spring training, from six weeks to 26 days, pitchers especially are expected to have a difficult time ramping up for the season. Giants manager Gabe Kapler has spoken at-length with reporters in Scottsdale about the importance of building up endurance and being cautious with the team’s arms early in the season. The two additional roster spots will likely be used by most teams on extra pitching depth.
The 99-day lockout not only cut into spring training, but also forced teams to add more double-headers to their schedule. The Giants, for instance, added a doubleheader on Sept. 8 in Milwaukee. For the past two seasons, teams played seven-inning doubleheaders because of COVID-19.
The last rule, which allows pitchers to stay in the lineup after getting replaced on the mound if they’re DH-ing, applies to Shohei Ohtani and Shohei Ohtani only. Just don’t tell Logan Webb that.