MLB’s New “Golden At-Bat” Rule Is The Final Nail in Baseball’s Coffin

For whatever reason, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had dedicated his life to destroying the game of baseball. But that reign of terror may have gone too far.

In a recent podcast appearance, Rob Manfred, tip-toed around a new idea the owners have apparently been tossing around behind closed doors.

The Golden At-Bat.

“There are a variety of (rule change ideas) that are being talked about out there. One of them — there was a little buzz around it at an owners’ meeting — was the idea of a Golden At-Bat.”

I know the word ‘golden’ makes you believe this idea has value or worth but it is yet another gimmick baseball is attempting to draw more casual fans to their sport.

But I reckon we need to get into what this rule actually is first.

What is the Golden At-Bat?

The Golden At-Bat would allow teams to bring their best hitter up to the plate, plucking him outside of the typical batting order.

So if it were the bottom of the 9th inning of a tie game with two outs and Jose Trevino was next in the order, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, could choose to send out Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton for that final at-bat instead.

However, each team only gets one opportunity per game to use the Golden At-Bat so teams would have to be strategic with how they implement it.

This will destroy the sport I love.

You mean to tell me that the Dodgers can, at any point in the game, decide to give us a bonus Shohei Ohtani at-bat????

Ew.

Disgusting.

Why on Earth would I want to see more great hitters?

Remember when MLB sent baseball to its early grave by giving the National League the DH too?

God, how I long for the days of a hardnose pitcher-on-pitcher at-bat that ends in fastballs down the middle and an automatic out. I will never forgive Rob Manfred for taking away the double switch.

Horrible rule change.

Oh great, Shohei Ohtani gets to play a full season and win the NL MVP from the DH position instead of missing an entire year to recover from a torn elbow. I don’t know any fan that wanted that.

And has MLB even considered how teams can manipulate this rule to give their stars more plate appearances?

What if the Mets send out Francisco Lindor to replace the no. 9 hitter for a Golden At-Bat and say he grounds out? Well, Lindor would simply get to stay up at the plate for a second consecutive at-bat because he’s the no. 1 hitter in the Mets order.

You mean to tell me there’s a possibility of back-to-back Bryce Harper at-bats???

Vomit.

I don’t watch baseball to see Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna. I watch baseball to see baseball. That’s what this new generation doesn’t understand.

You might as well set up a tee in front of home plate and turn this whole thing into a circus event.

First they installed a pitch clock that smoothly reduced the length of baseball games—along with adding a baserunner already in scoring position for extra innings—thus eliminating our beloved 5-6 hour-long games til 2 in the morning.

And now they’re trying to manipulate the game so that good players play more.

If Golden At-Bat becomes an official rule, I am DONE with Major League Baseball and sticking to watching local Little League games from my backyard with binoculars. Blame Rob Manfred.

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