Cardinals legend blasts MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's 'Golden At-Bat' idea, makes feelings known on unfair rules in the game
In the last owners meeting, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred brought the idea of the "Golden At-Bat" rule in an attempt to bring more excitement to the game, which has fallen behind other professional leagues in North America in the last two decades.
As per the proposed rule, managers will get one opportunity per game to bring their best hitter at the plate even if he's not due as per the lineup. For example, Dave Roberts could bring Shohei Ohtani for the final out of the game even though he might not be the next at-bat.
The rule has divided the baseball world, though. Although the rule is still in the conversational stage, several baseball analysts, including St. Louis Cardinals legend Keith Hernandez, have objected the proposed rule, terming it "a publicity stunt."
"Well, number one, I think it was just a publicity stunt, to be honest with you," Hernandez said (21:40 onwards). "Anybody in their right mind—how, how, how could you even think about doing that?
"So you're telling me, wait until the eighth or ninth inning, and Soto's made the last out, or Ohtani, and then you can have them come up if there's a rally and just insert him anywhere? I mean, that's just absolutely absurd, and I don't really take it very seriously. I don't think it'll fly."
Keith Hernandez's take on other MLB rules like pitch clock and three-batter minimum for pitchers
While Keith Hernandez said that he's never going to get convinced for the "Golden At Bat" rule implementation, despite it bringing modern appeal to the game, he also isn't impressed with other rules.
Hernandez critiques modern rule changes, like the three-batter minimum for pitchers and the limited pickoff attempts, as they reduce managerial flexibility and the chess-like nuances of the game.
"I don’t like the rule that a pitcher has to face three batters," Hernandez added. "I’ll meet it halfway: first through sixth inning, you can have that rule. But from the seventh inning on, let the manager manage. In a one-run game with a split lineup, the manager should be able to bring in a left-hander to get a lefty out, and then a right-hander to get a righty out.
"I also don’t like the three-throw-over rule for pickoffs. It’s too much of an advantage for the offense. A pitcher should be able to throw over as many times as he wants."
If it were in the hands of Keith Hernandez, some of the rules won't even have seen the light of the day. But to put baseball on top of the US sports map again, Manfred is determined to go to lengths and bring back excitement to America's favorite pastime.