Baseball fans react to MLB making rule of starting runner at second base in extra innings permanent: "What a terrible idea", "This rule sucks"

The MLB Joint Competition Committee unanimously voted Monday to make the rule of starting a runner at second base in all extra innings of regular-season games permanent.

The rule first came into play in 2020, as a temporary rule during the COVID-19 impacted season in order to shorten games inside stadiums attended by crowds that were far below stadium capacities due to pandemic-era policies.

Controversial from the start, the rule was extended to the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, still as a temporary policy. Monday's vote by the MLB Joint Competition Committee now makes the rule permanent in all regular-season games.

MLB fans were quick to deride the decision as a perversion to the game of baseball, and most took their frustrations out on commissioner Rob Manfred. The commissioner went on record on Feb. 10 noting that the rule was "likely to stay."

While the pitch clock rule that will make its big-league debut this season had fans united on both ends of the "good or bad" scale, the runner on second rule is a blowout in terms of negative fan opinion. If fan opinion was a ballgame, it would be 17-3 in the seventh inning with a backup outfielder pitching to save the bullpen.

There is one question that fans willing to accept the possible "necessary evil" of the rule are asking: Why not let the game play out for a few extra innings instead of immediately placing a runner at second base? Many baseball followers are fine with a game not lasting 18 innings, but would be fine with at least the 10th and 11th innings passing unaltered before going to baseball's version of a shootout.

Of course, in a world with millions of baseball fans, there are a few in favor of the "ghost runner" rule becoming permanent. They are, however, in the distinct minority.

MLB not tinkering with postseason games

Matt Vierling #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts at second base

Much like in the NHL, which settles regular-season games with a shootout if the outcome is not decided after three periods and a brief overtime period, MLB will only implement the "ghost runner" rule in the regular season.

The first MLB game to see the extra-inning rule implemented was on July 24, 2020, in a game between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. Oakland blew open a 3-3 tie by taking the bonus runner and running their way to a 7-3 victory.