"Should be fired for even considering this dumb rule" - Fans react to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's 'Golden At-Bat' suggestion

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is once again under fire from baseball fans. Manfred drew the ire of MLB fans when he discussed in John Ourand's "The Varsity podcast by Puck" that a 'golden at-bat' rule was being openly talked about during meetings with team owners.

The 'golden-at-bat' rule will be similar to that employed by the exhibition team the Savannah Bananas, wherein a hitter on the lineup can pinch-hit once in a high-leverage or crucial situation of a game regardless of batting order.

"Rob Manfred says there is “buzz” around adding a "Golden At-Bat" rule to Major League Baseball, per @jaysonst. This rule would allow a team to choose one at-bat in every game to use their best hitter regardless of where they're at in the lineup." - @ MLB ON FOX

Given that baseball is America's favorite pastime and its fans are some of the most traditional ones in the current setting, this didn't sit well with a lot of those that follow the game.

"Should be fired for even considering this dumb rule", one fan exclaimed.

"Worst commissioner in sports," another added.

"What is happening to the game i love" a fan expressed his concern.

Fans also wanted Rob Manfred to stop imposing sudden rule changes to the traditional sport.

"This is so gimmicky. Leave baseball alone — and remove advertisements on uniforms while we're at it," a fan pleaded.

"I think we can all agree that Manfred needs to go. He’s turning MLB into the Savannah Bananas," one fan claimed.

"No and get rid of the extra inning rule," a fan requested.

Rob Manfred's history of rule changes

Not even 10 years into his stint as MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred has already endorsed changes to the game of baseball. The biggest overhaul of the changes came in 2023.

Last season, Manfred introduced the pitch timer that shortened at-bats and the game in general, limited defensive shifts to encourage balls in play and adjusted the base size to encourage the lost art of stealing bases.

In addition, sponsors are now allowed on jerseys, the Shohei Ohtani rule was enforced and the playoff format was further expanded.