Rays and Phillies Delayed Game Taught Me Something
OK, who out there knew that if a game was tied going into the bottom half of the inning that the game would be suspended and then resumed from where it left off? That’s what I thought. Since we were kids we knew that a game that is official, but does not complete an entire inning reverts back to the prior inning’s score! Using what I have always thought the rule was, the Phillies win the series!
It would suck that they won the series that way, but apparently up until last year, that’s the way it was. Tom Boswell of the Washington post lets us in on another secret of the game last night. No matter what the inning or the score, all parties had agreed and commissioner Bud Selig had blessed that they would play every inning of the game, regardless. Now there is a rule! A good one I might add! That should be the rule across the board. Why would we shorten a game because of rain when the teams are likely to play the next day, or at least again later in the season.
What if that one game cost a team the pennant? What if it cost them a shot at a wild card? We could all go home earlier as well as they wouldn’t normally wait in the middle of August until 1AM to continue the game. I doubt we will get the rule for the regular season, but in the playoffs, and the World Series at a minimum, it needs to be there.
This, of course, got me thinking. Did Little League change their rules as well? I know that is a game completes the first inning but is not official it is picked up where it left off. If the first inning is not completed, the game starts over. But what if it is completed in the 5th inning or tied in the top of the fifth? What is the Little League ruling then?
A quick check of my handy dandy 2008 rulebook confirms my suspicions. The Little League Phillies would have won the game. The game reverts back to the prior inning in an incomplete inning if the visitors tied or went ahead in their half of the inning. I think Little League may want to revisit this and go w/ the Major League Baseball rule. Or play every game all the way out other than time limits or 10-run rules. This includes during tournament play.
Do we really thing the tournament committee in Williamsport would allow the international World Series Champion to be crowned with a shortened game? I don’t think so. Why not make the rule universal?
I assume the reason for the rule in the first place was because travel was so cumbersome 100 years ago when the rules of the game were written. This is no longer the case, why would we shorten any game? That gives and advantage to the team against their next opponent as they didn’t have to use their bullpen, it also leaves less opportunity for success for record breakers.
I vote we never have a shortened baseball game again at any level other than time limits where allowed and 10-run rules where allowed.
Should a winner be determined in a shortened baseball game? What is your feeling?
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