If you ever thought stealing first base would never be possible, you were wrong. For the first time in baseball history, someone stole first base in the Atlantic League.
The rule change is part of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the ALPB that the MLB can institute experimental rule changes before considering using them in the majors/minors. This was a change to allow baserunners to attempt stealing first base.
The change was announced last week and specifically states that batters may steal first on any pitch that isn’t caught by the catcher. This definitely brings a different element into the game and places a premium on the quick players.
Of course, after this was implemented the first time it happened was in a game yesterday with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs playing the Lancaster Barnstormers. The pitch was a passed ball which went all the way to the backstop and Tony Thomas reached first without a throw.
There have been many different opinions on the experimental rule changes. Some feel that it is ruining the game and others are okay with the change.
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For me, I think this is a desperate attempt to garner some interest in baseball and frankly seems a little gimmicky. Let’s be honest, there are already plenty of confusing baseball rules without adding this one.
I have been helping my 6-year-old son learn to play the game and all the different scenarios are hard to explain to a kid barely learning the game. I’m afraid more rule changes such as this will make the game too complex and complicated for the younger generation.
We all know how important that generation is to baseball, it needs to get younger and I think this is their attempt at appealing to a broader base. I think they need to take a step back and think of how to simplify the game for everyone. Not just those playing, but those watching in the stands.
Now I don’t think this is one of the rules that will make it all the way to the Majors, but I think there are definitely other ways to make the game interesting without complex/gimmicky rule changes.