MESA, Ariz. – It would have been fine with A’s manager Bob Melvin if Major League Baseball and the players union had just left the rulebook alone this week.
Apparently the powers that be in MLB apparently couldn’t help themselves. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred complained Tuesday that rule changes he likes to speed up the game had all been shot down by the union.
Wednesday morning, Major League Baseball Players Association head Tony Clark tweeted that the players were OK with allowing intentional walks to be issued without the pitcher throwing the ball.
A pitchless intentional walk has been talked about for years, and Melvin said that of all the rules that could have been adopted, this one might have been the best.