"The Golden At Bat!" Fundamental Changes to Baseball Rules (Debate) TMKS The Michael Kay Show

[@larrybumpus6694]

I've watched baseball for 50 years and tolerate the new rules but if the golden-at-bat comes into play baseball won't " have " me

[@CollaborativeFilms]

You're a better man than I am, because I stopped watching the game when it went from being a "chess" game requiring a "thinking" strategy (without "short cut" rules like the hideous ghost runner in extra innings), to now becoming a quick, mindless game of checkers being played by multi-millionaires, FOR their billionaire owners. None of these rule changes have improved the game, but rather have only been added simply to protect the billionaire owner's multi-million dollar investments. MLB is today a joke, where idiots and computers (like there's a difference?) run the game. They can take their iPads and launch angles and exit velo them out of here for all I care! Pathetic!

[@bobbowie9350]

​@CollaborativeFilms its worse than that though. Everyone is going for the home run. Nits essentially hitting a ball out of play.

[@CollaborativeFilms]

@@bobbowie9350 I love a home run as much as the next man, but I miss the hit and run, the pitch outs, the take out slides and 2nd (and home) and other plays that have been sadly out-ruled. They have dumbed down the game to the point were today's major league baseball has become nothing more than an exhibition and a shell of what it once was...it's baseball's equivalent to "touch football."

[@Amber90125]

Golden At Bat is an idiotic idea

[@drzalejandro7]

Thank God for Don la Greca.

[@BillBernard]

Ah, he always rides the fence-takes both sides to be safe.

[@drzalejandro7]

@BillBernard better than being all in on that garbage rule like MK

[@nnis75]

Don is correct when he says, "People love the game of baseball." The problem is not ENOUGH people love the game of baseball. Also, not ENOUGH young potential fans love the game of baseball. The older fans won't live long enough to sustain the sport. They must get new fans. The MLB has to advance the game. This is a business at the end of the day.

[@bosstime2010]

I agree with Howie Rose. It’s a joke! The reason baseball is losing eyeballs is because it’s too damn expensive to go to a game. Fathers used to be able to take their sons to a game which in turn got the child interested in the game. Putting in this stupid rule won’t change that.

[@NeilTruick]

That. Exactly. 81 home games. Football has eight or nine, so I kind of understand the high prices, because scarcity, but they're played in stadiums with 60K-70K seats, so greed gets factored in, too. Hockey and basketball have 41. Those arenas seat around 15K-25K, so it leans a little expensive, but given the going rate, begrudgingly expected. Baseball...almost as many seats as football with double the schedule of hockey and basketball, while charging slightly less than basketball. The sport is not that good to justify that kind of price model; it never has been. The tradition was always the major selling point, but the owners got greedy. George Steinbrenner was the exception; now, he would just another owner in a major market with one big difference. Steinbrenner was a fan who used his money to strengthen the Yankee brand. Today's owners use their brand to get fans to strengthen their money. I haven't watched a complete baseball game in 15 years. Only this past season did I regularly watch Yankee highlights on KZbin, including the World Series. The Golden Bat would be what gets me away from baseball totally and I've been a Yankee fan for 51 years. It would make the unwatchable finally unbearable.

[@Standdividedfalltogether]

Coats $1000 to take my fam of 4 to a regular season baseball game and sitting in decent seats and eat and commute into the city. It’s not a nfl or even mlb playoff game! Stop paying guys more than the sport can handle! Maybe do a cap so all teams are good. And I’m a Met fan saying this. It’s gonna get teams constructing they keep this bs up. Gimmicks are not the answer

[@marcmartocchio2681]

Screw Michael Kay for this take. It’s one thing to tweak something to make it look better like the pitch clock but this would fundamentally change the game. Absolutely not. Thank God Don is the voice of reason most of the time for Michael sounding like a holier than thou pompous jerk

[@drzalejandro7]

Garbage rule. If Aaron Boone as a hitter was more clutch then Aaron Judge in big playoff games, nobody wants the dam rule. If ratings are low, they will only go lower with that Garbage.

[@AnimeBronx]

ur a 🤡

[@cptjockitch]

MLB is dying because 80% of teams have no shot at major free agents. Its the only sport without a salary cap. In the NFL tom brady went to Tampa bay while in baseball Tom brady would and could only go to 3 teams. Most fans have no reason to watch there mlb team. This is a stupid rule. It will make the bigger market teams better. Baseball only makes rules to benefit big market teams.

[@ralelunar]

You're totally right, Don made a similar point. These rules don't help grow the game, they only help to grow the markets of rich teams.

[@xh3598]

Let's make it a rule that if the Yankees play a last-place team consisting of rookie players, let it have a two-run start on the scoreboard.

[@jocklazer5526]

Worst suggestion i’ve heard

[@xh3598]

@@jocklazer5526 I know. We can not keep changing the game. The NFL is becoming a woman sport with all the NEW rules.

[@davidchamberlain4725]

Dumbest idea ever

[@ralelunar]

Absolutely hate this rule. All of these new rules that try to improve offense, all they do is cause pitchers to have to throw with more stress, which leads to more pitcher injuries. If you want your best player to bat, guess what: the other 8 guys should learn how to get on base so that your best player can come up. Take walks and learn how to hit singles.

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

The yankees? Walks? Singles? Get on base?😂😂😂

[@doublem347]

The pitch clock successfully sped the game up, can we move the 'ghost runner' to the 11th or 12th inning now?

[@dwaynebanks4194]

Pitching injuries show why ghost runner will never go away

[@BKHockeyTalk]

Imagine trying to “grow the game” and then when the audience voices their displeasure of a proposed rule change you school them and tell them to sit down and shut up. 😂 ironic don’t you think?

[@JusXbox]

This is a great point. If they implement the rule and Manfred is right, they risk alienating existing fans. If the fans are right, they risk alienating both fans AND non-fans.

[@HoloProEnjoyer]

This would be interesting for a video game since its not real life but not in real baseball. That runner on 2nd in extras is also a shit rule. How about this, instead of "Golden Bat" pay money for good players. Problem solved.

[@RichardGiunta]

With the Golden AB Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone may not have the same middle name in Boston.

[@uninformedopinion1668]

The steroid era had plenty of juice Michael

[@gregalmonte8]

Michael has gone off the deep end if he’s comparing this rule to the addition of the three point line

[@vdoggydogg3922]

The best hitter should have gotten that hit before that. Sucks for them

[@BillBernard]

Kay is cocky mad. The sport is doing just fine. You don't require every living creature to love baseball. What a misstatement of the facts.

[@dvhughesdesign]

Exactly my feeling too. I love baseball, and when someone says how they hate it or say it's boring, I simply reply, "Yeah it is not for everyone." And move on. But unfortunately, the Commissioner is there to grow the sport and make the owners more money. That is his primary task.

[@doublem347]

Ok, ghost runner, now "golden AB?" What's next, Kay? The door has been opened to all this BS!!! This isn't 40+ softball!

[@nnis75]

Your point is valid. From a business perspective, the game isn't growing. Regional television has gone down the toilet. The older fans will die soon. Where is the new audience going to come from? The rules are antiquated. The game is slow and boring to POTENTIAL fans. That is a problem. They better do something, or the game won't survive. MLB is closer to the NHL than they are to the NBA, and neither are even close to the NFL. MLB needs to get closer to the top than the bottom. Right now, they are closer to the bottom.

[@Fall1963-vw6ff]

Michael Kay is extremely upset at those who are extremely upset.

[@snerdterguson]

Saying if it works in the ASG then why would it not in the regular season is silly. The ASG is an exhibition. The sole purpose of the game is to entertain. Regular season games are for entertainment, but they also are games that actually matter.

[@dennisnardone5009]

The game is too expensive. Pay- pay- pay- pretty soon they will be charging for radio.

[@BillBernard]

Kay will pass away before the game does.

[@jackiepascucci6766]

I’d be all for retiring the ghost runner rule and replacing it with the Golden AB. The ghost runner puts a runner in scoring position that didn’t earn it. With the golden AB you’re just giving it a shot but ultimately the pitcher can still get the batter out even if he’s the best hitter. The golden AB allows for more genuine strategy and suspense.

[@stevedenbleyker4205]

The fielding team would only intentionally walk the Golden batter, eliminate the intentional walk is the key.

[@JusXbox]

@@stevedenbleyker4205 Great point

[@NeilTruick]

Michael, you want to make baseball appeal to more people? Immediately, for every stadium, for every seat, for every game...cut the ticket price and the parking cost in half. Sellouts every single game. You want more eyes on baseball? Get rid of the pitch clock. Slow it down. Turn it back into a commitment, not a speedrun. Since you're cutting the cost to enter in half, more money for concessions and souvenirs. The game is not the problem; greed is the problem. I haven't watched a baseball game from start to finish for 15 years. The last two games I bought tickets for were both in Oakland 10 years ago and I've lived in Los Angeles since 1976. Baseball stopped being a worthwhile investment decades ago because of greed.

[@ivandesantis858]

Appreciate your words. I just feel like a sport can't let TV ratings and attendance dictate the rules of the game.

[@ThEmB0nEz]

No one wants to see Aaron Judge get a extra strikeout in the playoffs Michael. Stupid rule.

[@killersmg]

The only thing that’s wrong with baseball is people keep trying to change baseball

[@pglanville]

Why is Mike screaming at me?

[@drumitar]

HIS SCRIPT IS IN ALL CAPS

[@HittinyaWitDaTruth]

Another reason for me to pull the plug on watching baseball.

[@snerdterguson]

I could care less who hits the big homer. Seeing Jim Leyritz do it was not less cool because he wasn't a big name. This is a stupid idea designed to entertain people with no attention span. And it will work, for a very brief time, until their attention is drawn to the new thing. I'm not against rule changes designed to bring in new audiences, but this is just stupid. The pitch clown works, the replay review works. This is almost as bad as the ghost runner to start extra innings.

[@MajorSleeve]

This would heavily imbalance the game in favor of teams with a big superstar/slugger, so it favors rich teams. It's arbitrary and follows no logic in the normal flow of the game. It's confusing: how does it work if the hitter you want is on base? Are substitution rules now changed? It punishes pitchers for no reason: if Judge has a guy's number, he just gets another AB after hitting a home run off him? Great idea making baseball even less of a team game than it already is.

[@davidkast3587]

The best rule changes are ones where you don’t even notice them. For example, the pitch clock sped up the games and we didn’t even notice. Violations are rare and will get even more rare as time goes by. The golden at bat is so radical that it definitely harms the game. You might as well allow starting pitchers to enter the game after being taken out

[@jdovma1]

I wish Kay had stuck to calling games. He loses more of my respect the more he pontificates on issues. "Is it perfect? No. Baseball isn't perfect" is a straw man argument. 1. The bar isn't perfection. 2. Nobody's making the case this is a problem because it isn't perfect. It's a problem because it's a gimmicky way to try and manufacture spectacle instead of playing a game that has rules and balance. We have a batting order for a reason. If just plugging your best hitter in there when you really need them to be isn't a problem, then why not just let your best hitter hit every at bat? Why have a batting order? Those special moments like Freeman had, or Kirk Gibson in '89, let's just flood the game with them so there's no magic in them anymore. Or how about the fact that the incredible moments by the little guys disappear. Would that Scott Brosius HR against AZ in '01 ever happened? Bobby Richardson? Bucky Dent? Aaron Boone? David Freese? What happens to those moments? This is a boneheaded idea and Kay sounds like a $chmuck.

[@dukiewilkos4247]

Lets get a money ball too! If they hit it out its worth 10 runs!!

[@CollaborativeFilms]

Here's an idea...since the owners obviously want to turn a game that used to be like chess, into a game of checkers, why not have a DH for every single position. That way you can use 18 players in the game from the very beginning, and you can have the best hitters batting for every position. You want the best offense your team can offer, then by all means, put your best hitters in the lineup. You want the best fielders you can put out there, then stick your best defensive players out in the field. There...now both teams can have the best offense and defense in the game playing at the same time. And you have just turned baseball into Football. You want excitement, there you have it. Just stop calling it baseball, because it no longer is the game most of us grew up watching.

[@Migz2682]

Look what a surprise, I disagree with Kay. That's not the way to "juice" the game. Howie is right. Limiting the throws to 1st and having the ghost runner is also dumb. Don is also right, the blackout rules suck. Competitive inbalance sucks. Expansion diminishes the talent on current teams. Late at night games helps people make it there from work but hurts the product on tv from a young fan perspective. The golden arm? Lmao 🤣 love it

[@George-pt7uv]

Michael, you talk about making the game more accessible. The antiquated blackout rules need to be changed. I live in Buffalo, NY, the Yankees and Mets are blacked out. NYC is over 400 miles away. The Blue Jays are not blacked out. They're about 50 miles away. The entire country of Canada is blacked out of Jays games. I'm also blacked out of games in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. This, to me, is a big issue with getting the younger fans into the game. Remember when we were kids? Channel 11 and 9 would broadcast just about every Yankee and Met game. Another issue is owners who don't field competitive teams. Pittsburgh and Oakland are two that immediately come to mind. Fix that. By the way, I like the shift rule, the guy at 2nd to start extra innings and the pitch clock so I'm not against rule changes. They just need to make sense.

[@thomas2fly]

I think Michael is going through rough time professionally

[@n.blacke1948]

Just juice the balls again. There will be no value in the golden at bat rule because people will start to ignore the games until the last inning. Great moments happen organically. When you try and manufacture great moments, it ruins it.

[@stevedenbleyker4205]

Here is the better option, eliminate the intentional walk completely. People paying to watch players compete to their full potential just to be let down by an intentional walk requiring zero skill or talent does not attract new fans or boost television ratings. A far as this Golden at bat, the fielding team would just intentionally walk that batter anyway.

[@JusXbox]

At the end of the day, I think rule changes in baseball are attempting to sway a population of potential fans that just don't exist. I refuse to believe that any of the prior changes, or future ones, will "save the sport".

[@mmcgahn5948]

It is something talked about on a podcast… it is not something seriously being considered. It is being blown out of proportion.

[@nickr3441]

If the yankees didn't have judge Kay wouldn't like it

[@downtownraps4185]

I think it should strictly be a postseason rule. This way it doesn’t mess with any hit / hr records. It is very defeating when your team has the 7,8,9 hitters coming up bottom of the 9th while trailing in a big game. I also don’t think back to back same hitter should be allowed though.

[@jasoncarrick5461]

Having a golden at bat is ridiculous, let's not forget about the tons of great moments in baseball by the underdog player coming through with big hits like Aaron "bleeping" Boone for example. Kay is also exaggerating baseball's lack of audience, speeding it up a bit will help a lot.

[@seangallagher4331]

This rule will be a cope out for inconsistent 7, 8, and 9 hitters to not perform in a big spot which is ridiculous.

[@VeVettR]

It's the big long contracts that's taking away the motivation from players to perform well or even show up for work, look at guys like Trout . That's what's chocking the MLB.

[@coburnboeder2320]

I hate Michael Kay ❤

[@brianpower3159]

When we played pick up baseball in the hood we had a CBO rule that was used in the last inning for the team that was down(Change Batting Order) you take 3 guys and switch them. It can't be one at bat. That's a waste. They could walk that golden at bat but if you have the 3,4 and 5 hitters coming up then it changes the dynamics.

[@zenactivationprogram]

Push the mound back 6 inches and I would watch...less strikeouts

[@roscoecoltrane843]

Kay proves his own point wrong. He says the 3 point line ruined basketball. Turns out when you change a game fundamentally, there's a good chance you ruin it.

[@Buon_anima]

How about if your team captain collapses in the playoffs, fans get to replace their media talking heads.

[@ryansotosanchez845]

If this new rule passed,this is gotta put more pressure for Aaron judge on clutches situations especially in playoffs which he struggled the most

[@xh3598]

The Yankees can have five Aron judges at bat, and the Dodgers will still dominate them in the World Series.

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

Or if the Mets have Lindor clones and might still lose

[@user-hb7ez4qd7x]

People move all the time and can’t watch their favorite team. Yankees games are block out when they play the rays and marlins and it’s very annoying.

[@AnthonyScarpa-er3sq]

If that rule was to come into play I wouldn't watch baseball anymore.. All these rules are ruining the game that's why there's so many work stoppages over the years . And their will be another work stoppage because of the salary cap.... These players want to much money you should only get paid according to your yearly stats.

[@aduncaroo]

They can’t even get balls and strikes called correctly or fix blackouts but we want a golden at bat? Fing embarrassing

[@Cohconuts]

This rule should be only for the All Star Game, probably will use Juiced balls for this stupid idea. Don't do it.

[@steele41]

My first reaction is that Michael Kay is tired of the daily grind of announcing and wants a cozy, lucrative job with Major League Baseball.

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

Wait until we get double dh where you may use a player to only field and the manager might choose an option for the player to bat and field or just bat

[@williamscolaro1159]

Appreciate the innovative thinking. But think of something else. We can’t fundamentally change baseball.

[@doublem347]

We should all be cautious and concerned about where they are taking baseball!!!

[@gregthegroove]

I’m the minority. I like this. I like out of bounds thinking. This could be big time excitement. Just like the ABS challenge. Great idea. Needs tweaking. I actually thought bout an idea years ago where when a playoff team loses a series, players from that losing team can add themselves to a free agent pool of players that teams still in can pick up for their series. Then when the season is done, they go back to their home teams. Now obviously money, injuries, contracts and all prob will never allow it, but what an idea. Imagine Trout going out but adding himself to the list? What a cool concept imo. It’s like side games at a Texas Holdem tournament when people go out.

[@RichardGiunta]

2:36 you got us? Well you won’t have us any longer if they institute this idiotic idea.

[@craigcavaliere6744]

The NBA in the 80s and 90s had a 3 point line, but the game was played in the paint. I don't know if it's the analytics that say a 3 point shot is worth taking more than a long 2. It gets boring just like the 3 true outcome thinking in baseball.

[@lijerry32]

As a big baseball fan, I’m for keeping the rules as it was all before the Covid yr and taking out a rule such as the ghost runner. I’d keep the pitch clock only cuz it’s keeping the gm at a faster pace and ppl can tune in more cuz action happens really quick. I also really want to see pitching be dominant again (starters going 7-8, CGs more, higher pitch counts) but unfortunately it’s not gonna happen again for a long time and maybe never. To me, Michael is right. Baseball needs to generate more of the younger generation of fans like what the NFL and NBA r doing. I don’t like the golden AB rule, but it’s what needs to be done to capture those potential fans cuz they’ll still have us diehards regardless, this’s just all my opinion

[@jakestumm4101]

Why do we need to make the 9th inning an event? If you’re a fan and it’s a close game you’re already paying attention.

[@bigpictureguys8415]

6:36 you don’t know that.

[@charliesutaris3427]

And I thought the Manfred Man was ridiculous 🤯🤯

[@craigcavaliere6744]

If it's to attract young people, how about starting the game before bed time? The game needs to change at the youth level. Kids aren't playing because all you do is stand around while in basketball and soccer, you are involved in the game. Kids start playing t-ball with 9+ kids on the field and then move on to where kids pitch, or more like try to throw the ball near the plate and hope the catcher can catch it. But in basketball and soccer, they start on very small fields playing 3-on-3. They learn the game while being invloved.

[@I_Am_KingK]

What they need to add is either robo umps or allow batters and catchers to challenge a strike or ball call not a golden at bat rule. If they do that then they need to give the opposing team the golden out where they can automatically get whoever they want out.

[@ToMaToEsGrOw]

Uno reverse cards. 😂😂😂

[@I_Am_KingK]

@ at this point 😂

[@ivandesantis858]

There's always such a focus on TV ratings. That's not why I watch Baseball or any sport. I love Tennis. It gets awful ratings but I don't want them to change the rules because there's not enough fans. Same with Baseball. Also Kay's comparison with the NBA players taking too many 3's while true makes no sense because 3's are a part of the game . Some golden at bat rule is not and is just too gimicky

[@Ziffeltron]

this golden at bat is worth a golden shower only.

[@SFMikeN7]

I’d be real pissed off taking a L during the World Series because of a golden at bat

[@djl9919]

Your the worst Micheal

[@steveschulman2139]

Terrible idea. Even if you like it, it’s a terrible idea.

[@Str8Maddeness]

Pay guys obscene amounts of money, for what? To make the game easier on them?!? I didn't want a DH in the NL and I hate this idea!! I'll stop watching baseball!!

[@joerainbow]

Maybe family's can't afford to go to the games anymore. The public has a lot of other options.

[@Standdividedfalltogether]

@@joerainbowmaybe they stop paying everyone stupid amounts of money and pay salaries that make sense to what the sport brings in so people can actually afford to go. I been watching 40 years and can only go to a game or two a year cuz it’s a gnote for a fam of 4 to have good seats and eat and commute into the city. This idea is insanely dumb. How bout think of something else. This isn’t MTV SPORTS in the 90s.

[@jewelrunner5137]

*you’re

[@ignacioabreu9657]

It's easy, salary cap of 250 mil, and teams must spend 90% of the cap. Sit down with the major networks and have games every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm They can copy the NFL and give NBC a Sunday night game, give ABC a Monday night game give Fox a game of the week. Sometime during the week Cut 2 games off the schedule to 160. Start the season on April 1st no March games it's too damn cold on the east coast. Get rid of the pitcher must face 3 batters rule and eliminate Mound visits for everyone except the Mgr.

[@andrewfrzr]

Don is the only one with sense. Kay is honestly awful

[@joewell2709]

The 3 point line made the game of basketball worse? Wtf

[@melany_7melania]

Is really getting hard to listen to kay. He calls us morons if we dont agree with him

[@MrJ1S]

Thats not gonna get kids to watch Get us the robo umps and thats about it Get rid of the man on 2nd too

[@OrientalHeat]

This current generation is just not interested in baseball, stop pandering to them. You will never get them. period.

[@dvhughesdesign]

A dance off!!! Instead of an AB, there can be a dance off on home plate to determine a hit or strike out. Or.... how about all baseball games should be broadcast only in vertical portrait aspect ratio in short 20 second clips with gambling ads in between all of them? That will really get the kids watching and hopefully losing their lunch money to parlays. Honestly, Michael is truly an idiot sometimes and Don's response is spot on.

[@EpicConspiracy]

Manfred hates baseball jesus

[@bigpictureguys8415]

Would it really bring in that many more fans? You’d be fundamentally changing your sport for maybe a 1% bump in ratings?

[@drumitar]

just let players juice, problem solved.

[@jakestumm4101]

Why does Michael get so mad😂 it’s just a dumb idea, no need to take it personally

[@bryang119]

Maybe next they should just have the best hitter on a team hit for every single at bat? How about that? Baseball is getting so stupid.

[@jlmface]

Kay always acts like us fans are not allowed to have issues with owners and officials and managers.. He is way too sensitive..!

[@VenomXNRS]

There's a reason people have had an overwhelming negative response to it, it's awful. Do something else manfred.

[@nickr3441]

How about the golden HR?

[@Monisrocks1995]

How about Aaron Boone in 2003?

[@tonetalks7484]

Best moment since baseball happen organically Not for this

[@GoldenFava]

I severely dislike this idea.

[@alexe1707]

Doesn't the World Series already start at 5?

[@jaybx2230]

MK talking like that because Yankees would benefit tremendously off this rule, he doesn't like the man on 2nd but Judge back to back at bat is ok?? MK is an idiot

[@jimerrigo7142]

how about a mercy rule,6 runs after 6, game is over,,,, this guy Manfred is a joke

[@AlexHernandez-wj5zu]

They already had baseball changed with steroids, juice balls, and sticky stuff. And people killed the league for those things. This would go right along with those things. Terrible take 😊

[@hectormoreno2046]

How about you people on the left respecting someone's opinion when I don't agree with you instead of always getting upset it changes the game leave it the way it is certain things don't need to be changed.

[@Ziffeltron]

why the hell cant michael and other sports people realize that maybe people just dont want to watch sports as much anymore. people have more important things going on. and these fake ass defenses of manfred by mr Kay, is gross

[@davidhall2347]

that rule would suck and be on its way to ruining baseball. manfred needs to stop with these dumb rule changes and he needs to be removed hes not a fan of baseball so out of touch with the game

[@jma8352]

yea right mike finish ruining the game!