For years now, the big shots of baseball—namely the Americans—have been tinkering with the rules more than usual. Winter is often the preferred time to propose rule changes, test them in the minors, and then validate or reject them in Major League Baseball.
Over the past five years, we’ve seen the bases enlarged, the number of pickoff throws limited, and a pitch clock introduced. There’s talk of increasing officiating with robot umpires, especially behind the plate.
Last week, a new idea emerged called the ‘Golden Batter,’ already practiced in the Banana League—entertaining, spectacle-driven baseball!
This would allow a manager to insert any player from their lineup to bat during a critical moment, guaranteeing spectators even more thrilling moments of sporting tension.
But why such a rule, and only for the batter? Why not the same for other positions?
This innovation borders on the ridiculous and disrupts the game’s balance.
In France, we’re a bit immune to such changes. We haven’t altered base sizes or imposed pitch clocks…
We must remember that financial considerations are at the heart of the French organization’s decision not to follow American changes. Moreover, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is also updating its rules, particularly for Premier Cup events.
However, with each passing year, new rules will pile up, and soon enough, France will be playing a game that differs significantly from others.
It’s crucial for the French Baseball and Softball Federation (FFBS) and European WBSC to start moving, even slowly, toward evolving these rules to avoid falling too far behind.
