With MLB's condensed schedule last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic the rules committee decided to take it upon themselves to attempt to make games shorter. One of the things they did was make doubleheader games only last 7 innings instead of 9, which does help with length of games and with player safety. The other rule they added was when extra innings started the team up to bat would have a player start on second, with the player being whoever recorded the last out in the previous inning. That rule served it's purpose last season making 70% of games that headed to extra innings end in the 10th or 8th depending on if it was a doubleheader. That was up 36% from 2019, shortening the game time substantially. That rule however was only supposed to last just one season, but Rob Manfred, the MLB commissioner, decided shorter games were more excited and adopted the rule for future seasons.
The runner starting at second doesn't count as an earned run to the pitcher as well which skews pitching stats for those who must endure those runners. It does however give closing pitchers a blown save if that runners score ties the game, which will hurt players on incentive laced deals such as Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Janson. My overall thoughts on the rule is that its just unearned. Players work so hard just to get on base and to just let somebody walk out to second base is just silly. You might a well play backyard baseball rules and allow "ghost runners" and just credit runs when the hypothetical player would cross home plate. Who am I kidding though Rob Manfred is just a guy who the MLB owners can use as their puppet until the new CBA deal is ready to be renewed.
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