It’s time to unwrite the unwritten rules
The game of baseball has reached a whole new generation. As the previous generation leaves, the unwritten rules need to leave with them.
May 20, 2022
A hot topic in baseball right now is unwritten rules. The San Francisco Giants have been the center of this debate, as they have broken these rules twice so far this season – but is it time to unwrite these unwritten rules?
These unwritten rules were established over time for sportsmanship purposes. Two writers from the Orange County Register, Peter Schmuck and Randy Youngman, wrote a column, identifying 30 of these rules. Some of these include not bunting or stealing when up by a significant margin and do not swing at the first pitch after a pitcher has allowed back-to-back home runs.
While most of these rules apply to the offense, there are rules for the defense to follow. Two of these rules do not play the infield early in games and let the center fielder get the ball when two players are going for it.
Many of the unwritten rules are enforced when a team is up by a “significant margin.” However, teams should not be “punished” for playing well.
“If it’s a blowout like that, then that means the team is doing really well, and they should be rewarded for that,” said JV Baseball Player Ian Staley (‘24).
Instead of holding back, the leading team should use the game as practice. It’s one of the few times a team can practice different plays in a real game situation.
“Usually when you’re up by a good amount the coaches are like ‘Okay let’s try to execute stuff that we haven’t executed yet in a game but we’ve done in practice’ so it changes from more of coaching for a game to coaching for a practice,” said Varsity Softball Player Caydence Likeness (‘25).
Last season, the two sides collided in an incident involving Chicago White Sox catcher Yermin Mercedes. The White Sox were up 15-4 in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins and Mercedes had a 3-0 count. He decided to swing away and ended up hitting a home run but this made White Sox manager, Tony La Russa, mad.
“I was upset because that’s not a time to swing 3-0. It’s the sportsmanship, respect for the game, respect for your opponents, that’s real and has to be the philosophy and we have to follow it,” said La Russa.
Although sportsmanship is essential, the team still should give it their all not just for the fans, but for themselves. In sports, anything can happen. A twelve-run lead can disappear in a matter of minutes.
