It is a topic that comes up every time a team playing Our National Pastime at its highest level, including one considered by many to be among the best in the game today with one with the highest payrolls in the game today: Should teams having their lunches being handed to them (I cleaned that up a bit) by their opponent be allowed to forfeit a game rather than being forced by MLB rules to play all nine innings?
This topic came up yet again on Saturday when the National League West first-place Los Angeles Dodgers were being embarrassed by the National League East second-place Atlanta Braves in front of a Truist Park crowd of 42,732, with millions more watching on television and listening on radio; a game which the Dodgers lost by a score of 10-1.
What’s amazing, perhaps even shocking, is that it was brought up on social media (X.com) by a guy whose very livelihood is dependent on the game:
While Alden’s “controversial take” is certainly a valid one, it is also a no-brainer. Whereas allowing teams to forfeit in lieu of playing all nine innings – regardless of the score – may seem practical in the interest of saving bullpen arms and, more importantly, avoid risking injury to one of their multi-million dollar players, it will never happen.
Why?
The answer is simple – Money.
The amount of money that is generated (and would be lost) by the sale of beer, hot dogs, and peanuts alone makes Alden’s “controversial take” unrealistic. It would make those who paid a (very) heafty sum of money to be at the game (especially season ticket holders), not to mention the exorbitant amount of money they had to pay just to park there, to become riotously angry.
(LA Dodgers)
On the flip side of that coin, because they were being blown out, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had utility players Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández pitch the eighth and ninth innings respectively, which is always entertaining … for most.
(SportsNet LA)
As a side note, Rojas is the 38th different player to pitch for the Dodgers this season. The franchise record is 39, which occurred in 2021 and 2023.
Here’s Saturday’s pitching box score:
Play Ball!
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