NEW: SEC to institute baseball mercy rule for conference play in 2023
We are only 10 days from the first pitch of the 2023 season, and the SEC has changed the rules.
The league will now be implementing a 10-run mercy rule in conference play this season. Looking at LSU’s schedule last year, the Tigers would’ve been in five different games that would have been over via run rule.
There are definitely some pros and cons to this decision. Let’s take a look at some of the pros: For starters, both teams get to rest their bullpen arms. It is a very long season so your pitchers need to rest their arms as much as possible to be fresh for the games where you need them the most.
This is a catch-22, though, because that same reasoning can be used as a con. Some younger guys in the bullpen need that work. They need those SEC innings to get acclimated to playing at this level. If the games get called after seven innings, those guys may lose their opportunity to get much-needed experience.
Interesting baseball nugget: The SEC is implementing a 10-run mercy rule in conference play this year. If a team is up by 10+ through seven innings, the game is over.
— Andrew Hutchinson (@NWAHutch) February 6, 2023
We will see how it plays out in the long run, but for now, the decision will draw a lot of mixed reviews.
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