extra inning rule to be used at WBC

Personally i hate this rule thats the reason i am posting this, what are your htoughts

NEW YORK -- The ridiculed international rule to start an extra inning with two runners on base will be used at this year's World Baseball Classic, where it will be implemented beginning in the 13th.

Under the rule, each half-inning starting with the 13th will begin with runners on first and second. The regular batting order will be used from where it was the previous inning.

Major League Baseball said a decision has not been made whether to use the rule in the championship game, scheduled for March 23 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Before the Olympics, the International Baseball Federation adopted a rule that it said would be used at all tournaments it sanctions. That rule stated that each half-inning starting with the 11th would begin with runners on first and second and that teams could use their batting orders from any point.

"Discussion of ending a game in a timely fashion has been going on for years," IBAF president Harvey Schiller said at the time.

Pitch limits, another deviation from baseball rules, will be used for the WBC, as they were in the initial tournament in 2006. There will be a limit of 70 pitches per pitcher in the first round, 85 in the second, and 100 in the semifinals and final. That's up from 65-80-95 three years ago.

Any pitcher who throws 30 or more pitches in the semis will not be eligible to pitch in the final.

The WBC adopted MLB's video replay rules for boundary calls and a 2008 MLB rule change that base coaches must wear protective helmets.

In addition, each team must announce its probable starting pitcher for the next day.

this rule sucks, i hope it goes no further

kills me how we have to change the rules of games now so we can fit the game into a more marketable package. We need night games to make more money well ok ... now the west coast night games are too late for us in the east...STOP CRYING! .. there is no CRYING in Baseball! If you get OT those teams are fighting as hard as they can ...... dont take the shot they fought for away ..let them play real ball in the OT too. How fair will it be on stats to have 2 players on base for the starting batter in the 13th inning that werent there in the earlier innings for the starting batter. Man Why mess with it?

maybe we should make the pitchers pitch with one hand ...oh they do that already ok the batters then one handed at inning 13. the effect on those stats would be the same as adding 2 player to the bases.

What is wrong with us ..on the rare occasion it happens .... either stay or go ... those players came to play.

I dont mind it. Itll make the game more exciting if it goes really deep. Plus the crowd by that time will be TIRED. Remember the playoff game a few years ago, Braves v Astros? WEnt into 19+ inning i think i remember. Lasted nrly 7 hours or just over? Not too sure on the times but it was long.

Adding that makes it last at the most 5 hours, as even me, who loves the braves, would get bored by then. Plus itll make it alot more tense at the end and get up a grandstand finish