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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher calls out MLB commissioner over polarizing rule suggestion

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Dec 17 2024, 6:41 pm
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher calls out MLB commissioner over polarizing rule suggestion
John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports | Brad Penner/Imagn Images

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman is the latest of many MLB players to voice his displeasure with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

Manfred, who has faced plenty of criticism since taking over the commissioner role in 2015, recently responded to a question surrounding a potential minimum innings requirement for starting pitchers.

Reports came out in August that the commissioner’s office is looking to implement a rule that would require starting pitchers to go at least six innings in every start. Manfred dismissed the claim in his recent sit-down, but not everybody is buying it, including Gausman.

The Blue Jays ace took to X to voice his opinion of Manfred, calling him a liar. It’s clear he believes it’s only a matter of time before the polarizing rule is put into effect.

“Don’t believe a word this man says,” Gausman wrote. “Get ready for six innings you get to keep the DH. If not, a fan hits in their spot.”

The biggest concern of this potential rule is that it could lead to injury. Should a starting pitcher stumble out of the gate, they could end up having to throw a taxing amount of pitches just to get through six innings.

Manfred acknowledged the concern of injury, but, despite suggesting the rule won’t be taking place, also said that the MLB needs to improve its marketing through starting pitchers.

“The face that you see the most in a broadcast is the starting pitcher,” he said. “The matchups of great starting pitchers historically have been important in terms of marketing the game. I do think we need to get back to that.”

Manfred has already made several controversial changes to the MLB since taking over as commissioner, including, but not limited to, adding a pitch clock and eliminating the shift.

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