SB Nation Reacts: 2020, The Year of Peculiar Rule Changes

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send 30 polls to plugged in fans from each team. Astros fans, sign up HERE to join Reacts.

We all knew when the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic struck, it would alter how baseball was played to an extent. How large those changes were or how much of they would encompass would be determined as the world grappled with the far serious public health matter at hand.

Well, needless to say, there have been some interesting rule changes this season. The most prominent of the new rules is the ridiculous, yet rather entertaining rule to have a ghost runner on second base to start a new inning for both lineups in extra innings. Let’s just say it hasn’t been a popular one.

The majority of fans do not approve of the rule and many more even hope it doesn’t make a reappearance in 2021. As an Astros fan in 2020, I can personally back that sentiment.

Another unusual rule change was the seven-inning doubleheader rule. Fan results were slightly more favorable than the extra innings rule change, but not by much.

We’re going to see a lot of these doubleheaders for any team sidelined for multiple days. The Cardinals, Marlins, and Phillies immediately come to mind. Odds are we’ll see some teams play anywhere from 55 to 60 games, others in the 50 to the 54 range. A few may even play less than 50 under less than ideal circumstances. Fans are generally in agreement that teams need to play at least 50 games for playoff contention.

To vote in the Reacts surveys and have your voice heard each week, sign up here.