All four major, professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL) in North America regularly roll out new rule changes.
But when one of those rules make for a controversial ending, especially early into a season, that's when they're immediately second-guessed and scrutinized to the bone.
Such is the case last Tuesday night (April 5), when Jose Bautista was called out for runner interference at second base during a crucial ninth-inning play, paving the way for two runs to be cancelled out and the Toronto Blue Jays to suffer a 3-2 road loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
With one out, bases loaded and Toronto trailing, 3-2, Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder to third base. But when Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe went to throw to first for the 5-4-3 double play, his throw wasn't in line and Toronto scored two runs to grab the 4-3 edge ... or so it seemed.
The Rays' request to have the play reviewed was granted and it was determined that Bautista, the baserunner from first to second, interfered with Forsythe at second base, using his left hand to grab onto Forsythe's right leg, thus ending the game on a very controversial call and instantly triggering backlash for Major League Baseball's new slide rule.
Not that the Rays cared much, though, as they celebrated the rule's adoption turning into a game-ending play and Gatorade-bucket celebration for Forsythe.
Looking for further answers, we referenced new rule 6.01(j) for sliding to bases on double-play attempts:
"If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference under this Rule 6.01. A 'bona fide slide' for purposes of Rule 6.01 occurs when the runner: (1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base; (2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot; (3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and (4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder."
With last Tuesday night's specific case, Bautista seemed to be guilty of both (2) and (4), oversliding to second base and slightly using his left hand just enough to contact Forsythe's foot. With the new rule, the play ended the Blue Jays' rally attempt and the game, making Toronto's clubhouse fume.
"I didn't go directly at him," Bautista told MLB.com after the game. "As far as I understood, I was assuming contact was still OK and obstructing his path was still OK as long as you stayed within reach of the bag and your feet were headed towards the bag. I feel like I respected the rule, felt like it was absolutely a clean slide. It's just disappointing and somewhat embarrassing to lose a Major League Baseball game [that way]."
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons blasted the rule, making a reference that he may regret in trying to convey that the rule is making the sport that much more softer.
"Maybe we'll come out and wear dresses tomorrow. Maybe that's what everybody's looking for," Gibbons told MLB.com after the controversial play that ended the game under the new rule.
He added: "It's a shame. I get the intent [of the rule], you go after somebody, you hurt somebody, I get that. But that's good baseball, that has been baseball forever. Maybe they just want them to run and get out of the way. I don't know."
Rule 6.01 joins another added amendment that will likely affect MLB games this year — a time limit on visits to the mound by managers and coaches. While pace-of-play stipulations were introduced with the 2015 season, the league has additionally instituted 30-second mound visits by managers and coaches and also a slashing of broadcast commercial time between innings by 20 seconds.
Having already shed an average time of six minutes and seven seconds for games last year, marking it down to two hours and 56 minutes, we know that every game will at least be three minutes shorter due to the broadcast time being cut down.
With the 30-second limit on mound visits, the MLB should be able to cut into the time of two hours and 53 minutes even more.
