Among the most disliked rule changes for 2020 and 2021, two seasons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, are seven-inning doubleheaders and the placed runner at second base in extra innings. The latter has been dubbed the “Manfred man,” after Commissioner Rob Manfred.
In a news conference in Denver at the All-Star Game, Manfred gave strong hints that both of these rules will not continue past this season:
Manfred expects the seven-inning doubleheaders and runner at second to expire with these season, suggesting that there would however be “non-radical changes.”
Asked if the DH in the NL now qualified as “a non-radical change,” he said:
Yes.