Yermín Mercedes’ home run on a 3-0 count vs. a Minnesota Twins position player sparks a debate about baseball’s ‘unwritten’ rules — with Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa calling it a ‘big mistake’

Designated hitter Yermín Mercedes hit a solo home run in the ninth inning on a 47 mph, 3-0 pitch from Minnesota Twins utility player Willians Astudillo.

On the Twins broadcast, the announcers weren’t particularly pleased with the swing on a 3-0 count with the game well out of reach. The Sox won 16-4. It led to a big discussion on social media all afternoon about baseball’s “unwritten” rules.

“Just about the time the guy started making the pitch, I took several steps from the dugout onto the field, yelling, ‘Take, take, take,’ ” La Russa said.