just because we didn't think of it doesn't mean it's not a great idea

baseball has often been identified as the sport most tied to its traditions and history. it's come up a lot recently with the arguments over instant replay in baseball, and tradition (or unnecessary adherence to it) has been for years a central point in the argument for or against the DH.

just this morning, i read about the US baseball team's loss to cuba in the olympics and learned of a new rule instituted to avoid limitless extra inning games. per the article:

"International baseball's new extra-innings rule was used for the first time Friday. Beginning in the 11th inning, runners go to first and second and teams can start at any point in their batting order." (this rule is quite similar to the overtime format in college football, where each team starts with the ball on the 25 yard line until the tie is broken.)

i love this rule. i love free baseball as much as the next guy, but long extra-inning games are more of a war of attrition than any kind of skilled victory. sure, managing a bullpen takes some savvy, but most games that go past 14-15 innings are beyond managerial skill and are left to chance.

having this overtime system in play would save wear and tear on bullpens and would likely see the end of position players having to pitch. it would still require plenty of managerial acumen, as saving the right guys for the overtime would come in to play. the international rule allows for only one true extra inning, which i think is a little stingy. in finkworld, the overtime would go into effect after 3 extra innings (i.e. the 13th inning). or, maybe we'd start in the 11th as they do, but do it progressively- for the 11th, you could start your lineup anywhere but have no one on base, for the 12th you'd get a guy on first and start the lineup anywhere, and the 13th 2 guys on.

"tradition" will keep this from ever happening, and the pitchers' lobby will be sure of that. (this system would not go over well with pitchers, but would be great for middle-of-the-order guys looking to increase their numbers since they'd likely get an AB in each extra inning.)

but who knows- if baseball does implement replay this year, as is widely expected, it shows that as long as fans and players put up enough of a stink, even tradition can be put aside for the good of the game.