We've been eagerly awaiting an extra innings Olympic baseball game to see an absurd new rule in place. We should have known the first victim would be Team USA. Whether they were bored, high, drunk, or all the above, Olympic baseball officials decided that in any game going 11 innings or more, two runners would be placed on 1st and 2nd base to start the inning. The team can then choose where to start their lineup, with the two previous batters taking their spot on the base paths. If you don't think that makes any sense, it's because it doesn't.
Some have argued it's not much different that college football's overtime, and their are some valid points there, but regardless, it's the most ridiculous rule invention in sports history.
So that takes us to this morning's USA vs Cuba baseball contest that was tied headed into the 11th inning. With two runners already on base, Michel Enriquez of Cuba drove in both teammates with a single to give the Cubans a 5-3 lead that would seal their first victory of the United States in three tries.
Adding insult to injury, or the other way around, that behemoth of a Cuban pitcher threw up and in on Team USA's Jayson Nix in the bottom of the 11th, that careened off his bat and directly into his eye. Nix was taken directly to the hospital, while manager Davey Johnson didn't take the pitch kindly.
“I don’t think that’s the way to defend the wheel. Lazo’s a great pitcher. I’m sure their game plan was to throw right at the guy’s head. It bounced up and hit him in the eye. No game of baseball is worth that. … I told my guys, ‘they’re going to do something crazy, and that was their crazy play.’ In my wildest imagination I didn’t think they’d throw right at my player’s coconut.”
I don't blame Johnson for being irritated, but it's safe to say he directed his frustration over the new rule at the Cuban pitcher.
Team USA is now out of the running for a medal, thanks to the dreamt up runners in scoring position rule.
more
