There are stupid rules in baseball.

 

For instance, when a runner scores after reaching on a pitcher's error, it doesn't count against the pitcher's earned run average. In my book, he put the guy on, he earned that run.

 

And there are stupid rulings in baseball.

 

For instance, the Florida Marlins are losing a home game because Hurricane Frances forced part of a three-game series with the Cubs scheduled for Miami to be made up in Chicago. The stupid part comes in because Major League Baseball declared the Cubs will be the home team for the contest, thus getting the last at-bat.

 

Why? Precedent.

 

In other words, "Because I said so."

 

While that may work fine for dealing with your third-grader, it's not such a great basis for a decision that may impact who makes the playoffs in the National League. The Marlins are losing an advantage by not getting the last three outs.

 

At least, that's what conventional baseball wisdom says. Until Billy Beane issues a press release alleging otherwise.

 

Granted, I've not always been a believer in this accepted wisdom. Nothing was sweeter, as an 11-year-old, than beating everyone to declaring "first ups" when choosing sides for a sandlot game. Unless it was calling "shotgun" when going to the store with your dad and your 12-year-old brother.

 

Still, the last at-bat is viewed as an advantage. Even though everyone gets the same amount of outs. Even though sometimes golfers will putt out, preferring to put the pressure on their foe, rather than waiting to go last when it would be perfectly legal to do so.

 

Last is best, when it comes to batting.

 

"That's more important, in some ways, than where you play," Cubs GM Jim Hendry said. "Everybody likes to bat last."

 

Hey, can't hit a walk-off homer if you don't bat last, right? And who ever heard of a pitcher recording a walk-off out?

 

Maybe the Cubs are due for a break. On a night Matt Clement left his second straight start early with some random muscular discomfort, when Nomar Garciaparra ran into a folding chair in the Cubs bullpen and took a pitch off his elbow, maybe divine providence dictated they be given something that looked like an edge in a tightly packed five-team wild-card race.

 

But at the expense of the Marlins? Isn't it bad enough that the defending world champs have to play 30 games in 27 days, including three doubleheaders from Sept. 10-20?

 

The Marlins, who ended their hurricane hiatus Tuesday with their eighth win in a row, are getting shafted. But they are not alone.

 

According to Marlins president David Samson, appeals of the same decision in other instances have been denied 10 times.

 

"But we're still going to file it," he told MLB.com.

 

He'll lose. Then the Marlins will come to Chicago, for a game that should have been their home game, and bat first.

 

"They're coming up here and losing a home game," Mark Prior, the Cubs' representative to the players' union, said. "They have every right to have last at-bats.

 

"I don't see what the problem is with that. I guess MLB's got a problem with it.

 

"As far as we're concerned, as players, it doesn't really matter. I don't think we'd complain one bit about it."

 

Such an admission is rare from the Cubs, who are more than a bit predisposed to complaining. Rumor has it they turned down an audience with the pope because one player assumed, "We'd probably get stuck behind the guy with the big hat."

 

Perhaps, though, they are finally maturing.

 

Perhaps they looked at the devastation in Florida and imagined themselves in a similar situation.

 

How they must have sympathized with the indignity foisted upon Josh Beckett, the Marlins pitcher chased from his beachfront home by Frances. Reportedly, he spent a couple of nights with some other members of the organization in Pro Player Stadium, and slept ? gasp! ? in the umpires' locker room.

 

No doubt Kerry Wood could see himself in like circumstances, emerging each morning in a cranky mood, declaring the umps' cot squeezed him all night. Or maybe he figured Beckett was forced into choosing the lesser of two evils, his other option being huddling with the team's broadcasters for warmth.

 

Whatever the reason, the Cubs don't care if the Marlins bat last. It is fair that the Marlins bat last.

 

Major League Baseball has decided to be unfair, for no good reason.

 

That's no way to play ball.

 

nice to see Mark Prior atleast agree with us

 

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/co...ia/x08-ard1.htm

a quote from the sunsentinel

Even though the Cubs were willing to let the Marlins bat last in the makeup game -- "Fair is fair," Cubs President Andy MacPhail said over the weekend -- the Cubs will get an 82nd home game.

I like the Billy Beane comment. :thumbup

Its not fair at all. If the Marlins lost a home game in their "home", then they should be able to bat last. hopefully it wont be a big deal, and the Marlins have a good enough lead in the 9th. Ill keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

It's just stupid

How they must have sympathized with the indignity foisted upon Josh Beckett, the Marlins pitcher chased from his beachfront home by Frances. Reportedly, he spent a couple of nights with some other members of the organization in Pro Player Stadium, and slept ? gasp! ? in the umpires' locker room.

 

:lol thats halarious.