Made for Maddon

Maybe this should be the Joe Maddon Rule. A season after the Tampa Bay manager sent outfielder Sam Fuld to the mound to warm up for the sole purpose of giving a reliever extra time in the bullpen, Major League Baseball closed the loophole. MLB has amended Official Baseball Rule 3.05 regarding such shenanigans. The change will “prohibit a manager from sending his current pitcher out to warm up with no intention of having him pitch because a relief pitcher is not ready to enter the game.” Maddon hadn’t heard about the change until being asked this week. “… It doesn’t surprise me. And it also indicates that they’re on top of things, so I kind of like it,” Maddon (pictured right) said at the Rays’ spring training camp.

– Associated Press