Jameson Taillon pokes fun at ridiculous Golden At-Bat rule proposal

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred doesn't exactly have a respected voice among baseball fans, with the latest example being a soundbite he offered from the GM Meetings at the start of November finally being noticed in December.

The GM Meetings are often where a variety of rule proposals are discussed among MLB Owners and according to Manfred, one suggestion that was a talking point this year was the "Golden At Bat" rule.

“There are a variety of (rule change ideas) that are being talked about out there,” Manfred said. “One of them — there was a little buzz around it at an owners’ meeting — was the idea of a Golden At-Bat.”

The premise behind the rule was the a team can pick a moment in a game where they can electively choose to bat their best hitter. Unlike the pinch-hitter rule, the hitter being replacement in favor of the "Golden At-Bat" would remain in the lineup and presumably take his next turn. Meanwhile, the batter being used for the "Golden At-Bat" would remain in their spot in the starting lineup.

There were also variations to that rule being discussed but you get the premise. Instead of Miles Mastrobuoni batting in the ninth inning of a tied game with the bases loaded, Craig Counsell can choose to hit Seiya Suzuki. Apologies to any Mastrobuoni truthers out there.

The mere suggestion of this rule has been torn down by just about every pundit but instead of complaining about the problem, Chicago Cubs' starting pitcher Jameson Taillon offered an alternative rule.

While it is debatable how much of a benefit the Golden At-Bat rule would be for the Cubs given their current roster lacks an impact bat, the team wouldn't get much use out of the Golden Defender rule. With their current roster, the Cubs enter each season with several Gold Glove candidates including previous winners Nico Hoerner at second base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Ian Happ in left field, and Cody Bellinger in right field. As soon as the 2025 season, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field and Michael Busch at first base could also be included in that mix.

Nevertheless, it's a better thought than whatever it was Manfred was trying to accomplish by floating out the Golden At-Bat suggestion.