One of the big stories from the early week here is that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is once again trying to figure out ways to spice up the game of baseball and to make it more appealing for viewers around the world. However, his latest idea is one of the most radical, and potentially worst ideas I think I have ever heard.
In case you have not yet heard about the topic of the "Golden At-Bat" that Rob Manfred has discussed with owners around the sport, Ryan Phillips from Sports Illustrated summed it up perfectly: "...the basic concept is that a team could choose one at-bat in every game to use its best hitter regardless of where they are in the lineup. So if, say the New York Yankees had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they could bring Aaron Judge to the plate even if it wasn't his turn in the order. It would be a one-time replacement, not a substitution like a pinch hitter."
I understand it from the perspective that Manfred is attempting to bring in more casual fans to generate interest in more games, especially during the 162 game regular season, but the reality is that I can see this rule alienating diehard baseball fans. While it's certainly true that baseball needs to increase viewership and popularity, especially among younger generations, I just think this rule is too radical to be implemented, and at this point I would honestly be shocked if it were to be approved.
Enough of my thoughts about the rule, let's answer the question that any Nationals fan was probably thinking of as you read the description of the proposed rule above: Who would you want the Nationals to select for the Golden At-Bat? To me, there's 3 ways to look at this. You could choose either your hottest hitter in the game, for example maybe Keibert Ruiz is 3/4 with 3 homers and you want to get him back to the plate for another chance.
Maybe you want to pick the guy who's consistently your best player, for example, in 2024 there is probably nobody you would have wanted at the plate more than Luis Garcia Jr., who was in the midst of a breakout season.
Or finally, maybe you want to play the matchup, and get a lefty like James Wood or CJ Abrams against a right-handed pitcher rather than having Garcia face a lefty. It really is an interesting concept, but I still just can't see it happening. I do believe that Garcia Jr. would be the team's best option for the new rule, but I don't know if he would be my pick in this hypothetical scenario.
As for who I would want at the plate? If I was Davey Martinez and I had to blindly select one hitter regardless of the situation, I would select Dylan Crews. The guy has the flair for the dramatic as we saw at LSU, and he just has the natural aura and spotlight on him that makes me believe he's built for the clutch moment.
Who would you select for the Golden At-Bat on the Nationals? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.