MLB Adopting Little League Rules For ALDS

The Boston Red Sox are a huge ratings draw for Major League Baseball and to help them out in their first round series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (of California; of the United States; of North America; of the Western Hemisphere; of Earth), Major League Baseball is instituting the Little League leading rules for the American League Division Series.

As Buster Olney wrote: "No catcher has allowed more stolen bases this season than [Jason] Varitek, who has surrendered a whopping 114 while throwing out just 15, but [Victor] Martinez has thrown out just 9 of 63 would-be base-stealers."

Major League Baseball was worried about a quick exit in the first round for the Red Sox so they decided to change the rules this year to give them the advantage. There is precedent for this: in 2004, they instructed the umpire in Game 4 of the ALCS to call Dave Roberts safe at second in the bottom of the 9th (when he was definitely out) so that the Red Sox would not be swept and create a ratings nightmare.

The Angels will not be allowed to lead in the ALDS. They must wait with a foot touching the base until the pitcher has released the ball. Only then may they take a three step lead. Any deviance from this will result in an automatic out.

The suggestion to do this came from George Mitchell, who Major League Baseball deems an impartial judge...even though he his gainfully employed by the Red Sox.

Angels' manager Mike Scioscia is not happy about the development but knows the drill: "We lost to the Red Sox in the first round of 2004, 2007 and 2008. They let us win a grand total of one game in those three series. So I'll just say, yeah, MLB seems to have it out for us."

Scioscia has been fined $750,000 for his comments and is prohibited from Chone Figgins in the first two games of the series.