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Atlanta Braves: Service Time Rule Exposes Malignant Stupidity

By W. M. Lawson

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24: Brian Snitker, manager of the Atlanta Braves watches on in the fifth inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Philadelphia Phillies won the game 2-0. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24: Brian Snitker, manager of the Atlanta Braves watches on in the fifth inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Philadelphia Phillies won the game 2-0. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Braves sent #1 overall prospect, Ronald Acuña Jr., down to Triple-A Gwinnett. It was the smart decision based on one of the dumbest rules in pro sports.

I’m sure you’ve heard or read by now that the Atlanta Braves sent Acuña down. We all knew it was going to happen. But it doesn’t make it any less egregious in its stupidity. By doing the absolute right thing in demoting the phenom, the Atlanta Braves highlighted one of the most byzantine, arcane, and obtuse rules you will ever find in pro sports: The Service Time Rule.

According to FanGraphs, The Service Time Rule is defined as:

"A team has the rights to a player until that player earns six full years of MLB service time (there are special rules for players who spend many years in the minors). In other words, as long as your team offers you a contract, you can play only for them until you hit six full years of service."

And therein lies the crux. Six years. When a rookie gets to the league, that team has him for six full years. The demotion is a down payment to extend the lease. So, the decision to demote a player has nothing to do with performance, rather everything to do with business.

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And that is the disgusting part. Leave aside for a second that the rule itself offers nothing to better the game. Leave aside for a second that, mostly, only writers and baseball nerds understand the dang rule, appropriately.

The disgusting and stupid part is that it not only cheats the fans of celebrating the arrival and personification of the future on Opening Day, which is supposed to be special, but it also cheats the player.

Pure pragmatism and financial consideration trumps fan favor and franchise Opening Day. It makes no sense.

With the recent announcements that MiLB has changed rules addressing “pace of play”, it seems like they are focusing on the wrong types of changes to grow the game. Is “pace of play” important? Of course. Especially, with the iPhone generation.

You know what else is important? Letting little kids see their future heroes play in their favorite uniform on Opening Day. April 13, 2018 will have to do.

Next: Atlanta Braves: Why Ronald Acuna Jr. Being Optioned isn’t a Problem

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