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Union chief doesn't believe players would approve proposed extra-innings rule

Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

Major League Players Association executive director Tony Clark had a simple answer when asked whether or not players would approve the proposed extra-innings rule that would start a runner at second base beginning in the 10th inning.

"No," Clark told reporters Sunday, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. "No."

The new rule will be introduced in the Gulf Coast League and Arizona League this season, as well as the World Baseball Classic, and is implemented in an effort to promote scoring and limit the chances of games running into numerous extra innings.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has discussed his ambitions to try and speed up the game on a number of occasions, and MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre is a supporter of at least experimenting with the new extra-innings rule.

"Let's see what it looks like," Torre said earlier this month. "It's not fun to watch when you go through your whole pitching staff and wind up bringing a utility infielder in to pitch. As much as it's nice to talk about being at an 18-inning game, it takes time."

Clark understands the calls for trying to speed the game up, but doesn't believe that baseball needs any dramatic changes.

"There has been so much dialogue the last few years," Clark said, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports. "Changing or making adjustment is becoming more challenging when taking into account the industry as a whole and how it's doing.

"Guys are progressive. Guys understand innovation. Guys understand thinking about tomorrow and protecting against the future.

"I don't know if there's a more vested group than the players when it comes to the game, and the respect for it, and the always dangerous proposition of our game turning into something that love it and respect it, don't recognize it as much anymore."

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