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Dodgers: Justin Turner Suggests Homerun Derby to Decide Extra-Inning Games

Everything is on the table for when baseball finally returns. It’s inevitable that the game we all know will be changed entirely for this season given the circumstances in the world. Things about the game will need to change, schedules will need to be moved, and processes updated. The Dodgers’ Justin Turner has his own ideas on at least one aspect of the game.

In an interview on Spectrum SportsNet LA, Turner discussed one thing that he would like to change. In regards to extra-innings, he felt there could be a new approach.

Instead of playing 17 innings, you get one extra inning, you play the 10th inning, and no one scores, then you go to a home run derby. You take each team’s three best hitters and you give them all five outs and see who hits the most homers.

A little bit unorthodox? Absolutely. But Major League Baseball has one of the strangest seasons in history ahead of them, so why no get weird. The idea from Turner stems from the hope of getting more fans out to ballgames and keeping them there. Something the Dodgers do not struggle with, but the league does at times. 

You know, you wanna keep fans in the stands until the end of the game. I know when I go to hockey games, I actually enjoy watching shootouts. That keeps me in my seat, so maybe a home run derby will do that as well.

If this were to go through on some level, the Dodgers would be in a pretty good position. They have been near the top of the league in homerun production for the last few years and only got more powerful this past offseason. 

Turner noted that the pitching coach would throw out the pitches in this scenario to relieve overworked pitchers. If the league intends on fitting a full season into the year, doubleheaders and fewer off days are in the future for players. Turner thinks that this could protect arms and keep people healthy.

What are your thoughts Dodgers fans?

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