Yes! The game has changed. Old versus new. Yesterday versus today. Rules of engagement versus all-out engagement.

It brings to mind a recent dustup showcasing this issue regarding Tony LaRussa. He’s the 76-year-old, now-out-of-retirement, Hall of Fame manager for the Chicago White Sox who publicly reprimanded his player, Yermin Mercedes. It seems that the rookie catcher outright defied his manager’s instruction to “take” on a 3-0 pitch count. Instead, Mercedes hit a 47 mph meatball, thrown by a position player who was ostensibly “pitching” (in relief)—for a homerun. This when the White Sox were leading 15-4 in the ninth inning. Consider that: 15-4 in the ninth inning!