Pirates broadcasters call out Cardinals for violating unwritten rule

Major League Baseball has made an effort to market its young stars and encourage personalities with the "Let The Kids Play" campaign.

It's an attempt by the league to distance itself from the unwritten rules that have dictated the "right" way to play the game for decades.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' announcing crew of Greg Brown and Bob Walk aren't quite ready to let go of those old ways - it would seem. That was clear during Wednesday's broadcast against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The "violation" in question took place during the fourth inning with the Cardinals leading 11-4. While a seven-run lead is a considerable advantage, there's still plenty of innings to play. Yairo Munoz was on first and remained aggressive, stealing second and then taking third with the base uncovered.

MLB: Sorting out baseball's unwritten rules

Neither announcer was pleased.

Brown: And the runner… steals… ahead 11-4. Wow!

Walk: Excellent jump.

Brown: (Laughs) Yeah. The Pirates… well they’re holding him on, I guess. Always wonder about those unwritten rules.

Walk: The rules… the unwritten ones, anyway… well even the ones that are written down, they’ve changed a lot over the last 10, 20 years.

Brown: And he’s taking off for third! And even the fans don’t like it.

Walk: I know exactly what would happen now, in a different era. In a different era.

Brown: We’re in a ballpark here… the fans don’t like it! I’ve never heard that. I’ve never heard the fans boo… basically this is, again, these old unwritten rules. But the fans don’t like it! I guess it’s possible they’re just not happy with Escobar (the pitcher) giving them this running lead.

Walk: Yeah, they might not be booing the Cardinals.

Brown: Yeah. Booing the Pirates’ pitcher and the Pirates in general.

Walk: Basically a guy just ran from first to third, uncontested.

Let the discussion about unwritten rules ensue. 

The Cardinals went on to win, 14-8.