Pitch clock

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Went to Fenway today and saw the sox beat the Angels 2-1 in 1:57.

Game started at 1:35 PM, and I was home in my driveway in RI by 6 PM.

I bought a soda that came with a free refill, and didn't get a chance use it !

I will say, though, the crisp pace of game kept my 11 year old interested. That wouldn't have happened during a 4 hour game!

could take aways and great story

[steve B]

It's more than a bit nuts that a batter gets a time penalty call because it's his first game back in town after going to another team and the fans give him an ovation.

Just let the game be the game, it's getting silly.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by steve B

It's more than a bit nuts that a batter gets a time penalty call because it's his first game back in town after going to another team and the fans give him an ovation.

Just let the game be the game, it's getting silly.

The Umpires have the right to use discretion in some situations, the Umpire made an error.

[icurnmedic]

I could be wrong, but I think the bottom line is MLB perceived Baseball as dying. I don’t think anyone woke up one day and said ,let’s just shorten the game for the hell of it. I think this is a Calculated decision to try to generate more interest and viewership , ergo revenue.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by icurnmedic

I could be wrong, but I think the bottom line is MLB perceived Baseball as dying. I don’t think anyone woke up one day and said ,let’s just shorten the game for the hell of it. I think this is a Calculated decision to try to generate more interest and viewership , ergo revenue.

After years of lengthening the game by making it "more entertaining" with every player having their own music, etc.


There should be a way without the silly micromanaging pitch clock. With it baseball will be poorer.

Spring baseball where pitchers and batters worked a bit more briskly to keep warm is enjoyable, as is August baseball where everyone moves a bit more slowly because 90+ in both temp and humididty isn't fun.

As much as the kids hate stuff that takes time, Imagine a game with no Mark Fidrych or Al Hrabosky,
Without Nomar and his admittedly over the top glove routine, bus also without Fisk and his Using the bat to help stretch.

Without a fast working pitcher pointing at the plate demanding the batter hurry up and get in the box. Or Jim Kaat sort of quick pitching in an already fairly fast era.

Without coaches going through elaborate sign sequences, when the real sign to steal might actually be a bench player moving his cap....

Antiseptic rushed baseball is colorless and less interesting.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by steve B

After years of lengthening the game by making it "more entertaining" with every player having their own music, etc.


There should be a way without the silly micromanaging pitch clock. With it baseball will be poorer.

Spring baseball where pitchers and batters worked a bit more briskly to keep warm is enjoyable, as is August baseball where everyone moves a bit more slowly because 90+ in both temp and humididty isn't fun.

As much as the kids hate stuff that takes time, Imagine a game with no Mark Fidrych or Al Hrabosky,
Without Nomar and his admittedly over the top glove routine, bus also without Fisk and his Using the bat to help stretch.

Without a fast working pitcher pointing at the plate demanding the batter hurry up and get in the box. Or Jim Kaat sort of quick pitching in an already fairly fast era.

Without coaches going through elaborate sign sequences, when the real sign to steal might actually be a bench player moving his cap....

Antiseptic rushed baseball is colorless and less interesting.

MLB tried a couple years ago, telling players and Umpires to keep the game moving, that approach didn't work.

Baseball was fine when there was 1 Mike Hargrove, but when there are 25 Mike Hargroves on a team, something needs to be done.

[Mike D.]

Yes, it's worth calling out that when most of those things mentioned, many of which were entertaining, games were SIGNIFICANTLY shorter when they happened than they were in recent history.

Maybe tweaks will be required to let personalities come out, but I'd guess they'll come out anyway...it's just a bunch of milling about that's been cut out.

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by steve B

After years of lengthening the game by making it "more entertaining" with every player having their own music, etc.


There should be a way without the silly micromanaging pitch clock. With it baseball will be poorer.

Spring baseball where pitchers and batters worked a bit more briskly to keep warm is enjoyable, as is August baseball where everyone moves a bit more slowly because 90+ in both temp and humididty isn't fun.

As much as the kids hate stuff that takes time, Imagine a game with no Mark Fidrych or Al Hrabosky,
Without Nomar and his admittedly over the top glove routine, bus also without Fisk and his Using the bat to help stretch.

Without a fast working pitcher pointing at the plate demanding the batter hurry up and get in the box. Or Jim Kaat sort of quick pitching in an already fairly fast era.

Without coaches going through elaborate sign sequences, when the real sign to steal might actually be a bench player moving his cap....

Antiseptic rushed baseball is colorless and less interesting.

I looked up Mark Fidrych's game times in 1976 when he pitched exactly 9 innings:
5/15 1:57, 6/11 2:28, 6/16 2:08, 6/24 2:31, 6/28 1:51, 7/3 1:54
7/9 2:03, 7/20 2:39, 7/29 1:52, 8/7 2:10, 8/11 2:22, 8/25 1:48
9/7 2:19, 9/21 2:00, 9/28 1:48, 10/2 1:46

Fidrych worked very fast, yet he somehow found time to talk to the ball and fix the dirt on the mound.

It's the dead time that's getting taken out. Batters stepping out of the box and walking in a big circle around home plate after every pitch. Catchers coming out to the mound every other pitch for a meeting. Pitching coaches running out to the mound twice an inning.

No other sport had the number and types of interruptions baseball had. Personally, I blame those Yankee teams with Jeter and Posada. It was like every pitch required a team meeting before being thrown. There was just nothing like a 4 hour Yankees / Red Sox Sunday night game in July on ESPN. Ugh.

[raulus]

I have to confess that I enjoyed having the pitch clock. There were a couple of violations, which added a minute each time as the managers came out to fuss about it. But overall, it really moved. Time between pitches was probably about 10-15 seconds. In some ways, the game seemed a lot less cerebral. No time to think - hurry up and pitch. Here it comes - hit it if you can! Better swing while you still can, or your at-bat might be over before you even settle in.

I do think that in some ways, it also means that when the situation gets tense and exciting, it gets resolved quickly. So there’s less build and tension and lingering over key moments. Instead it’s hurry up and get moving! But overall, I’m definitely in favor of the change.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Jim65

The Umpires have the right to use discretion in some situations, the Umpire made an error.

In Philly, Jean Segura came back with the Marlins and got a nice, long ovation without a penalty assessed to him. The announcers mentioned that umpires were given some discretion in situations like that so I agree that the umpire was wrong with Bellinger in LA.

Overall, I like the pitch clock and the pace of games now, but I have noticed that it is harder for replays to be shown which is a drawback. It also isn't clear to me when the clock starts between batters or if that is happening consistently, but maybe allowing a little more time between batters would allow more replays especially when something strange or interesting happens.

I also agree that some of the replay reviews take way too long. I know they want to get the call right, but it's hard to believe if it takes more than a minute to review a play that there is really a clear call that can be made in either direction. I thought there was a time limit for a review to happen in, but that doesn't seem to be enforced at all, I guess because they can't figure out how to penalize the replay umpire.

[BobC]

These could be some more new rules taking effect in the next couple years as well.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/spor...185213116.html

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by BobC

These could be some more new rules taking effect in the next couple years as well.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/spor...185213116.html

I actually like the pitch clock...makes games feel like they did when many of us started watching baseball.

These rules, though, not sure I quite see the point. Designated pinch runner? Doesn't really seem like something needed. Who's asking for this?

With pitcher disengagements, the limit to 2 seems positive so far, but probably needs more time to see how it effects the game before we change it again.

And tying DH to pitcher hitter innings pitched seems like a real stretch, especially after just recently going to universal DH.

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

And tying DH to pitcher hitter innings pitched seems like a real stretch, especially after just recently going to universal DH.

This one makes no sense to me, if a pitcher gets bombed and pulled after 2 or 3 innings, his team loses the DH, thereby lessening his teams chances for a comeback. Also, what if a pitcher throws a lot of pitches before he finishes his 5 innings, he decides to push himself and hurts his arm?

I like the pitch clock but this one goes too far.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by BobC

These could be some more new rules taking effect in the next couple years as well.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/spor...185213116.html

I don't understand the point of these new rules that will be tried in the Atlantic League and would be very surprised if they are eventually added to MLB.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I don't understand the point of these new rules that will be tried in the Atlantic League and would be very surprised if they are eventually added to MLB.

I'm with you Jay, but this is apparently one of those places where MLB likes to start and try out these new rules, before eventually/potentially adopting them for MLB play.

The one about losing your DH if your starter doesn't make it to the 5th inning had me particularly SMH. Besides really making absolutely no sense at all, I can already see the complaints about possible issues and exceptions if that were to become a new rule, like what if the starting pitcher gets hurt and has to leave the game, or there is a rain delay and it takes so long the starters can't come back for fear of potential injury, and so on.

Also, the one about a pitcher having to face at least three batters is an interesting concept, and does seem to combat the notion of overly specializing certain pitchers. But then also putting in a different rule to allow designated pinch runners seems to totally counter that de-specialization effort, and re-introduces even more specialization again. The way this is all going, I wonder how many years it may be till MLB becomes more like the NFL, where you have a roster of people to play in the field, but then a totally different roster of players that just bat. Don't laugh, as dumb as that may sound, how much you want to bet that idea hasn't been at least raised once or twice in MLB circles at some point?