1:27pm: In a statement, Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark announced that the players on the Competition Committee voted against today’s slate of changes.
“This afternoon, Player Representatives voted against the 2024 rule changes proposed by the Commissioner’s Office,” the statement reads. “As they made clear in the Competition Committee, Players strongly feel that, following last season’s profound changes to the fundamental rules of the game, immediate additional changes are unnecessary and offer no meaningful benefits to fans, Players, or the competition on the field. This season should be used to gather additional data and fully examine the health, safety and injury impacts of reduced recovery time; that is where our focus will be.”
1:15pm: Major League Baseball announced a slate of modifications to the game’s official rules, which have been approved by the MLB Competition Committee (comprised of six owners, four players and one umpire). Per the league’s press release, the changes are as follows:
- Runner’s Lane: The Runner’s Lane will be widened to include the dirt area between the foul line and the infield grass. Widening the lane allows batters to take a more direct path to first base while retaining protection from interference. The distance between the foul line and the infield grass will be between 18 and 24 inches in all parks, with some limited grace periods granted by MLB due to difficulty in modifying the field (e.g., synthetic turf field).
- Pace of Game: MLB proposed minor changes to the Pace of Game Regulations to address an increase in game time as the season progressed – the average nine-inning game time increased seven minutes from April to September (five minutes after controlling for the number pitches, breaks, and runs scored).
- Timing Between Pitches: Reduce time from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Pitchers began their deliveries with an average of 7.3 seconds remaining on the 20-second timer in 2023. Pitchers retain the ability to step off and re-set the Clock up to two times without penalty. Violations with runners on base were the least frequent (14% of all violations vs 32% of all pitches) in 2023. A universal 17-second Clock used for the final month of the Triple-A season did not increase violations with runners on base.
- Batter Timeouts: Based on player feedback, MLB withdrew a proposal that would have required the home plate umpire to immediately reset the Pitch Clock after a batter called timeout.
- Pitching Changes: If a new pitcher steps onto the warning track with less than 2:00 remaining on the inning break Clock, the Clock will reset to 2:00 rather than 2:15 as was the case in 2023. Inning breaks that contained a pitching change averaged 2 minutes and 35 seconds in 2023 (broadcasters are only guaranteed two minutes of commercial time).
- Mound Visits: Mound visits will be reduced from five per game to four, and an extra mound visit will still be awarded for the ninth inning if the defensive team has zero remaining at the end of the eighth inning. Mound visits rank among fans’ least favorite events in baseball. Clubs averaged only 2.3 mound visits per game in 2023. Last season, 98% of games would not have exceeded a limit of four mound visits. Umpires will also permit defensive players to signal for a mound visit without actually visiting the mound to further help improve pace of game.
- Circumvention: The FTC (field timing coordinator) will now restart the timer after a dead ball (e.g., foul ball) when the pitcher has the ball and play is ready to resume. There will no longer be a requirement for the pitcher to be on the mound, removing the pitcher’s ability to delay the start of the timer by walking around the edge of the mound.
- Pitcher Who Warms Up Must Face At Least One Hitter: A pitcher who is sent out to warm up for an inning must face at least one batter (in addition to any requirements under the Three-Batter Minimum rule). There were 24 instances this season where the pitcher that warmed up between innings was replaced before throwing a pitch (adding approximately three minutes of dead time per event). There were two such instances during the 2023 World Series.
Runner’s lane photo courtesy of Major League Baseball communications department.
3 minutes of dead time Oooooooooh the Humanity. Gtfo of here.
It’s infuriating to know that we are relying on a bunch of over paid, data vampire nerds that most likely have absolutely no vested interest in the actual game of baseball driving the rules and regulations.
The majority of the fans like the changes. You should accept that you are in the minority.
It doesn’t bother me that you think this. Great discussion. Cheers!
Not the continuous changes, touch grass.
No no, you don’t understand.
He KNOWS. Because he’s so much smarter than us
What in the history of mankind would one accept that which is most popular to be the answer!!!!
How do you know it’s a majority? Have you talked to millions of fans around the country? Changing the game to save a few minutes sucks. If you’re going to a game, you’ve obviously set aside time to watch the game. If you only have two and a half to three hours, then don’t go. These rules take some of the important nuances out of the game. Pitchers need to have time to figure out what to throw to a batter who is already 2-2 against him. He’s not walking around the mound just to make the game longer. Hitters who call time are likely trying to guess what the pitcher will throw. I know these 30-seconds breaks make the game intolerably long. If people don’t like it, they can always watch professional tag on ESPN.
Sorry, SODO. Jumped in between your reply to Joe Brady.
You both have your heads up your asses.
Absolutely false.
The majority of fans aren’t actual fans either. Just cause casual fans don’t have the patience and want a 2 hour game doesn’t mean us real fans have to be happy about it.
Because you clearly were looking for a discussion on the changes /s.
I love how it always comes to that. “You are not a real fan if you don’t agree with me”. Wanting to see more actual baseball and less players standing around in between plays does not make someone “not a real fan”.
I hear you. Even if we didn’t agree on something, it’s pathetic to immediately call them names or say absurd things like they aren’t “real fans.” One of my best friends is in great shape but loves obese women. It’s gross, but that’s his preference!
Majority? Has there been a vote on this or are you just stating your opinion?
“Nerds” like who – Theo Epstein, who made the Sox relevant and champions for a time, then went to Chicago and did the same for the Cubs?
Most of last year’s changes worked for most fans (myself included), so let’s see how this year’s tweaks pan out.
Yeah, definitely better to turn over pace-of-game issues to the commercial interests.
—Glad you didn’t say something meaningless like “data vampire nerds,” so thanks for that. Keep taking that high road, brother!
Hey listen and listen good– the young kids hate baseball. They are choosing every sport to play instead of baseball– and that includes hockey. It’s too slow. Baseball doesn’t need endless visits to the mound. There should be no visits allowed other than to remove a pitcher– and that includes the catcher. The pitchers and coaches prepare the entire week going over their game plan and they review again the day of the game, and they can coach in between innings. These kinds of changes don’t impact the actual game, but they will speed things up– especially for the casual fan. And for the love of God, start allowing teams to trade draft picks like every other sport.
I guess that is why attendance is up and the average age of attendees is down?
carllafong: To that I can only say, “screw it” to the kids. If they don’t like the pace of the game, they can go back to their PlayStations and Xboxes which occupies more of their time than real life anyway. I don’t care if they don’t like bb.manfred has no right to mess with the game that a lot of us grew up with just to try to attract the next generation of fans. I doubt the changes have drawn a significant amount of 12 year olds away from their gaming and into the ball park. How many adults say that their fathers brought them to games when they were young which is where their love of the game came from. If today’s parents are too afraid of their kids to tell them to put down their phones and video games and maybe do something in the real world like taking in a ball game, then baseball is in real trouble.
Buddy, talk to the kids. Attendance may be up due to a larger general population, but it’s not like it was when we were kids when every kid played Little League and baseball cards were everything. I see zero kids playing over-the-line in the street, or pickle in their front yard. They don’t. They are on their video games. Movie theaters are closing all over Los Angeles– they don’t want to go. I had a conversation the other day with two 23-year olds who had never heard of Steve McQueen or John Wayne. Football dwarfs baseball in popularity. Baseball isn’t even played in the inner city. Very few black kids care. It’s football and basketball for them. It’s sad, don’t shoot the messenger. I love baseball. I hate all the promotion and noise at the stadium, but why do you think they have all the extra entertainment? We need to change on the fringes to speed up the action– and I don’t mean putting a runner at second base in the 10th inning– that’s terrible. We don’t need mound visits. Batters don’t need to step out of the box. We better be flexible if we want the sport to grow or at least keep pace with the others.
Little League participation nationwide is up. Each year since COVID.
Carlla claims “young kids hate baseball.” And because they all supposedly hate baseball, MLB must shave off 3 or 4 minutes per game … and that will change the opinion of those who hate baseball.
Did you even think about your comment before posting it? You’d have been better off taking 3 or 4 minutes to consider what a ridiculous take it was,
Carlla writes: “The pitchers and coaches prepare the entire week going over their game plan and they review again the day of the game”
Nope, that’s football. Baseball plays almost every day for six months. Teams don’t prepare for one game a week in advance and the neglect then other 6 games in between.
It doesn’t matter! They can change all the rules they want however the fact that MLB and MLBPA have allowed vast financial gap between the large market teams and smaller market teams is going to kill the sport faster than any pitch clock or mound visit counter! They might as well create a Super League for the big market clubs and then relegate most of the smaller market teams to a “B” league (AL & NL Central Divisions.) It’s really becoming quite the joke and as a longtime baseball fan it’s another reason among many that I continue to lose interest in the game!
The anecdote of you supposedly losing interest – while posting comments on a site dedicated to Baseball…rumors, no less, – is fatuous. And by your actions, it appears to be BS. It is also impertinent to false claims that “young kids hate baseball.” Unless you are a young kid.
I tried to say something similarly, but you did better. Knowledgeable fans know you guys are rookies when it comes to understanding the intricacies of of this greatest of all games!
That Onion article from 2018 “MLB Season Ends Over 200 Days Early After New Rules Speed Up Games Way Too Much” (theonion.com/mlb-season-ends-over-200-days-early-a…) is still as relevant as ever.
I LOVE the Onion! I still have their story about Coke selling 30 liter bottles.
One time the Onion did a “scouting report” on Zack Greinke after he spoke about dealing with social anxiety and other mental health issues. The report said he’s “stupid and worthless and no one will ever like him”
So then why complain about the rule change? It won’t make much difference at all to the viewing experience…. Yet everyone complains. Like clockwork
And here you are. Complaining about the complaining, which is even MORE productive conversation!
At least I’m not mad about 2 second change to a pitch clock. You people are ridiculous
Are you going to answer his question? I’m interested in your response.
You know, something tells me that I’m going to be ok. However, as a massive lifelong baseball fan, it bothers me when the sanctity and the history of the game are messed with.
This is because I am a baseball nerd. There’s a bunch of us here, that feel the exact same way. We come here to talk about it.
I hope this answer is satisfactory for you, cause I know you’re really looking to contribute to this conversation about baseball.
Lol I like baseball more than anyone I’ve ever met in real life. I follow religiously. I’m just not stuck in the past like you people who think cutting out dead time is somehow a bad thing. Funny because you complain about messing with the history of the game but old time baseball MOVED AT A FAST PACE. Geez it’s like you don’t even know what you’re complaining about you just want to complain
I appreciate your point of view and accept it.
Great discussion. Have a good day!
#pitchclocksuckz
You are complaining about the complaining about the complaining about the complaining about the complaining,
I think the new updates are fine. I Do wish they would get rid of the extra inning ghost runner.
It’s not so much being stuck in the past. If the PA had voted in favour of the changes and the owners against, the same people would be militating in favour of the changes. The goal is to be PA sheep, The PA are on the ‘right side of history’. The owners are ‘bad men’.
Lol pitch clock doesn’t suck you just don’t want to think change could be better. It made games so much smoother and more enjoyable to watch. Same amount of action, much less down time. Win win
Your opinion is valued.
#pitchclocksuckznardz
I agree. The changes last year definitely improved the game in my view and in the view of most fans. The major changes the owners have introduced, usually over the PA’s objection, like banning steroids, revenue-sharing etc have benefited the game.
The owners have a strong ongoing interest in a game that the public likes. It’s called ‘investment’. The PA has an interest in looking like tough guys for their members.
the history of the game are messed with.
===========================
How is the history of the game being changed?
Games use to take 2 hours. Then thru stuff that is a complete waste of time, throws over to 1st to keep Papi close, Pedey adjusting his gloves, Buchholz shaking off the catcher 6x, repeated trips to the mounds by the catcher and manager.
We are getting the game back to where it belongs. I’d bet that 99% of the fans would vote against giving batters 10 seconds to adjust the gloves each pitch.
And I’d bet serious money you are part of the 99%.
Great points. Added to the discussion. Thumbs up
The presumption is that the 7s remainder isn’t due to pitcher anxiety or expediency over the restriction of time. I’d also be interested to see what the difference is for SP vs.RP in relation to time left on the clock. I enjoyed the increased pace of the game, but I am not sure that 7s is solely because it only takes a pitcher 13s to ready themselves. Several veteran pitchers, most notably Scherzer, have said it had a negative impact on their mechanics.
SODO: The new rules definitely have an impact on the record book. Acuna becoming the first 40-70 player in bb history would never have happened without the larger bases, which simultaneously lowered catchers percent of catching base stealers. To those who say 70 steals is an amazing accomplishment, how come he never stole thamany before the bigger bases. If anyone breaks Henderson’s steal records, it shouldn’t count, just like McGwire breaking Maris’ HR record didn’t count.
Best: Could you please post the scientific data you’ve obviously accumulated over the past year regarding the majority of fans who like the new rules? You must have a lot of free time on your hands.
Because it DOES make a difference for the health and comfort level of the pitchers for very little benefit. Quality pitching is already in short supply, so sure, let’s shave off another minute and a half and make them pitch even faster.
Maybe if you read the article you’d see the new rules will have basically no impact on how fast they pitch. The average pitch was delivered with 7 seconds left on the timer. Again, maybe read?
They should institute a minimum pitch velocity for pitchers. 88mph for starters and 91 for relievers. That’ll speed the game up!
It is ok for him to bring that up as a deterrent against the pitch clock; even if you don’t feel that it’s relevant to the post in question
(It is)
Maybe try not always being a condescending douchebag?
Maybe people could read the article before commenting absurd things already addressed in the article? It’s really not much to ask. Yet you’d rather defend incompetence and low IQ commenting. Got it
Maybe if you read the post you’d see the speed concerns are literally irrelevant. Addressed in the article. AAA had a 17 second clock with no increase in violations. Average MLB pitch was delivered with 7 seconds left on the clock. But somehow cutting off 2 seconds will lead to injuries??? Lol it’s a clueless take
So easily triggered…you’re what we call “emotionally unstable”
His opinion is valued.
I’m the only one here not triggered by a 2 second change to a pitch clock. You’re backwards as can be lol
A bunch of grown men crying about a pitch clock but I’m emotionally unstable…. Sure thing bud LOL
Go have a Snickers mr crabby pants
You’ve made more comments here than anyone. That qualifies you as triggered. And yes, you clearly are emotionally unstable.
Ah so it’s the amount of comments that make you triggered rather than being a grown man complaining about 2 seconds on a baseball pitch clock. Yeah….. no. Lol.
People just don’t like being called out when they complain about absurd things like children
except you feel the need to reply to everyone who doesn’t agree with these changes. just give your opinion and stfu
But it didn’t actually support the argument he was making, so for him to insinuate that it would affect the pitcher was a bad use of data and creating a false narrative.
We are arguing over 7 seconds?
While I realize this isn’t serious it still makes a point. What are these power play changes? In response to player strikes. Strike again!! You still have one more until you cede total control. Owners still believe players can be bought. And maybe they are correct. But the MLB union is more powerful than they believe. Can’t use the word but $$$$ the owners!
What would you prefer? Negating my opinion?
Less than a second PER GAME
Its funny because the NFL is 2 hours and 30 minutes of dead time for a 3 hour broadcast.
For a game that stops every 30 seconds people really go overboard on calling baseball slow.
Add revenues, are day & night.
Good for Tony Clarke, and the union. It isn’t that a couple of the changes aren’t long overdue. But when did MLB get to be the total jefes? Strike again if necessary. Nobody goes to games to watch the owners own!
Dot – I think the better response, why were pitchers allowed to warm up and then leave the game before facing a batter during that inning? It never should have been allowed.
I like all the rule changes last year except the f’in ghost runner. That’s not baseball
all these ridiculous time allotment tweaks are all the proof needed to oust Manfred into outerspace.
Yes, eliminating dead time is ruining the fan experience. Personally, I like to watch the pitcher adjust his jock strap for 45 seconds between pitches. Fire Manfred.
While this isn’t exactly a good example, Manfred is not a very good leader. Almost as bad as Mr “If I don’t get my way, I am sending your kids to war”.
Manfred is not a leader. He’s a representative, and MLB owners understand a representatives job is to pursue the owners’ interests. Manfred does not tell the owners what the owners are going to do. The owners tell Manfred what they want to see.
The American public does not understand the concept. They like being told what to do by their “representatives” for some reason.
who are you even trying to reference here
Ya know if it wasnt for Manfred there would have been no post season last year
The pitch clock was the worst rule change ever made and you are clearly the worst guy ever made
Ghost runner checks in…
Absolutely. Pitch clock is fine. That ghost runner absolutely sucks!
LOL! Some of the insanity that fans have been forced to give up:
Buchholz shaking off the catcher 7x.
Pedey spending 5 seconds on every pitch adjusting his gloves. That’s like 5 * 4 pitches * 4.5 PAs or 90 seconds a game
Gary Sanchez visiting the mound twice an inning to figure out which pitch to throw.
The pitching coach visiting the mound for a minute to talk to the pitcher, followed by the HP umpire visiting the mound to break it up, followed by the manager visiting the mound to call in an RP.
The sight of the pitcher, the manager, the catcher, and 4 infielders all on the mound at the same time waiting for the new RP.
@JoeBrady – We were about 1 step away from seeing choreographed dance routines to batting music before every at bat. Game delays were getting insane.
When Pedro Baez’s career ended all game time averages were shortened by 4 minutes.
Gary Sanchez had to go to the mound after every pitch because the Red Sox and Astros were using video equipment to steal signs and relay them to the hitters.
I can understand arguments about larger bases, or the ghost runner.
But arguments in favor of dead time? That’s impossible. How can anyone say “I really want to see Pedey adjust his gloves a few more times. It was inspiring”?
It’s impossible. BB is twice as watchable now. How I can actually watch a game without switching between games, because now I fear I might miss something.
Same with the 2:30 between innings. It’s like watching streaming with limited advertisements. They say it will be 1:00 or whatever, so I just sit there. With regular cable. I know when the 3-4 minute advertising binge is coming and that is when I hot the kitchen.
As they keep reducing the time of a game, my incentive to attend a game is also going down. We will now be missing more of the game to hit the bathroom or buy concessions. Why pay ticket prices and miss big sections of the game?
If you’re not there as long you can save money on concessions. And considering you’re a Sox fan the more game you miss the better.
Yes! How dare they allow you to get home before midnight????!! Newsflash, you sound like somebody who hasn’t paid to attend a baseball game in 5 years.
Stay home and watch the game if it’s past your bedtime, son.
and miss big sections of the game?
=========================
I’m getting older too, but how much of the game do you miss going to the bathroom?
I don’t know, but the amount of time missed keeps going up.
Translation: more proof that he works for the owners and nobody else. They love it when fans don’t figure this out.
If you put Manfred in orbit, be sure and brand him like the Bonds ball.
FINALLY! The dumbest rule is baseball is fixed. Not allowing a runner to run in a straight line to first base had to be the worst ever rule—-now they can run in fair territory directly in line with the base.
Since it isn’t a “rule” no complaints, but having a ground out with a run scoring from third base count against a batting average and a flyout not, is a little bit wrong.
My immediate reaction to the running lane rule change was “It’s about f-ing time!”
Could not agree more. I have been advocating this change for years!
100%. It’s too bad that one rule update didn’t get approved. I’d assume the majority of players would be on agreement on this too. (Well, maybe not catchers) The existing rule is convoluted and makes little rational sense.
Well, the argument for not counting a sacrifice fly as an at bat has always been that the batter is often trying to hit a fly ball in that situation, giving up an out to do so most of the time if he succeeds, thus it’s a skillful sacrifice play just like with a sacrifice bunt. (It’s the same reason it’s not a sac fly and still counts as an at bat if the flyout only moves a runner from 2nd to 3rd base, as they aren’t usually trying specifically to advance the runner on a fly ball if they won’t get a run out of it.)
While it’s true that this isn’t exactly the same thing, as the batter is still trying first and foremost to hit a fly ball that won’t be caught (preferably a home run), it’s decent enough reasoning.
On the other hand, when a run scores on a groundout, it’s only a consolation prize when the batter is trying to get a hit.
Also believe that official scores cannot assume a double play is nonsense. If two outs are not recorded when two outs should be recorded, someone should be charged with an error.
Fair enough, but just be aware that making such a change would lead to a whole bunch more arguments on official scoring as to whether or not a second out should’ve been made on the play.
Should be left to scorers judgment. If there is a bobble on the play and the opportunity for a double play is lost, that should be an error.
What about grounding out to the right side to advance a runner?
Well said. I understand your point. But rewarding a hitter with less than two outs on a dribbler back the mound should not be rewarded like a flyball to medium depth center field. You get the ribbie. But probably not the same high fives in the dugout. Baseball is complicated. Thank God!
It’s amusing to imagine that most of the time batters hit a soft fly or a high fly to the OF, it’s because that’s what they were trying to do.
Yet ballplayers DO just try to hit deep-enough fly balls to score runners from third in certain situations.
I’d like to see them set up a second 1st base. You’d eliminate most of the collisions, and then there would be no doubt about whether the runner obstructed the catchers’ throw.
I don’t know if that’s the dumbest rule in baseball, but it’s long overdue.
It’s laughable that people are complaining about these rules.
One great rule and a bunch of so what rules. But some people love to complain about everything.
Just extend the 1B bag into foul territory like they do in lesser leagues. It removes the potential for interference and stops potential collisions.
Could Lord Manfred please at least evaluate the data from two seasons before tinkering with some of pitch clock rules? Don’t get me wrong, pitch clock is great, but some of these changes, such as 20 seconds to 18 seconds, feel like it’s change just for the sake of change.
This wouldn’t be a thing if the players didn’t start gaming the timer. It became obvious as the season went on what they were doing. Another year will just see the players perfect their gaming of the system.
@Joe says…
The fact remains, players will always find loopholes in the unnecessary rules. Honestly, if you’re at a baseball game and worried that it’s too long, clearly, your not interested in the strategies within the game. If all you’re interested in knowing is who won, stay home and check your phone for the scores the next day.
Old York I’ve been watching baseball since the early-mid 70s. The current trend is moving baseball back to what it was, when baseball was truly America’s pastime. It sucks there needs to be a clock forcing it but it’s so much better than three true outcome, station to station, players wandering around like they’re lost garbage it had become. Watching paint dry is nearly more exciting. I also don’t know what “strategy” you’re talking about. Everything’s decided by a spread sheet not a manager.
@Joe says…
The three true outcomes were due to MoneyBall and all the analytical nonsense that is in the game. We turned the game into a spreadsheet and played it based on that.
Its not to speed things up for fans at the game but for fans watching on TV. Its a whole different experience at the game. I can watch 2 12 inning games as a double header if I’m at the game. I never want it to end.
Yeah, my 16 y/o nephew told me that he liked it better when the games took longer when we go to the ball park. He doesn’t watch games on TV like I do.
We go to Angel stadium often, about 15-20 games per season and we usually get there 90 minutes before game time.
But I watch most Braves games on TV and I appreciate the faster pace then.
Exactly! Some unknowlegeable commenter wanted to equate stealing signs from a third base coach, or catcher when a runner is on second base with a hitter looking back at the catcher’s signal. Please let unwritten rules exist. It is what makes Baseball so special!
Lord Manfred would be happier to implement the pitch clock rules from MiLB where it’s been tremendously successful, but he’s slowly weaning the MLB players off their time honored hat and batting glove adjustment routines.
Joe and Martras,
All valid points, batters and pitchers were definitely gaming the rules, and I certainly don’t need to watch hitters adjust their gloves for 10 seconds each pitch, I was just referring to seeing data across two seasons to see if this affected injuries for pitchers, even just a little. I really do hope this is analyzed, minor league games have way lower and low-stress than major league games. Just my two cents.
Because after more than 1/2 million data points more data is required?
I agree, just keep it at 20. I was against the pitching clock at first, but I warmed to it later in the season. I was able to watch more games knowing I wouldn’t be up until 2 am watching a West coast game. However, shaving off 5-7 minutes is unnecessary. Baseball is a slow paced game and shaving off a couple seconds of inaction between pitches isn’t going to change that. Want a fast paced game, go watch hockey.
Keeping it at 20 is fine, but it’s comical to write more data is needed.
Should be other way around too
Nobody on 18 seconds. Heck 15 seconds
Runner on 20 seconds
Bur course thus is designed encourage offense and stuff. Probably see more steals.
I’m sure the broadcast companies won’t love losing those extra 24 commercial breaks they had this year.
More commercials during game action coming soon!
MLB Network has already been doing that. They started it when the commercial break time got reduced.
Just like watching the NFL players randomly stop play and stand around during mandatory commercial breaks, this is likely the reason for getting so anal about mere seconds during a baseball inning – commercials create more income for the owners.
Baseball already has natural half-inning breaks for commercials. This is nothing like those weird commercial breaks in the NFL.
Eventually they’ll stop playing the games altogether. The fans will file in, two guys will approach the plate, a coin will be tossed, a winner declared, and the fans will all file out. Not anything like the same experience, but just think of the time saved!
At the rate these outrageous salaries are increasing handing an injured pitcher with TJ surgery and pure DH $700 million will bankrupt the league when fans stop coming as its getting to a point even mediocre seats for family of 4 will run $500 on the low end.
womp womp
Dude I have been thinking similarly What I honestly believe there are Baseballl (fans) who really don’t see the neccesity of playing the games. Let us play a version of Strat-O-Matic to decide outcomes. Players be damned.
Well, Strato cards are based on actual data from previous seasons…
I have never played, visited, or watched a Baseball gane that I thought was too long, including doubleheaders!
For me, it is more of game flow than time expended. I like to see the continuous action, much like FB.
are you kidding that is what I hate about FB – it is all start and stop, 2 seconds of something happening and 5 minutes of waiting around while people setup and debate what just happened.
I agree that football is like baseball in that there are natural stops in play.
However, that is what I LIKE about baseball and football. There are natural stops in the action where you can think about and analyze the previous play and strategize about the next one. I just didn’t like how many extra breaks with mound visits and stuff were happening and how long individual at bats were becoming before some of these recent changes (although I don’t agree with all of them).
Basketball, hockey, and soccer have TOO MUCH continuous action of which to properly keep track, and the stops in play that do occur aren’t naturally built into the mechanics of the games. They’re also incomprehensible trying to only listen to them on the radio.
Don’t worry, at any given time three to four soccer players are rolling on the ground faking an injury in hopes of stopping play.
You are right, bag o ballz, football is boring.
“FB” is that Facebook?
I was unaware aware of a pitcher warming up and then did not pitch
Since it was the World Series, I bet it was Scherzer
I’m still trying to figure out how not pitching someone who warmed up can waste time.
I have no idea why they came up with this, it doesn’t seem like a game length issue, although I can see it as an inroad for manager gamesmanship somewhere along the line.
I’m happy for relief corps though, as the Yankees booth complains about health, wear for the next game, and (once in a blue moon) career longevity when it happens.
I agree that it could be detrimental to pitchers’ health. But to legislate it into baseball’s rules makes not one lick of sense to me.
Geek tweaks!
The continued excessive reliance of advanced analytics has fueled these incessant rule changes. I hardly recognize this game anymore.
If looking at data about game times is “advanced analytics” and obviously a negative then maybe you should stick to something simpler. I suggest competitive fishing.
The game is still hitting a ball with a wood bat. Been the same way for 100 years. If you don’t recognize it then maybe you’re watching the wrong thing?
You’ve got to watch the games to recognize them.
Widening the runners lane is a fantastic idea. The previous rule made little sense.
When did the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) get involved in MLB??? Seriously, though, what’s the FTC in this context?
Huh, I didn’t even notice that they didn’t spell it out fully within the press release. Thanks for pointing that out. It’s the “fielding timing coordinator.”
Field Time Coordinator
I like speeding up the game. But it’s strange because they could sell more commercials with the dead time and make the games more valuable to networks.
The faster the games – the more people will tune in. And in those slow dead spots – people tune out and then don’t come back. So makes sense to me and plenty of commercial time still
Half of watching a NFL game is watching the players unpile and stand in the huddle. People are apparently not turning the channel.
I was going to say half of watching an NFL is watching commercials. And for some reason NFL fans ENJOY watching commercials. Idiots actually tune in for the very purpose of watching Super Bowl commercials. smh!
…and sell more concessions with people in the stadium longer.
Five minutes between innings is enough to change channels, go to the bathroom, or get a snack without missing anything. A shorter break between innings forces you to stay engaged, and watch the commercials.
The number of viewers is what sets the rates. Higher viewership for fewer commercials makes more money.
They could, but the delays addressed by these changes are often unpredictable, so you can’t really plan to show more ads.
I like all these changes, though I would also liked to have seen the pitch clock reduced to 14 seconds with nobody on base. Maybe 2025.
The rule change on interference along the first base line is way overdue. Those silly calls penalized runners for, gasp, running directly toward first.
The biggie is yet to come, of course. I think we’ll see a challenge system for ball and strike calls in 2025. Three challenges for each team per game, the challenges must be immediate, and only the pitcher, catcher or batter can challenge. That will actually add some interesting strategy to the game.
Completely stupid. SEVEN MINUTES? Seriously?
If the TV guys want a timed game, just put a timer on for 15 to 20 minutes and reset it 3 times. Once the clock runs out, whoever is leading wins the game. Don’t stop the clock at all, unless it’s for the TV ads and we can all go home within 2-hours.
Awful. Terrible. Blast everyone in MLB’s NY office and everyone who supports these timesaver changes to outer space. And Manfred can take his nets with him too
Sheesh, they are making what once was a pretty simple game so complicated
Blast everyone in MLB’s NY office
==================
From what I read, the changes were extremely favorable among the fans.
So you’re admitting that you just read it and haven’t actually talked to anyone about it. Go outside, Sleepy Joe
Fletch you’re turning into quite the bitter troll these days. Not a good look.
By the way, the fans were so aghast about speeding up the game that they only bought 70 million tickets to MLB games this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see 75 million in 2024. But don’t worry. Some Internet grousers and the players union will still gripe about how the new rules are ruining the game.
The people complaining about ticket prices still think gas costs $1 and you can buy food and drink from a deli for 25 cents. Are ticket prices expensive? Yeah they are but guess what, if no body wanted to go to games then tickets wouldn’t be expensive.
I have no problem with the 3 batter minimum rule, but would like to see it become a 2 batter minimum in the case of an opposing team utilizing a pinch hitter in the inning.
It would create some strategy with trying to optimize pitcher-batter matchups.
Damn, that’s smart. Good idea.
The 3 batter minimum is pointless. They need to scrap it asap
I don’t mind the minimum. It would have been nice to have in place back when the rosters expanded to 40 in September and Bruce Bochy would swap pitchers after every batter.
see the thing is, I like when that happens.
Yeah it reeks of contrivance. You have team with only so many pitchers. Use them as you please!
I don’t see why any of these rule changes are an issue. Can’t see why the union is upset.
Other than they’re idiots that is
Right, the most powerful Union in the world consists of nothing but idiots. Sounds like you’ve lost a grievance a time or two..
Nope. Just think the union has done more harm to the game than good.
How?
Cite the harm to the game that the Player’s Union has done. (This is going to be good 🙂 )
The union guys need to be Bauered from baseball, along with Boras. Their gain is everyone else’s loss, and vice versa.
I think the pitchers particularly feel that being rushed between pitches leads to more injuries.. Not sure what the stats say,
Do mound visits reset for extra innings? In the rare occurrence that a game goes 15+ innings. What if a team has zero left after 9 innings?
That is a good question. I’m not sure, but I would assume changing pitchers doesn’t constitute a mound visit. So in extras, maybe you have to replace a pitcher if you go out?
99% sure they do. What I don’t understand with this new rule is granting an extra visit if you’ve used yours all up in 8 innings. Seems kinda like the 2 minute warning in the NFL where it’s an extra time out. Pointless.
With all the ghost runners, I doubt we’ll see 15 innings again.
That’s one rule they need to get rid of. Worst rule ever made up for baseball. It should start in the 12th inning.
Actually, start the zombie runner in the 13th inning. Play three more innings with real rules, minimum one more time through the lineups. better parallelism and continuity.
All these rules to make the games quicker – where does it stop??
Are they going to put time limits on games, or even innings?
I may be in the minority when I say this, but making the DH universal, the bases bigger. A pitch clock, etc. Has taken a lot of strategy out of the game.
Since there’s no differences in the leagues now, why not just have 3 divisions and no leagues.
And to make it more exciting for the fans who only want short games, change the playoffs to 7 inning games, with no extra innings. And get rid of all human umpires and replace them with robotic umpires who never get a call wrong.
As ridiculous as it sounds, I think this is where it’s headed toward.
How about time limits on the wait in the concession line. Clock expires, food and drinks are free.
Ha! This happened at Aviva stadium in Dublin during the Northwestern Nebraska game. The system went down while people were in line- food and drinks free for the remainder of the game
If the inning starts before you get your food. The person behind you pays for your beer.
If there a rain delay of more than 45mins. We can BYOB into the stadium. Maxed out at 12pack. If I could bring in a 12 pack. I’m keeping 4 selling the rest for $5 each.
Bill James showed that having pitchers in lineups reduces strategy.
There should NEVER be an odd number of divisions. Two leagues, two divisions each. The two division winners get byes and play the winners of the 4 wildcards per league. (I have been advocating this for decades now, since baseball stupidly copied NFL’s previous three division inanity.)
You win the internet: 7 inning games is the stupidest thing written in 2023. Congrats, I guess.
PS: there will always be human umpires, even if balls and strikes are determined by a “Hawk-Eye” technology. btw: The current system being tested in MiLB uses challenges on balls and strikes; umpires are still calling pitches. Advice: don’t hold your breath waiting for humans to be replaced by robots in MLB.
20 to 18 seconds with runners on is absurd. Fans, players, and medical staffs wanted that to be more like 25 seconds.
And the stats given say that pitchers don’t typically use all the time allowed.
Letting a pitchers arm blood oxygenate for a few seconds might save your precious Ohtani from being on the IL, Manfred.
That’s why Lord Manfred should have waited and gathered data from at least one more season before tinkering with more changes such as this.
And taking data from AAA where the age is a lot younger on average than MLB might have some effect on health outcomes as well.
Yeah, one of the key points the supporters of these pitch clock reductions are missing is that this could be contributing to pitcher injuries. So, shouldn’t we try to determine how much of a contributor it may be before tightening the time even more?
No wonder players voted against this.
So you want to allow more time, even though pitchers don’t typically all the time allowed?
And you might have just as much of a probably with an arm getting stiff. Folks always complaining about pitching injuries, but they use to pitch a lot more rapidly in the old days,with games often ending in two hours.
Pointless to compare pitching injuries across eras, considering that pitchers tossed at 80% effort during the days when two-hour games were common. And that was effective with comparatively loosely wound baseballs. Nobody gets to MLB anymore by pitching like they did in the 1940s. Hell, they don’t even get to the minors.
The Circumvention rule could just be called the Alek Manoah rule. He did the lap around the mound at least several times per at bat last year, on account of being gassed all the time, one imagines.
Whatever rule they can make/change to help offense will continue.
What, no rule stating that if a batter hits a homerun they must cross the plate in 20 seconds or else the next batter is down 0-1 in the count? Don’t worry, that absurd suggestion will never happen because it helps pitchers. Pitchers are good for a hard fastball and Tommy John surgery in today’s game.
Actually, I like the suggestion of clocking home run trots and penalizing the next batter for his teammate’s assholery. If all scoring players have not exited the dirt circle behind the plate in 18 or 20 seconds, punish the next batter. Shtt is going to change awfully quickly when it comes to all the current preening and public bating by certain hitters.
Glad you caught that. Unfortunately because it hurts the hitter, the idea will not happen.
Well, they do have pitch clock violations against batters. Maybe it’s more a matter of planting the seed. If this suggestion were seen by baseball brass, it might get legs. This is the first time I have seen the suggestion, so I am thinking most people have not seen the proposal. Minds might be changed.
Maybe. The violation on batters scenario had to be done as violations on pitchers were a given. It’s like the no-plow situation at bases (home plate, take out slides at bases). These help pitchers out, but designed to protect position players/hitters. Today’s game is all about protecting the position players.
I’m waiting for PiP commercials during inning breaks. Keep the fans on the channel and into the game
It happens already!!
Which broadcast?
I saw it watching Yankee games this past season, they’re broadcast on like 6 different outlets, Pix 11, YES, Apple or/and Amazon, Fox Sports, ESPN; I can’t remember which, but they absolutely had PiP ads, quick ones, designed for the quick mound visits, or batters timeouts.
1. This is getting too complicated. Keep it simple, stupid.
2. Speaking of stupid…The Ghost Runner still exists.
and the 3 batter minimum
So what is the stipulation if a pitcher injurys them self warming up? Am I missing something? I get eliminating the decoy warm up but I’m missing the part where is says pitcher must face one hitter unless injuries. I can’t see the union going for allowing an injured player to play for the sake of shaving 7 mins off of a game. Love the baseline rule. Should have been established years ago.
I don’t like this speeding up the game. I never hear anyone complain when a football game goes three hours. And with the price of tickets, if I’m at the ballpark, I want the most bang for my buck.
I never hear anyone complain when a football game goes three hours.
=====================
And I’ve never heard anyone complain about the 40-second rule, or about limiting the time outs to 3.
IRT to getting the most bang for your buck, watching a pitcher shake off the catcher 7 times, then throw over to 1st 3x with Papi standing on the bag, then watching Pedey step out for 5 seconds to adjust his gloves, is not my idea of getting more bang for the buck.
You are just looking to spend more time watching the game than watching more action.
You have your opinion…I have mine. But I still don’t hear anyone complaining when a football game goes three hours. I personally had no issues with everything you said. I don’t need non-stop action like football to have a good time. The whole ballpark experience is what I enjoy. To be able to spend a few hours at a Camden Yard or Fenway Park is nice.
“Non stop action like football???” NFL games are 5 minutes of action sprinkled in between 3:10 of commercials and crowd shots with unfunny morons yukking it up in the booth.
Same amount of action, Joe. The rule changes have not increased the number of plays.
Soccer moms nationwide (my bad Canada)are applauding the two second cut in the time a pitcher has to deliver a pitch. Gotta get little Johnny and Suzy home for school in the morning. Next, they’ll suggest only playing on weekends..
Mound visits were fan’s least liked event? LOL, How about the numerous pitcher checks? How about the arbitrary rules for what is too much rosin?
One event I don’t like is one player being allowed to stay in game as DH when he leaves as pitcher. Why not allow all teams to keep the DH even if said DH moves from DH to the field?
And do away with nonsense to not allow position players to pitch before a certain inning.
well said.
Meanwhile, the Lords of Baseball still cannot stomach the idea of a woman umpiring a big-league ballgame.
Instead, we have Angel Hernandez.
I wonder why he still has a job….
Let’s not fool ourselves, though. This is all just an elaborate and diabolical scheme by the owners to cut ushers’ pay by 20 minutes a night! 😉
Sadly, I’m sure that was factored in to these decisions.
The players foolishly gave up any right to meaningful say in changing the playing rules in the last round of CBA talks. They used to at least be able to delay any rule changed for one season, and they gave up even that right.
The committee is comprised of a majority of members appointed by Manfred and a minority of players’ representatives. They WILL be out voted every time.
Players foolishly give up a lot ! So now they are being petty and want concessions for rule changes. I don’t really blame them, but it’s a shame it’s came to that
“It’s come,” not “it’s came,” in English.
Shoe on wrong foot. None of the committee members are appointed by Manfred.
The competition committee is made up of six owners, four players and one umpire, giving the league a majority vote on any changes. Manfred selects the owners to sit on various committees.
You don’t seem to be clear on who works for who in MLB. A common misconception.
The whole pace of play is over blown. Football is the most popular sport in the US and the pace is excruciatingly slow. It’s just a simple game for people to understand while they guzzle beer and play on their phone.
I appreciate Mandred wanting to eliminate some of the judgment calls. Running outside the baseline was always ticky tacky. I wish the rule they would eliminate is having to maintain contact with the bag. It’s one thing to slide off the bag, it’s another when your leg hits the bag and barely bounces off.
Please stop this silliness. GET RID OF THE PITCH CLOCK!!!!!! it has no place in baseball and does nothing to improve the game. Is saving 2 minutes here and 2 minutes there really that important even if they add up to 20mins? Does speeding the pitchers up to save 10=20 mins, if any, make a game better? Not to me it don’t. If you love watching something why make it go faster.
I am still not sold on MLB “statistics” that the games are actually faster, as the majority of the games I watched were about the same length as games from years past. The fact that they were long did nothing to deter my interest in the game.
If pitchers Could get batters out without taking every count to 3-2 With 10 foul balls, all of these time rules would be unnecessary.
That sounds like a problem that YOUR team has, not the league generally.
Yet a 60 minute football game takes 3 and a half hours to play and no one cares. Pace of play isn’t the problem.
That’s because they’ve got chicks on the sideline to distract you during the downtimes.
@carlos
Couldn’t agree more that pace of play isn’t the problem. MLB is the problem… Ruining the game in the process.
The worst game changer was the “extra innings” rule AKA the “Manfred runner” on 2nd base to start each inning starting with the 10th inning. The Players Union went along for the ride because it was convenient for them. I remember Jack Flaherty and Tyler Glasnow voted in favor of it. I think it should’ve been decided by a panel of the 30 players reps not two numb-nuts,
the biggest waste of time is in video review from NY. gotta wait your turn.
add 5th ump to crew.
rotate through video booth at stadium.
all umps have buzzers.
45 seconds review max.
Can’t tell,? in 45 seconds. call stands like it has 150 tears.
signal not speak result. (..after further review…times 6000 is a lot of waste, not to mention it’s not ‘further’ review)
sometimes explanation is needed. OK then.
it’s never occured to me that delays could be caused by simultaneous reviews from different games. good insight
Another problem with the “New York umps” is that they get half of the challenges wrong. It’s shocking how bad they are.
Excellent changes all the way around. Should keep lowering pitch clock to ten seconds since the pitchers will just come up with new ways of cheating to drag it out anyway.
Stop using 4-5 pitchers per game, per team and shorten the (television) breaks between innings. You’re welcome.
Shortening the TV breaks affects MLB’s revenues so that can never be considered since the owners decide for themselves what is best for themselves.
Young people are conditioned to immediacy. They get bored quick. This is the worldwide reality in a modern society. Adapt the product or let it wither with us boomers. A slow game equals a slow death in 2023. The other sports I follow (rugby league and cricket) have been onto it for years.
Young people have been CONDITIONED, to not think for themselves. Also known as brain washing. Baseball has been high-jacked by the Entertainment Industry. It’s not a sport anymore. There’s no INTEGRITY of the sport as it’s been bastardized a hundred ways to Sunday. It’s mainly the owner’s fault.
@foppert2. When I graduated high school in 1974, the average time length of a MLB game was 2 hours 29 minutes. In 2021, it was 3 hours 11 minutes. Don’t blame it on the younger generation and their attention spans. The game has been stretched out. I would prefer the game return to the standards of my youth: shorter times, no DH, pitchers actually pitching complete games, no ghost runners, no inter-league play, etc. Feel free to call me a boomer, I don’t take it as an insult.
I am also puzzled by commentators on here who complain that shortening the time of the game makes it harder to go to concessions and bathroom. I go to watch a ballgame not to buy overpriced food. I hit the head before the game. I buy a beer and a pretzel before the game. On the way out, I hit the head again. Life is simple.
How about placing landmines in the outfield. That ought to appeal to the kids
As long as there is a boomer sitting on it, it might appeal.
Foppert2, Shhhhh!
We should name the new runner’s lane rule the “Davey Martinez Rule” since his teams have been on the wrong side of interference calls or no-calls of late.
MLB announces baseballs at dodger stadium will be juiced when the home team is up to bat…..all major market teams can defer salary under the table….japanese players may only sign with coastal teams….the Astros have been docked all first rd picks until 2030 for causing low ratings throughout the playoffs for the last 7 years….
@Astros2017&22Champs
Well, we saw that the best teams in the regular season couldn’t win in the playoffs. That’s the problem. They’re building teams to win 120 games but not to win a 3-game series.
Not one team that won 100 games lost a “3-game series.”
PS: All series after the wild-card play-in round should be 7-game series. There should not be 5-game series. Never should have been.
You’d think they’d care more about the stupidity they’ve created where the best teams in baseball lose in the first round because of rust. I personally hope my O’s lose games in September on purpose if there in the same situation as this season cause I don’t want that rust. It’s a shame cause if Houston would have also lost, that garbage commissioner would have stepped in if his team lost because of it.
I do not believe any team has lost a series because they were “rusty.” There is much more of an advantage to having starters and relievers rest a couple days than not having days off. SSS anecdotes, e.g. this year’s results, mean nothing. Bottom line: baseball has always been a game where being the better team is no guarantee of victory, especially in the playoffs and World Series.
Any jewelry must not extend beyond 5 inches From the Adam’s apple and each umpire must be required to have a tape measure for each challenge
How about banning jewelry entirely? How about covering tattoos as well??
If you get caught once you must wear a long sleeved turtle neck sweater
Jennifer Steinbrenner, is that you?
Nope
pace of play was perfect
it’s not broke, don’t fix it
Why is there not a a challenge on a ball and strike call when it’s important
MLB must enjoy fining players and making ‘pocket changes’.
Challenging balls/strikes is what has been experimented with in MiLB. I think it is three challenges per game per team. From the games I watched, it was surprising how many challenges were unsuccessful.
Because these changes are mostly about pace of play, and whatever the limit on strike/ball review calls is, every team is virtually guaranteed to use every one of those challenges every game.
They’re addressing the issue of ball & strike calls by experimenting & testing robot umps in the minors. Once they get it down to near-perfect, it’ll move out of the minors and up to the majors…
At least that is what they’re outwardly presenting as the case. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just aren’t ready or scheduled to renegotiate the CBA for the umpires union yet. They’ve got to figure out how to (basically) no longer pay umpires since they’ll be doing a lot less work, and not get federal arbitrators involved.
I’m not sure the future will see MLB replacing balls and strikes called by humans; I think the three challenge scenario is more likely. But if MLB does institute a Hawkeye system for calling pitches, then the home plate umpire should be moved out from behind the plate, standing a few feet and 45 degrees behind the batter. There would be no reason for a human ump to continue to be in danger’s path of pitched and batted balls. The unintended consequence would be more WPs and PBs squirting past the circle resulting in more runner advances.
They’re trying both systems, but they’ve been at it longer w/ robo umps, and they’ve gotten to the point where it was used throughout AAA this past season after graduating from testing in both independent ball and A ball already, since 2021, seemingly making the next step to the major leagues. The challenge system has only been used in the Sally league (A ball) so far, and seemingly has to get through AAA first. It’s gotten positive feedback, but I don’t think Manfred is looking to that as an answer, really. I think he’s just paying lip service to other options so the umps can’t say mlb didn’t try anything else.
My assumption is, that whatever works best for shortening games is the one that’s used (as long as Manfred stays the comish), and I can’t see how a review system could shorten games all that much. It’s a 50/50 chance, at best, that it would do so.
As far as WP & PB, I’d imagine pitchers are going to live in the zone A LOT more, so they’ll be less of an issue than you might think.
I’m not saying it’s what they should do, just that Manfred’s history and non-mlb testing suggests it’s what will happen.
I watched AAA games this year with the challenge system in the International League. From Baseball America, re. Hawkeye:
“There are two key differences in how ABS is being used this year at Triple-A. The first is that “full” ABS, where the system determines balls and strikes, is only being used for the first three games of each series. The final three games of each series are using a “challenge” system where the home plate umpire calls balls and strikes and teams can challenge calls. ABS is used to verify whether the call was correct or not.”
I think that even if pitchers live more in the zone, they still will throw big breakers and spike some fastballs; if they move the ump from behind the catcher as they should with a Hawkeye system, that’s like moving a backstop out of the way. I think it would be great for the game not to have umps behind the catcher.
I thought it was great watching golf during Covid with no crowds so we could see how wildly errant some pro golfers shots would be without stands and crowds to bounce them back towards the greens. They looked closer to human, like the rest of us.
I was hoping they would modify the pitch clock with a sundial, water clock, or convert it to the UTC+13 system.
Changing the pitch clock rules after one season makes no sense. The clock accomplished its purpose and the alterations will have no real impact on pace of play. It’s change for change sake. Reducing mound visits, same thing. Leave well enough alone. The runner’s lane change makes sense. It’s realistic reflects how batters head to first.
…how *Right Handed* batters head to first. Not much of an issue for Lefties.
MLB has not had any noticeable increase in young fans with all these rule changes.
What will increase the interest of young kids in the Angels is a new owner who will run the team, at least, like most other owners or better.
Jesus Christ. This is nitpicking. What’s the real end game here? They’re gonna use those extra minutes for more commercials?
Obligatory Ohtani complaint and Yamamoto update.
Ohtani: “Ruined baseball and Christmas!”
Yamamoto: Nothing yet. Complaint on standby in case of Dodgers signing.
The pitcher warming up at the top of a half inning should only be forced to face the first batter if the opposing team makes no substitutions. A PH (or a PR in extra innings) should allow the manager to change pitchers.
The Chinese restaurant tells me no substitutions.
The players never should have allowed the competition committee to be stacked against them. Should have held out for six league representatives, six players, and one umpire as the tiebreaker.
It seems they looked over this provision pretty much entirely during the CBA negotiations. I did not hear or read of any player raising an objection to it. The unfortunate result is the league can do it what it wants, and all Tony Clark can do is hem and haw about it.
Worst Commissioner ever!
It’s really odd that MLB wants to keep modifying the game, yes, the changes last year were acceptable. I think. But now they want to cut out 3 to say10 min. why??
You pay more and more to go to a game and here they want the games to get shorter and shorter. Somethings seems wrong in that equation.
These pace of play rules are beyond insulting to true baseball fans. Real fans want longer games not shorter. If 15 year old Tommy is too preoccupied playing on his phone then watching the actual game then he’d never be a real baseball fan. You think 25 year old Sarah is going to watch every game of her favorite team just because the game is 15 minutes faster? The commisioner is ruining the game. The only people who complain about the pace are women who barely watch the sport to begin with other than going to the games with their bf/husband, and young boys that have low attention spans due to being on their phone and playing video games all day. Pathetic
So if young boys and ladies aren’t interested, who is going to be watching once the old men die out ?
You need to create new true baseball fans. The only way to do that is give them what they want.
Lived through this with cricket. They dramatically changed the landscape (ie made a form of the game that is faster with less dead time) for the benefit of the youth. It’s now the most popular form of the game. Players who adapted are much wealthier because of it. It even got Jomboy interested in the game.
@foppert2 look at the NBA. They made it cool and trendy for young people. The NBA makes a lot of money now. However, they alienated their true fanbase. I’m a big Nets fan but some of the stuff that goes on around the game is revolting. I’m there to watch basketball, not to see guys beating eachother up (Draymond Green). About 20% of the NBA players are thugs or dogs that want to sit out and collect. Gone are the days with guys like MJ, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Hakeem, Kobe, Shaq, etc. The NBA has essentially become a woke political game that resembles a Sunday afternoon cookout rather than a professional game
Your takes are lame. You clearly never watched the NBA until 5 minutes ago if you think Draymond is somehow beating guys up but MJ and Bird and Magic were not. They used to be allowed to hit each other during games. If anything Draymond is the only modern player who could have thrived in those days. Not sure why I except more from you, you’re a Mets fan.
Also, the NBA viewership is a fraction of what it was 20 years ago. Nobody is watching the NBA outside of the children of the uber wealthy.
I’ll have to take your word for it. I don’t watch it. I will say that the NBA is extremely popular with young Australian males. It was a non event when I was in my prime.
Cricket was the same. The old traditional pipe smoking English aristocrat type arced up deluxe when they changed the game to include a fast half day version. Plenty of resistance. They stayed the course and reaped the benefits.
Foppert, you come across as a confused little boy with Daddy issues. Real beta vibes from you my son..Toughen up a bit ok?
Sometimes maybe. Not sure if this is one of those times. Just providing an experience of another sport which was on the slow side for the younger generation. If you find that offensive, maybe you need to look at your own levels of toughness.
It’s always “boomer” this “boomer” that, “old guy” this etc…What is up with that?? You hate your Dad or Gramps or something? Had an evil Uncle?? There has to be a reason…What does ANY of that have to do with ANYTHING?? I bet you can’t post for a whole 24hrs without at least a few ridiculous ageist remarks..
I am a boomer. I have 2 daughters. 19 and 21. Both with boyfriends. I’m just aware of how they think. It’s the same as how I thought of 53yo’s when I was 20. I can’t see what the issue is. Different generations think differently. It just is.
At least you responded civilly…Bottom line for me is that it is a needlessly offensive term to many good people on this site. “Crack wh0re” would be a better term to throw around actually…..
Really ? Ok. I didn’t realise people were offended by that term. Weird. Boomer, Millenial, Gen X, Gen Y. Why would you care.
Lol Boomer is not the same thing as the others and you know that. It is a dismissive and degrading blanket term.
Yes it is. It’s a shortened term for baby boomer. Nothing offensive about it. Harden up, Precious. FMD. So sensitive.
I believe the biggest barrier to broadening the appeal of baseball is the trend in sportscasting towards endless, droning and boring technobabble. Any prospective new fan tuning into a baseball game today would be turned off very quickly as they would have no clue about what was going on or why anything happening on the field mattered.
I feel fortunate to have grown up in the game at a time when sportscasters were much more deeply into the game’s pace and strategies, and actually explained things. I don’t know that I would even be a baseball fan today if it wasn’t for the likes of Ralph Kiner and Vin Scully. Those guys cared about the game and they wanted the listeners to care too. All gone.
BlueSkies, D-Train is the best commentator/announcer I have seen and heard since Vin. That man knows the game inside and out, super funny and personable. A natural. I can’t get enough of him and hope that he gets more games to announce next year!
I’ll take Jon Miller over both of them
@foppert
Stick to Cricket and cartoons kid. You’ve also got mommy and daddy issues. Take some time out and resolve your issues. Everything that isn’t to your liking isn’t about boomers. I’m 66 years old and I hope to be watching baseball for another 30 years unless MLB turns this into the new version of Disneyland for men who are attracted to minors.
Or I can do whatever I want to do. But thanks for the advice.
But seriously, it is obvious you are not much over 20-23. Regardless of what you say. Some things you just can’t fake. Like maturity..
Says the man crying about a widely used term describing a generation of people.
Yeah. I’m the immature one.
How can you tell I am actually crying?
Gee. I wonder. Read your posts Precious.
I thought we were halfway to being friends by now? Where is your Xmas spirit?!?!
I’m good with that. Here’s another one for you. Hope Santa turns up with his sleigh and six white boomers. In this context, a boomer is a non offensive term for a male kangaroo. Merry Xmas.
I have never seen a White Kangaroo. Now I am excited!
Given that MLB has taken a deep dive into data an analytics, I’d like to them consider just generating the season on a computer instead of the diamond. This would ensure the game is quick and fans aren’t being forced to watch an additional 3-minutes of deadtime. I could also go to bed earlier as the game would be simulated within seconds instead of 4 to 5 hours later.
Good god stop tinkering!!
They should have double 1B bags to cut down on collisions
I honestly believe that the umpires truly love baseball. Their trek to the ML’s is arduous and frot with minefields and potholes. I believe that their sacrifice will prevail when it comes to game-deciding decisions regarding pitch clocks, et al,
We love to hate them, but they will keep the players in line and let the game be the greatness that it is.
Guys Manfred is a commissioner. He works for the owners under the guise of the league. Sports leagues do not care about parity. They care about money. Every decision made comes with the mighty dollar in mind. Small market owners have a small say. The big market owners control the leagues. Pace of play and offense are priority #1 in professional sports now. The playing field is unfair and its why I will forever love Jeff Luhnow. He single handedly created a dynasty in a city the MLB would least like a dynasty.
Every team owner has equal say in how MLB is run. MLB is one business with 30 owners. The real issue is the large market teams pay off the small market teams to be mostly noncompetitive. Everybody makes money and is happy. The fans, not so much.
I don’t like the change of pitchers warming up being required to face a batter, as the manager should have the flexibility to counter a pinch-hitter at the beginning of an inning.
Instead, such a move should count as if the pitcher has already entered the game, such as when a pinch-hitter is used after the batter has already been announced. That way, in combination with the 3-batter minimum, managers will only be able to replace the pitcher at that point if he had already finished pitching the previous inning (and even without the 3-batter minumum, he’d be burning a player he didn’t actually get to use.)
the 3 batter minimum need to be scrapped asap
The pitch clock rules will affect Jordan Lyles the most.
Let’s just change it to little league rules and an inning can’t start after an arbitrary time, say 2.5 hours. GTFOH Manfred.
How about teaching pitchers to control their pitches, and throw strikes rather than hit so many batters. Only a matter of time till a game is delayed indefinitely due to a players death.
That’s why we have batting helmets. Thanks to those, it’s been over a century without a repeat of the Ray Chapman accident.
But they fail to fix the biggest problem. The terrible home plate umpiring.
This generation of baseball fans believes it invented complaining about umpires.
I actually enjoy the in-between time part of baseball. It gives you as a viewer the enjoyment of anticipating what will happen next. I might be in the minority even among baseball nerds, but I like games to be long in duration. More of a good thing!
I agree. Especially if your team has good broadcasters.
At what point do we stop referring to it as baseball and call it what it is, blurnsball?
3 minutes of Dead time. What was call a bathroom break
Why do they show the pitch tracker/locator during every pitch but still rely solely on the home plate umpires, despite their extreme inconsistency?
I wish they would get rid of the zombie runner. The game is in a good spot with pace of play, but creating further rule complication to eliminate something that happened 24 times across an entire season of games is asinine.
Oh please….
Next year’s suggestions will be to stop the singing of the National Anthem & Take Me Out To The Ballgame. That could save 4 minutes a game!
How about a compromise and just eliminate the National Anthem??
How about keep the pitch clock but get rid of the ghost runner rule that predated it? They serve the same purpose but the runner rule impacts the game far more for the worse.
Brilliant. Speed up the game even more. Make sure there’s absolutely no chance for suspense or drama or chess matches between managers, especially in the playoffs.
That will surely attract the youths to the game. Just get these games over with as quickly as possible.
For those who aren’t in on the current baseball zeitgeist, it’s considered very cool and modern to be in support of any and all rule changes. The thing that pro-rule change people fear more than anything is being viewed as conservative, old, traditionalist curmudgeons who don’t want this beautiful game to change. (The horror!)
This is why you’ll seldom find a baseball writer who opposes any rule change, for they pride themselves on being the most progressive, with-the-times caste in the entire baseball community.
You could propose the most ridiculous, absurd, pointless rule change ever conceived and there would still be a sizable amount of baseball fans and writers who support it solely due to their fear of being seen as old fashioned and behind the times.
Who cares if we’re removing all the drama and suspense from baseball? The games are 20 minutes shorter. The youths are going to be coming to games in droves now!
At one point (long before 8 thousand commerical breaks) the average game time was about 2 hours. In the 80’s it increased, likely due to commercials, So ‘tradition’ would say the games should be shorter not longer. So good luck telling the owners and networks to have less revenue opportunities.
Aside from the fact that games had never been longer before they implemented these changes (most of switches are common sense as well. Batters started taking a stroll after every pitch starting with Nomar and his glove check back in the 90’s, pitchers seemed to also adopt this tactic in recent years.. never mind the insane amount of mound visits and pitching changes).
Its a faster paced world unfortunately, and baseball is not a game for a fast paced world as designed currently and the changes made are not hurting the game, contrary to some beliefs (actually lack of baseball acumen that was normally developed in the minors I think is the bigger culprit to bad baseball). However at least they are not on your lawn, so there is that.
I know! Get with the times you old fogeys! It’s a rule change so it must be good. For the next rule change, we’re going to shorten games to 3 innings. If you oppose that then you’re just an old, behind-the-times dinosaur and I am rolling my eyes at you, for I am very modern, progressive, and with-the-times.
@Catuli
Well stated.
I’m as fond of most changes to baseball as I am to astro-turf, walk up music, and full stadium netting,
The higher your team salary the shorter the pitch clock should be, lets see the Dodger pitchers have 5 seconds to set and throw.
Aside for the runner on 2nd for after innings games, Baseball has to stop tinkering every season. Stop making rules changes (or worse yet ‘tweaks’) every off season for the sake of it.
However, I think there is one change I think they could make If they REALLY want to shorten the game more, make it so 4 foul balls results in an out as well:
3 strikes, bunting foul with 2 strikes or 4 foul balls results in an out. Tired of 10-11+ pitches per at bat, and it would allows starters to last longer in games. It is something that should go into place as it seems like more and more hitters are making a habit of just trying to foul pitches off and not necessarily trying to get a hit but work over the pitcher. If they want to shorten the gametime and save the starters, they could implement this.
I honestly don’t think the rule that if a pitcher warms up they have to come into the game is a good idea. Pitchers don’t warm up instantly, you get a pitcher warming up because you anticipate you MIGHT need them, not because your certain to. It seems like a rather bizarre tweak.
The only change necessary these days is automated strike zones
Automated strike zones are not necessary, Get rid of bad umpires. If an umpire isn’t correct 97% in their calls they need to be replaced.
It’s right there every blown pitch is right there on every screen for every game why not just use it
More injured players
I 100% completely agree with the MLBPA and Tony Clark. The players are the ones out their playing the game, and the opinions were completely dismissed by the rest of the 6 owners on the monopoly committee to override the 4 players. In the next CBA, the MLBPA MUST correct this mistake, so their is a fair shake for both parties involved.
Competition committee addresses these “issues” while not addressing the competition-altering contract the Dodgers gave to Ohtani…not that I think they actually have a say in the matter but the issues with MLB competition and fan engagement are not these irrelevant tinkerings that are hyperfocused on
I live in a state that has no MLB team so when I see one (which has been years) there is multiple hours of driving plus usually a hotel room for the night at least. I always enjoyed watching games before Manfrauds rule changes and I never cared how long they took. Usually I thought the game were over to fast. MLB rules 10 years ago being the same now would be just fine for me.
Pitcher should have 3 timeouts per game to compose himself to avoid injuries
I mourn the days when I could get up, go to the bathroom, come back and not miss a pitch
I actually like pitching changes.
How bout two diamonds and have teams play offense and defense simultaneously? That would speed things up. Guys not up to bat take the field, and use pinch runners when they’re not batting, Give those lazy pitchers something to do. One and a half hour games done and done
Might as well reduce the game to 5 innings because people can’t stand long games. And also declare the game over if a team scores 5 or more runs, thus prolonging a game.
Screw it. I’m sorry, but it is perfectly alright with me to go see a two and a half to three hour game of my favorite team. This all is understandable, but strongly idiotic. Gee, might as well add mercy rule. HEY, robot umps make the game go faster! Maybe that’s Manfred’s “bright” next decision (honestly wouldn’t be suprised). Fire Manfred.
Or do something to Manfred. Get his head straight
The game is actually too short now.
They need to address the 90% of batters that took time out every time they had 2 strikes. Batters should get one timeout per game maximum.
Having reduced time for commercial breaks would save far more time than reducing time between pitches
Pretty soon, on deck circle to batter’s box time will be a measurable skill. ♂️♂️
Among all the things that delay the game is probably the bench-clearing fight (not to mention players’ injury and suspension). And all those fights are initially caused by the umpire’s bad calls, leading to the pitcher or batter’s irritation. Thus AI umpire must and should be the most efficient and productive tool to install next. Pitch clock from 20 to 18 seconds? That’s such a small impact. It can easily be pointless once a brawl starts.
Instead of walking around the mound to get around the pitch clock they’ll just refuse to catch the ball hahahahaa
Loved the pictch clock last year, not sure I’m in for the additional tinkering.
None of those additional rule changes are necessary and do nothing to improve the game. In fact they hurt the game and would anger fans.
I agree 100%. They are destroying the game.
I didn’t have a problem with the majority of the new rules last season but for ONE. The ghost runner. Makes me want to puke. Of course the players, the analysts that are up MLB’s ass all want to work less and god forbid one of them chips a pinkie toe nail in extra innings…..
“the average nine-inning game time increased seven minutes from April to September (five minutes after controlling for the number pitches, breaks, and runs scored).”
The game’s time doesn’t increase because of players time wasting. The game’s time increases because more and more commercials are added to the games.
Take the comment only 2:00 minutes of time is allotted to broadcasters for commercial breaks. That would mean no more than 4 30 second commercials.
I count more than 4 commercials per break and almost every game had the first pitch of the inning missed because the game was still showing a commercial during the start of the inning.
Note, it WILL get worse, because the Dodgers have to pay for those two player Billion dollar salaries.
I haven’t liked any of the attempts to shorten the game. I liked a long game with all of its nuances. Last game I went to I only got to eat one hot dog it was so fast! I’ll eat faster next time.
Only thing that makes sense is the base path you want to speed up the game stop the commercials oh and teams should have strike call challenges too get the major a bats right right I mean baseloaded two out 3and 2call it a strike when it’s a ball means alot
Though, if the rumor is correct, in that MLB finally canned Angel Hernandez as an umpire, then there should be less bad ball / strike calls.
That will speed up the games with less arguments with him. And causing the player and manager getting ejected for a wrong umpire call and then the teams having to spend more time in replacing the ejected player and manager. Because of a bad umpire call causing longer games. 🙂
Just gonna say. I preferred when games were longer
I guess you enjoy seeing MLB being turned into tee ball because that is exactly what the rules are doing.
The MLB. Has been in tee ball rules for a long time buddy just not over night. Jus Get rid of home plate umps. And let the robots run the plate got to get it right. Because it’s that what this is about the right strike and ball
The game don’t need to be sped up. It needs to get the call correct the game was always fine.i don’t go to game no more because the price is crazy.so I go to minor league game much more fun and in the stands to great people and get free tickets sometimes
If you people who want speed, I suggest go watch NASCAR!
If you people want speed, go watch NASCAR