For nearly two decades, the game of baseball has become less action and longer. Baseball is finally taking meaningful steps to not only end a trend, but reverse it.
The MLB Competition Commission on Friday plans to adopt three rule changes starting in 2023. A pitch timer to improve the pace of play, no shifts to restore offense and athleticism, and a larger base to encourage stolen bases. All rule changes had their intended effect in minor his league trials.
Rules are not meant to reinvent baseball. It’s about restoring the game to the pace, ball in play, and level of athleticism that was common 20, 30, 40 years ago.
Here’s everything you need to know about how we got here and what the changes mean for the all-new baseball game.
Why has the action for the rule changed now?
Owners wanted a more streamlined way to enact rule changes. As part of past labor negotiations, players have agreed to be represented by the competition committee and provide feedback, but the owners and umpires represent the majority.
How bad is the pace of play problem?
Last season’s game time average was 3:11, the worst ever. This year it is 3:07.
The last time it was under 2:50 was in 2003. The added length isn’t because there’s more action going on. His 21 minutes added in 18 years are entirely due to dead time.
How different is the pitch timer?
The minor leagues shaved 26 minutes off their average game time with pitch timers. Minors used a clock of 14 seconds between pitches when the bases were empty and 19 seconds for the runners. The numbers for next season in the majors will be 15 and 20.
A 20-minute reduction in average game time would bring baseball back to an average time not seen since 1985.
Will pitchers complain?
Certainly, especially the old ones. For a short time.Put it this way: Kenley Jansen takes him 26.1 seconds between every pitch no one on base. That’s ridiculous. He’s one of his 363 pitchers over his 15-second allotment next season. Next year they are on the clock.
Keep in mind that most pitchers appeared using pitch timers in the minors. They are using all this extra time in majors because they can.
For complaints, see Arc of Slide Rule Acceptance at Second Base and Collision Prevention Protocol at Plate. Migration is fairly quick.
After starting the season on the pitch clock in the minors, Matt Carpenter said: I ended up liking it so much that I totally endorse it in major league games, and the big selling point for him is that the game has much better pacing. That’s all.
Do pitchers get hurt when they work faster?
Data from minors say no. The pitch timer has reduced his pitcher injuries by 26% this year, according to his MLB figures obtained by . sports illustratedPosition player injuries decreased by 8%.
On the other hand, his strikeout rate dropped slightly.
Based on player feedback, some adjustments have been made to the Major League proposals. This includes adding one second to the minor league limit, allowing the pitcher to get off the pitcher two more times when the runner advances, and allowing a bonus mound visit in the ninth inning (team ran out of that supply) to buy time for the pitchers to regroup for the big moment.
Is game time the most important issue?
No, it’s the pace of action. As in-game information increased, baseball became a game of risk aversion, with most developments favoring goal protection. These rules are an attempt to rebalance the offensive and defensive equation.
For example, in 1985 the ball was in play every 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Last year he had to wait four minutes and two seconds. From 1992 to 2022 he increased the time between balls in play by 22%. This tendency of waiting between balls in play (going in one direction) is more important than the average game time.
| ball in play | minute | min/BIP | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2022 |
49.0 |
187 |
3:49 |
|
2017 |
49.6 |
187 |
3:46 |
|
year 2012 |
51.5 |
188 |
3:39 |
|
2002 |
53.8 |
176 |
3:16 |
|
1997 |
54.0 |
176 |
3:16 |
|
1992 |
55.9 |
174 |
3:07 |
|
1985 |
57.8 |
164 |
2:50 |
Why do you forbid shifts?
they work They take hits away. Especially hardball.
Starting next year, there will be no more Light Field Rovers that turn 200-foot line-drive singles into bastard ‘4-3’ stabbing kills. No more four outfielders turning doubles in the gap into outs. (The percentage of doubles and triples has decreased by 12% over the last 13 years).
Shift started as a competitive advantage. Intelligence paid off. However, once they became widely accepted, they became annoying and hindered the game. Over the past four years, shifts have doubled for him, but his slugging grounder batting average has dropped by 32 points.
| shift use | BA on GB | GB 86+ mph in BA | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2015 |
9.6% |
.249 |
.352 |
|
2016 |
13.6% |
.250 |
.351 |
|
2017 |
12.4% |
.249 |
.366 |
|
2018 |
17.7% |
.246 |
.340 |
|
2019 |
26.2% |
.242 |
.336 |
|
2020 |
34.7% |
.238 |
.307 |
|
2021 |
30.9% |
.241 |
.310 |
|
2022 |
34.5% |
.241 |
.308 |
Give me an example of a man who was hurt by a surge in shifts.
Um, guys? Take a look at his two stars Joey Votto and Mookie Betts.
bot
| shift frequency | BA on GB | |
|---|---|---|
|
2015–17 |
19% |
.246 |
|
2018–22 |
54% |
.187 |
Betts
| shift frequency | BA on GB | |
|---|---|---|
|
2015 |
1% |
.325 |
|
2022 |
61% |
.213 |
When you can’t hit on the ground, try to hit with overshift. Also, adding loft to your swing allows you to accept more strikeouts.
What does banning shifts mean for team building?
Athletic premium in Nakano. We no longer need to sign Mike Moustakas as second baseman. An infielder with range suddenly has value.
Ozzie Smith played six times per game for the 1982 Cardinals. Nico Horner, shortstop and defensive saves leader of the year, makes a 3.7.
What do larger bases do?
If baseball is a game of inches, they encourage stolen bases.The distance between first and second and second and third is reduced by 4 ½ inches. Underage stolen base attempts have increased 27% on a larger basis since 2019.
A similar increase in majors increases steal attempts to levels not seen since 2001.
Baseball last saw 1.5 steals per game in 1992, when exciting players like Ricky Henderson, Tim Raines and Marquis Grissom were among the 18 players with 40 steals . Last year there were two.
A larger base can also reduce collisions and injuries around the bag. Base-related injuries were reduced by 13% in minors.
what’s next?
There are no definitive plans yet for the automated ball/strike system in the majors, with referees announcing how the laser-guided technology will define the pitch. It is expected that as early as 2024 a transitional Replay Challenge system could be used. Acclaimed in the minors, the system limits pitchers, hitters, or catchers and allows them to immediately challenge the umpire’s ball/strike call. In style and simplicity, it resembles the Hawkeye challenge system used in tennis.
The objective is not to challenge every pitch (like replays on base), only high leverage calls.
Was the best thing about baseball not having a clock?
No. The best thing about baseball is that your team can win. not constrained by clockThe team runs out of time in other sports. The team that is leading can “run out of time”. In baseball, as long as you have one out left, you always have a chance. You hit it till it’s done. The pitch timer does not change its beauty.
Are these rule changes really necessary?
yes. Baseball has been talking about the pacing of the action for over a decade, but he’s done very little meaningfully. These measures are a genuine attempt to keep baseball competitive in the fast-acting entertainment market.
The old method of less action over time was eroding baseball’s fan base. From peak attendance in 2007 to his final pre-COVID-19 season in 2019, baseball has lost about 11 million paying customers.
Takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to play instead of 3:07, 56 balls played instead of 49, 15 seconds between pitches instead of 19, more hits, doubles with more gaps, more stolen bases Imagine a game where there is an attempt to More fielders flaunting exceptional range…it’s not a pipe dream or a gimmick-driven game. That’s baseball 20-30 years ago. That could be what baseball looks like again next season.
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