OT: Congrats to MLB - pitch clock and shift ban approved

zappaa

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
73,504
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I dislike the pitch clock rule change for one primary reason ... pitchers and batters taking too long to get ready are not the reason games take so long now. Anyone who has ever watched a Yankees vs. Red Sox game knows the reason games take too freaking long is because of the inevitable 13 pitching changes. The reason games take forever is because the managers (and really, it's now the General Managers and front offices) try to micromanage every aspect of the game and they bring in reliever after reliever after reliever. And the easy solution to fix that is to simply make the rosters smaller. Everyone knows this; it's obvious. Less pitchers on the roster means you can't bring them into the game. The problem is that MLB will never, ever implement this obvious solution for two reasons: (1) each pitching change is accompanied by a 12 minute commercial break while the guy comes in from the bullpen and warms up, and (2) bigger major league rosters are (and were) an easy concession to make in collective bargaining. I hate the 3 batter minimum rule and the man-on-second in extra innings rule for the same reason.

That said, even hating the pitch clock ... if we're gonna have it, 15 seconds feels too short. Everything felt rushed this weekend.
I think both pitchers and hitters will get used to it and will help both of them.
It will definitely help your defense be ready and on their toes.
All the cutoffs and relays go back to the old way, while covering second on the steal and taking the double play ball from the pitcher will all change significantly.
SS and 2nd basemen will have to go back to reading the sign from the catchers and using open and closed mouth to communicate.
 
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AdventureHasAName

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All the cutoffs and relays go back to the old way, while covering second on the steal and taking the double play ball from the pitcher will all change significantly.

This is interesting. Why do you feel throws coming in from the outfield will be handled differently?
 

[email protected]

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Next proposal: No more "double play depth", "No doubles OF" or "IF in to avoid a bunt".

It's not fair to the batters......
Each fielder will have a designated 3'×3' square they have to be in when the pitch is thrown.
Agree.

It's not like Pro football or college football isn't a 4 hour investment of time what withe all the TV time outs, commercials after kick offs, xtra points, change of possesion, replay of video's....ad nauseum.

IMO baseball is a religion (e.g. see St. Louis)...and on this topic I'm definitely Orthodox - not Reformed!

MO
 

zappaa

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
73,504
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This is interesting. Why do you feel throws coming in from the outfield will be handled differently?

Shortstops traditionally and historically have the stronger arm and better chance to throw out the hitter on a triple or throw out the runner at home trying to score from first.
I played over 500 games at short in big leagues and never once was the cutoff from Dave Parker or Winfield from right field.
With the shift and the SS playing on the pull side of 2nd against left handed hitters, they could get out there and the 2nd baseman would cover 2nd or be the second cut.
The shift also left only one player in position to take the steal and double plays from the pitcher,.
Now, who’s covering 2nd on both those plays playing traditionally will change with every pitch, and it has to be communicated on every pitch so the base isn’t left open
 
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T2Kplus20

Heisman
May 1, 2007
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God Bless these rule changes!

Rule changes are saving on average 23 mins per game. That's 23 less mins of batters and pitchers walking around for no reason, adjusting gloves and hats, and scratching themselves. Over the course of 162 games, this saves 2.5 days of meaningless dead time.
 
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AdventureHasAName

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Shortstops traditionally and historically have the stronger arm and better chance to throw out the hitter on a triple or throw out the runner at home trying to score from first.
I played over 500 games at short in big leagues and never once was the cutoff from Dave Parker or Winfield from right field.
With the shift and the SS playing on the pull side of 2nd against left handed hitters, they could get out there and the 2nd baseman would cover 2nd or be the second cut.
The shift also left only one player in position to take the steal and double plays from the pitcher,.
Now, who’s covering 2nd on both those plays playing traditionally will change with every pitch, and it has to be communicated on every pitch so the base isn’t left open
You learn something everyday. I guess it never occurred to me that in the shift-era, the SS was taking the throws from the entire outfield against lefty pull hitters. Would that mean that, on a lefty shift, the 3B was taking throws from the leftfield corner (and the pitcher covering 3rd)?
 

Colbert17!

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Aug 30, 2014
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Watched a little bit of Padres/ Dodgers this morning. Have more than a passing interest as the son of one of my former players is in Padres camp as a non roster invitee. The pace of play was noticeably quicker. Also noticed that the clock is running when the catcher goes to the mound. Don't know the particulars of that rule.
 

Colbert17!

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Question about the throw over to first rule. If you're limited to two throws what's to stop the baserunner from taking off immediately after the pitcher comes to the set after the two throw overs?
 
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Zak57

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Jul 5, 2011
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Question about the throw over to first rule. If you're limited to two throws what's to stop the baserunner from taking off immediately after the pitcher comes to the set after the two throw overs?
As I mentioned earlier they can throw over a third time but they have to get the out. If they don't the base runner gets a base.
 

zappaa

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You learn something everyday. I guess it never occurred to me that in the shift-era, the SS was taking the throws from the entire outfield against lefty pull hitters. Would that mean that, on a lefty shift, the 3B was taking throws from the leftfield corner (and the pitcher covering 3rd)?
Absolutely, in that scenario playing a lefty to pull with the shift on, the 3rd basemen would definitely be the cut on a ball hit down the left field line.. the shortstop would make a B line to 3rd and the 2nd baseman would cover 2nd.
You would never give the pitcher the responsibility to cover 3rd…he’s reading and backing up everything.
Pitchers would hurt themselves attempting to pick a ball out of the dirt and make tag.
Catcher could also cover 3rd, and 1st baseman cover home
 
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SkilletHead2

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Sep 30, 2005
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Actually your math is off. If the time between innings had gone from 2 to 3 minutes and there are 17 of them, it's an additional 17 minutes, NOT 50.
Sorry, not what I meant. Didn't mean to suggest that the time between innings become instantaneous. I meant that 51 minutes are spent between innings, and surely this could be cut back to some degree. It's most of an hour of the game with nothing happening.
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
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Man- watched my first game on TV yesterday- I was ok with most changes until watching.
The Astro/Met game must have broken the pitch clock record for longest game. Seemed like 2 hours going into the 5th.
But that was an outsider- game times way down this spring already.
What throws me off as a fan- the clock takes over the game. Had never thought about how it is more of a hit clock. And has greater effect on hitters. But watching, I felt anxious with it and can’t stand the 8 second rule for the hitter.
It isn’t going to change and we will get used to it but I just felt anxious all game
The 2 throw over is another weird one. Imagine Ricky Henderson, Lou Brock with this rule.
I am glad they got rid of the shift and base size- ehh who cares.
All of these at the same time, well, that doesn’t make sense.
 

RU from Jersey_rivals

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Baseball has fallen off my radar particularly when it comes to watching it on TV(I still really like seeing the game live), but after checking the pace of play out over the weekend I can see me watching more than an inning or two during the regular season. Hopefully the umps don't cave and ignore the pitch clock.
 
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WhiteBus

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Baseball has fallen off my radar particularly when it comes to watching it on TV(I still really like seeing the game live), but after checking the pace of play out over the weekend I can see me watching more than an inning or two during the regular season. Hopefully the umps don't cave and ignore the pitch clock.
Why would the umps cave. It gives them power.
I never heard complaints from college baseball or minor leagues. Most of the players have already experienced it somewhere before. An average game in 2 1/2 hours would be awesome!
 
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willisneverrana43

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Not a fan of the shift ban, but I don’t care because the clock was so desperately needed and has already made games so much quicker and better. Baseball long ago lose its right to be a game without a clock. I couldn’t take all the delays while players stepped out of the box to re-dress themselves after every pitch.
 

T2Kplus20

Heisman
May 1, 2007
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Not a fan of the shift ban, but I don’t care because the clock was so desperately needed and has already made games so much quicker and better. Baseball long ago lose its right to be a game without a clock. I couldn’t take all the delays while players stepped out of the box to re-dress themselves after every pitch.
+1
Some of these morons were like Charlie Brown after each pitch! They caused the need for the clock.
 

RUhasarrived

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Some fans travel great distances to see games.
Most of them do not want to see a game at 78 RPM that for over a century and one half has been played at 45 RPM,solely to allow dipsomaniacal sports writers and broadcasters to earlier hit the Happy Hour and the Bad-a Bing.The zombie runner started this disruption, ostensibly citing COVID as the reason.
The thought here is that there will be changes to the clock and balk rules before next season,possibly in season this year.
The shift elimination and the larger bases are fine and will not be changed.
 

WhiteBus

Heisman
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Some fans travel great distances to see games.
Most of them do not want to see a game at 78 RPM that for over a century and one half has been played at 45 RPM,solely to allow dipsomaniacal sports writers and broadcasters to earlier hit the Happy Hour and the Bad-a Bing.The zombie runner started this disruption, ostensibly citing COVID as the reason.
The thought here is that there will be changes to the clock and balk rules before next season,possibly in season this year.
The shift elimination and the larger bases are fine and will not be changed.
What are you rambling about? Historicly baseball games took 2 to 2 1/2 hours. It's the last 25 years that turned it into a 3 to 4 hour boredom fest.
 

RAC’emUp

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Went to the Mets game Saturday. Mets scored 15 runs and the game took about 2:45. The pitches just kept coming; the game moved. What an improvement.
 
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T2Kplus20

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Went to the Mets game Saturday. Mets scored 15 runs and the game took about 2:45. The pitches just kept coming; the game moved. What an improvement.
Last season, that game would have taken about 4 hours.
 

yesrutgers01

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It is weird- I just find myself so distracted by the pitch clock and it takes away from the game a bit.

Curious question though- there were so many guys back in the 70's 80's that are just known for stepping in/out, adjusting batting gloves, flapping their elbows, etc and pitchers that did all sorts of **** on the mound- Fidrich etc- but we still had 2-3 hour games.
Has anyone ever broken a game down more buy how much the actual play on the field vs how long ads take and see the difference?
I think it is how much commercial time as much as it is how many times manager chance pitchers and batters.
I can't imagine how we survived through pitchers like Steve Trachsel in the 80's and still had sub 3 hr games...
 

zappaa

Heisman
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It is weird- I just find myself so distracted by the pitch clock and it takes away from the game a bit.

Curious question though- there were so many guys back in the 70's 80's that are just known for stepping in/out, adjusting batting gloves, flapping their elbows, etc and pitchers that did all sorts of **** on the mound- Fidrich etc- but we still had 2-3 hour games.
Has anyone ever broken a game down more buy how much the actual play on the field vs how long ads take and see the difference?
I think it is how much commercial time as much as it is how many times manager chance pitchers and batters.
I can't imagine how we survived through pitchers like Steve Trachsel in the 80's and still had sub 3 hr games...
A lot more strike outs, which leads to longer at bats, and 50% more pitching changes
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
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A lot more strike outs, which leads to longer at bats, and 50% more pitching changes
Zap- thank you...i think management and approach has changed the game to be longer. I used to love the little things in BB- that our next generation wont have a concept to is the leadoff hitter after a pitcher just batter- taking as much time as he could to give the pitcher a little more time before he had to head back out there.
I also wonder, how much will these quick innngs come into play on the length of the starting pitcher. Greg Maddox would not have cared but these guys are 6 innings, max out on every pitch and know they have x amount of time they can do it again and they cant even go 7 or 8 innings.
Want to shorten a game- tell teams they have a max of 4 pitchers a game lol
 

RAC’emUp

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The other thing that moved at the Mets game I attended on Saturday was the pitching changes. 2 minutes to warm up. Maybe that was last year’s rule too but it sure did move things. I was also close enough to the plate to catch a couple conversations between the ump and batters who were a little slow. Ump gave Lindor a a heads up to get in and he jumped in. Segura on the Marlins was laughing after a called third strike against him for not being ready. Love the changes.
 

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
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Not a fan of the shift ban, but I don’t care because the clock was so desperately needed and has already made games so much quicker and better. Baseball long ago lose its right to be a game without a clock. I couldn’t take all the delays while players stepped out of the box to re-dress themselves after every pitch.
Slow games are part of the reason I rarely watch baseball (used to be a fanatic as a kid/teen when I played), so the pitch clock is fantastic. Hate the shift rule though, almost as much as I hate the rule restricting goalies in hockey from going into the corners - both are just stupid.
 
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Salvi's Headband

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I have watched more baseball this year than I have in a long time. I always watched my Yanks, but never watched many random games where I didn't have a rooting interest other than the playoffs. This season I find myself putting the MLB Network app on all the time when I'm just home chilling. The pace of play is so much better.
 

T2Kplus20

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May 1, 2007
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I have watched more baseball this year than I have in a long time. I always watched my Yanks, but never watched many random games where I didn't have a rooting interest other than the playoffs. This season I find myself putting the MLB Network app on all the time when I'm just home chilling. The pace of play is so much better.
No wasted time with batters adjusting their gloves and pitchers scratching their butts.