Last week, I introduced the new rule changes that the MLB added.
This week, I want to go over what the rule changes mean and how I noticed a difference in Major League Baseball over the course of last season.
The pitch clock only gives pitchers 15 seconds in between pitches and 20 seconds if there is a runner on base. The batter must be ready to hit with 8 seconds left on the clock. If the pitcher violates the rule, an automatic ball will be added to the count. If the batter violates the rule, an automatic strike will be added to the count.
While the restriction of defensive shifts ensures that players in the infield must remain near their position, and larger bases have shortened the distance that baserunners must travel, I found that the pitch clock had the largest impact on the game out of all three new rules.
It is not uncommon for people to call baseball a boring game. Even casual fans complain about the pace and length of the sport. With the implementation of the pitch clock, MLB games have been shortened by nearly half an hour on average. However, there are definitely consequences to the rule. Baseball players tend to be extremely superstitious, with lengthy in-game routines. Many players of complained about the pitch clock and how it has interfered with their rhythm. I think that, with time, players will adapt and the game will be better off for it.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-rules-changes-refresher-2023-season