MLB: Pace of play rules for 2018

[mramseyISU]

Looks like we're seeing some pace of play rules finally from MLB. I'm surprised they didn't implement the pitch clock, and honestly if it cuts down on the amount of the game Lackey spends picking his nose between pitches I'm all for it.

I would have liked for them to go a little further with the visits to the mound. I'm thinking in youth baseball you have to yank the pitcher on the second visit to the mound and I'd be all for that too.

Overall though I think these are good changes.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pace-of-play-rules-explanation/c-266724556

 

[cyfanatic13]

Link?

 

[mramseyISU]

Link?

Sorry I thought I had it in the original post.

 

[Clonefan32]

I know baseball purists don't like the changes, but I think they make perfect sense. Especially mound visits. Every other sport I can think of has restrictions on how many times you can stop the game. Basketball, football, hockey, etc. They will just have to do what other sports have done and figure out a way to communicate things on the fly without taking the time to stop the game and talk it out.

Although as a Cubs fan someone is going to have to put some kind of restraint on Wilson to keep him from mound visits. That dude loves him some mound visits.

 

[AllInForISU]

Might as well get rid of a huddle in football. Who needs to know whats going on, am I right? Most mound visits last between 10 and 15 seconds. You can't plan these things, and usually they come at times that are crucial in the game. I think its fair to point out that football games last longer than baseball games on average but they dont do anything about that. Obviously there are outliers, but its crazy to limit mound visits if they are needed.

 

[Cyclone.TV]

Might as well get rid of a huddle in football. Who needs to know whats going on, am I right? Most mound visits last between 10 and 15 seconds. You can't plan these things, and usually they come at times that are crucial in the game. I think its fair to point out that football games last longer than baseball games on average but they dont do anything about that. Obviously there are outliers, but its crazy to limit mound visits if they are needed.

Probably because there are football games every Sunday for 21 weeks and baseball has games every day for 8 months.

 

[Cyclone.TV]

I always really liked Mike Francesca’s plan of only allowing a pitcher to throw over to a base once per AB. Think that would help a lot.

 

[CychiatricWard]

Might as well get rid of a huddle in football. Who needs to know whats going on, am I right? Most mound visits last between 10 and 15 seconds. You can't plan these things, and usually they come at times that are crucial in the game. I think its fair to point out that football games last longer than baseball games on average but they dont do anything about that. Obviously there are outliers, but its crazy to limit mound visits if they are needed.

Disagree, I think mound visits needed to be reduced. It will make manager think a little more than just switching righty on lefty, lefty on righty for 3 straight batters to get out of an inning. Baseball has become too much of a head game, and not as much of a feel game. I am more of a feel when it comes to these things.

Some managers, ahem Cubs, Joe Madden, think way to much sometimes.

 

[Farnsworth]

Might as well get rid of a huddle in football. Who needs to know whats going on, am I right? Most mound visits last between 10 and 15 seconds. You can't plan these things, and usually they come at times that are crucial in the game. I think its fair to point out that football games last longer than baseball games on average but they dont do anything about that. Obviously there are outliers, but its crazy to limit mound visits if they are needed.

I agree, at first I was like WTF how many games have more than 6 until I realize it included player to player conversations as well. I think if they do anything it should just be to limit the manager to player mound visit.

 

[AllInForISU]

Disagree, I think mound visits needed to be reduced. It will make manager think a little more than just switching righty on lefty, lefty on righty for 3 straight batters to get out of an inning. Baseball has become too much of a head game, and not as much of a feel game. I am more of a feel when it comes to these things.

Some managers, ahem Cubs, Joe Madden, think way to much sometimes.

This wont change that. You can still replace pitchers as much as you want. This has nothing to do with R/L/R pitching matchups.

This would be the equivalent of telling an NFL team they have to run X amount of running plays to keep the clock going or a basketball team that they aren't allowed to foul teams to make free throws at the end of the game or else they will face repercussions.

It takes a ton of the strategy out of the game.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

Unless they're going to start enforcing not stepping out of the batter box, this is probably more rules with no big effect. To me, the mound visits and time between innings aren't nearly as big of deal as the average time between pitches.

 

[AllInForISU]

Unless they're going to start enforcing not stepping out of the batter box, this is probably more rules with no big effect. To me, the mound visits and time between innings aren't nearly as big of deal as the average time between pitches.

I agree. How hard is it to just step one foot out, get the sign and step back in. That is a rule that the umpires refuse to enforce which is stupid. They are supposed to give a warning then give a strike without a pitch being thrown. I have never even seen a warning given.

 

[cyfanatic13]

I always really liked Mike Francesca’s plan of only allowing a pitcher to throw over to a base once per AB. Think that would help a lot.

I really don’t like that idea. Runners would just take insane leads after a throw went over already

 

[Cyclone.TV]

I really don’t like that idea. Runners would just take insane leads after a throw went over already

What do ya mean? You don’t like watching Jon Lester pitch? He’s been playing by that rule for for years!

 

[theshadow]

Who needs to know whats going on, am I right? Most mound visits last between 10 and 15 seconds.

There are far too many catchers who amble out to the mound every time their guy gets down 2-0 on a hitter.

 

[CyForPresident]

People that are against pace of play rules are against any changes. Baseball desperately needs to appeal to more people, especially younger folks. Any rule that does that is good for the game

 

[AllInForISU]

People that are against pace of play rules are against any changes. Baseball desperately needs to appeal to more people, especially younger folks. Any rule that does that is good for the game

Football takes longer than baseball. You can’t make a baseball game 2 and a half hours. It just won’t happen this day and age unless they get rid of umpires calling balls and strikes. A definitive strike zone every game would make the game go so much faster.

Also, players strike out way more now which causes higher pitch counts and more pitching changes. Advanced metrics/“moneyball” have slowed down the game immensely.

 

[theshadow]

Football takes longer than baseball.

That 1 whole minute is truly maddening.

MLB 2017 average: 3:05 -- an all-time high
NFL 2017 average: 3:06 (which includes halftime)

 

[FDWxMan]

I wish they would start enforcing existing rules about keeping batters in the box.

The undo/redo equipment cycle after every damn pitch is ridiculous.

 

[Cyclone.TV]

Football takes longer than baseball. You can’t make a baseball game 2 and a half hours. It just won’t happen this day and age unless they get rid of umpires calling balls and strikes. A definitive strike zone every game would make the game go so much faster.

Also, players strike out way more now which causes higher pitch counts and more pitching changes. Advanced metrics/“moneyball” have slowed down the game immensely.

Define “immensely”. Moneyball started around 2002. In 2001 the average game was 2:58. In 2016 the average game was 3:04.