Pitch Clock, Minor Concerns for a Major League Change.

Itchin’ for a Pitchin’
Minor concerns for a Major change

Like many of you I have been waiting for Spring Training to begin.
The time has come to see young and veteran players alike take the smaller fields in Arizona and Florida.
Spring Training allows fans to welcome the 2023 season and get up close to see their favorite and upcoming stars. It is also a time for the players and teams to rattle off any cobwebs and embrace new rules in the game.  
Did anyone hear the ticking of the 2 large digital clocks behind home plate?

Many players in the minor leagues have faced the pitch clock. In 2015 MiLB announced some Changes to Pace of Play that would take place in the Minor Leagues.  While the rules were a bit different then they are now this was the precursor of the MLB new Pitch Clock.

Well, I have some frivolous and not so frivolous concerns about the whole thing. Please reply with your recommendations to be added to the list.

BaseballBiz On Deck’s 7 Major League Concerns on the Pitch Clock:

1. 7^th inning stretch? Will it be shortened to a quick yawn?
2. Loss of Color - Will broadcasters have enough time between at bats & pitches to offer the depth and color that we have come to expect. Maybe we will find more announcers stylizing themselves after the super-fast talking John Moschitta Jr. as the new standard
3. Walk-up music – will it need to be edited to meet pitch clock standards
   Evan Longoria’s walk up song Down & Out by Tantric – probably needs 20 seconds. This should work as there is a 30 second timer between batters.
   Then there are the pitchers, Edwin Diaz, coming in from the bullpen and ready to save the day and take the mound as Timmy Trumpet’s Narco blasts through the ballpark. We may need more time for this or speed it up with a kazoo version of the tune.
4. Baseball Park Employees, ushers, security and mascots – will hourly stadium employees be compensated for shorter shifts due to the moments lost to this faster pace of play
5. Lookout for Max Scherzer – as pitchers and batters find new ways to use the pitch clock to their advantage. Check out Close Call Sports You Tube videos as their host treads through the Spring Training insanity of the new rules.
6. The Advent of the Cyborg Umpires - In 2023 umpires will have more technology added to their body with a pitch clock buzzer to notify them when the pitchers time has expired. Next I expect that they will be equipped with Google glasses tied into the latest MLB AI. Skynet anyone?
7. And remember the most important rule of baseball:
   Whatever changes may have been made, “There is no crying in baseball.”
   However, I believe that rule should be replaced with a quote from Brett Phillips, “Baseball is Fun”.

For a Pitcher's perspective on the clock check out Chris Smith's insights.

So enjoy Spring Training and thank you for sharing your baseball stories.

Thanks again for following BaseballBiz On Deck

With Gratitude

Mark

markscorbett@gmail.com