New pace of play rules experiment in AFL

[jerichoholicninja]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/01/mlb-to-test-new-pace-of-play-rules-in-the-arizona-fall-league-including-a-pitch-clock/

 

The Batter’s Box Rule: “The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout his at-bat, unless one of a series of established exceptions occurs, in which case the batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate. (Exceptions include a foul ball or a foul tip; a pitch forcing the batter out of the batter’s box; “time” being requested and granted; a wild pitch or a passed ball; and several others.)

 

No-Pitch Intentional Walks: In the event a team decides to intentionally walk a batter, no pitches shall be thrown. Instead, the manager shall signal to the home plate umpire with four fingers, and the batter should proceed to first base to become a runner.

 

20-Second Rule [AT 17 SALT RIVER FIELDS HOME GAMES ONLY]: A modified version of Rule 8.04, which discourages unnecessary delays by the pitcher, shall apply. Rule 8.04 requires the pitcher to deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball with the bases unoccupied. The penalty prescribed by Rule 8.04 for a pitcher’s violation of the Rule is that the umpire shall call “Ball.”

 

2:05 Inning Break Clock: There shall be a maximum 2:05 break between innings. Hitters must enter the batter’s box by the 1:45 mark. When batters violate this rule, the Umpire may call an automatic strike. When batters are set by the appropriate time and pitchers fail to throw a pitch before the conclusion of the 2:05 period, the Umpire shall call a ball.

 

2:30 Pitching Change Break Clock: There shall be a maximum 2:30 break for pitching changes, including pitching changes that occur during an inning break. The first pitch must be thrown before the conclusion of the 2:30 period or the umpire shall call a ball. The clock shall start when the new pitcher enters the playing field (i.e., crosses the warning track, or foul line).

 

Three “Time Out” Limit: Each team shall be permitted only three “Time Out” conferences per game (including extra innings). Such conferences shall include player conferences with the pitcher (including the catcher), manager or coach conferences with the pitcher, and coach conferences with a batter. Conferences during pitching changes, and time outs called as a result of an injury or other emergency, shall not be counted towards this limit. A manager, coach or player will not be permitted to call a fourth time out in violation of this Rule. In such cases, the game will continue uninterrupted, and offenders may be subject to discipline.

 

I like all of these except the intentional walk rule. An IBB only takes a minute, at most anyway, but this is taking the opportunity away for players to steal a base and a pitcher to screw up. I'm a huge fan of the 3 time out limit. That should make a sizable difference in game time. There's no reason a catcher has to go to the mound multiple times during an inning. If the pitcher can't remember the scouting report that's his own fault.

[torts]

that 20-second rule will be interesting! would be really crazy if it also applied with runners on base

[Bombers]

I am in favor of pretty much all rules that speed up the game. My pet peeves are definitely batters repeatedly stepping out of the box for lengthy periods during an AB. There just isn't any reason for it. I also love the 3 time out rule.

[645]

The Batter’s Box Rule: Haven't they done this rule before and never really inforce it?

 

No-Pitch Intentional Walks: I don't think that would fly but would it mather if a pitcher could do it anyway by not throwing a pitch?

 

20-Second Rule: This is one that has been talk about before and you know it's one that could backfire. if you have a pitcher that is slow worker and if he fails to throw a pitch in time and you get a ball and you lose 20 secounds for the clock resets and the ball that is called improves the odds of the pitcher walking the hitter and more hitters that come up the longer the game will be.

 

2:05 Inning Break Clock: What if the hitter is there and the pitcher is there and he is throwing the pitch but the shortstop is running across the infield because he didn't get there in time?

 

2:30 Pitching Change Break Clock: I'm not sure about this one. Most pitching change happen between innings but most that do happen in a inning happen because a team is in a jam that they have to get out of and to force a pitcher to pitch before he is ready can lead to mistakes and can extend a rally and that wouldn't to speed up the game.

 

Three “Time Out” Limit: The reason to go out to the mound is because they are not on the same page on how to handle a hitter and to discuss how to do so. They could do this but I'm sure it will backfire for once there 3 times are up and there is that 4th time mistakes will be made for they will have no way on getting on the same page for they couldn't talk to each other.

[Bombers]

645 - The goal isn't to make the game 90 minutes. The issue is the game length has crept past 3 hours. They need to get back under 3 hours. They need to do something. It is a huge complaint of the standard fan.

 

The Batter’s Box Rule: Ryan Braun steps out, picks up dirt, throws it, un does his gloves, digs in, holds hand up, touches the plate .... Ummmmm, not sure how changing this won't help

 

No-Pitch Intentional Walks: I am fine with this. It would help.

 

20-Second Rule: Your argument isn't backed by stats. Check this out.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pitcher-pace-time-between-pitches/

Trimming 6 seconds off per pitch would save 12 min in a 200 pitch game. This is huge.

 

2:05 Inning Break Clock: once again, this makes sense. They do not need endless time to get ready. If the SS isn't ready, and the pitcher doesn't pitch - it's a ball. Pretty straightforward.

 

2:30 Pitching Change Break Clock: This is simple. Should have been in place a long time ago. Pitchers who are completely warmed up, don't need an additional 5 min. If your pitcher isn't ready, then don't make the change and manage your staff better.

 

Three “Time Out” Limit: this is one of the best rules changes. I can't stand all the meetings at the mound with the whole infield. Football / Basketball do not get unlimited TO's. This would be a huge change and awesome IMO.

[Bombers]

My gut feel is they will have some of these changes in place by the 2015 season. Replay has added time. And it isn't trending in a positive direction. They need to do something

[folly412]

I like the batter's box rule most...there's no need for a 30 second OCD routine for the batter between every pitch (though it'll shave 30 points off Tulo's average).

 

The IBB rule is logical, and often occurs while the inning is already dragging on.

 

20 second rule is ok if used loosely, i.e. enforced when the pitcher is really dragging things along or stepping off repeatedly.

 

Would be a little surprised if the inning/pitching breaks are ever implemented; heck, I think they're ideal at home for a bathroom/snack break.

 

Not a fan of counting the number of timeouts, at least not an allowance for the entire game. I think there's a good compromise here, i.e. all too often the stalls occur when the catcher calls time, the pitching coach calls time, and then catcher walks halfway to get his word in...all to the same batter. It's got to be closer to one of those per inning, not all of those to one batter.

[pitchleague]

I will assume that the 2:30 pitching change rule is "waived" for injury replacements for the pitcher.

[DuWayne Steurer]

The one thing I can point at that really kills me is the batters (Ryan Braun, I'm looking at you) that step out after every pitch and unzip, and readjust their gloves, zip them back up......etc, etc, etc. YOU DIDN'T EVEN SWING!!!

 

I think the whole thing is just such a ritual for some guys that they just do it mindlessly at this point. It's just part of their 'thing'. The game would lose a half hour without that kind of stuff. Let's get rid of it.

[owbc]

Finally. I'm in favor of all of them except for the no-pitch IBB. It would be nice to get the time of game back to around 2:30-2:40 like it was in the 1970s.

[JimH5]

I wonder how many fewer commercials will air on radio & tv. Broadcasters want to satisfy advertisers, and I suspect they will complain (though perhaps not publicly) about lost revenue.

[RightFieldCoder]

The pitchers are sometimes ready between innings. The umps sometimes hold up the game to make sure enough commercial time has occurred. If you are at the game you can watch the 2nd base umpire who will have a stopwatch. There is also someone near the opponent dugout that holds up colored cards to signify timing.

[igor67]

I like the IBB rule, for the off chance of a freak occurrence it's just not worth it. Definitely like the foot in the box rule. The time ones could be OK, but I'm not a huge fan of possible inconsistency by the umps. Put up a play clock or leave it alone. The 3 time outs I also have some unease about. My guess is that only some of them get implemented.

[pebadger]

How long can the catcher hold it before throwing back to the pitcher? What about throwing it around the infield after a K?

 

Also, in a move that makes life a bit easier for clumsy vendors but tough on customers, the Five Second rule has been codified as an addendum to the rules of ballpark eating.

[torts]

I wonder how many fewer commercials will air on radio & tv. Broadcasters want to satisfy advertisers, and I suspect they will complain (though perhaps not publicly) about lost revenue.

 

this is a good point, and we all know that money talks in sports, so I wonder how much losing on-air ad plays will impact any rule to speed up the game

[JohnBriggs12]

Nobody brings it up, but I'll bet over the course of a game, the time it takes for the catcher to hand a ball that hit the dirt to the umpire and then have a new one put in play, takes an extra 4-5 minutes a game. Add in the fact that more balls are intentionally bounced than back in the day as a pitching strategy (watch if they ever show a complete telecast from the 60's and you almost never see great pitchers throw their breaking balls in the dirt) and to me it's both annoying to watch and time consuming.

 

I don't know when the practice of taking every ball out of play that hits the dirt started, but it should end. Baseball was fine before this practice started. Most of today's pitchers wouldn't know how to make a slightly scuffed ball do anything unusual any way, and if they could, more power to them as that used to be part of the art of pitching for guys like Don Sutton.

[RightFieldCoder]

It's not just because the pitchers don't want it. They can sell the "game used" balls for around $40 each. This is the same reason they need to swap out the bases half way through the game. Now you have twice the number of bases to sell.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

If a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt the ball gets taken out of play. If a hitter hits a sharp 1 hopper through the infield the ball is still in use. I don't understand why.

[jerichoholicninja]

If a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt the ball gets taken out of play. If a hitter hits a sharp 1 hopper through the infield the ball is still in use. I don't understand why.

 

Actually, almost every ball that is put in play is taken out. You just don't see it on TV like pitches in the dirt.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

If a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt the ball gets taken out of play. If a hitter hits a sharp 1 hopper through the infield the ball is still in use. I don't understand why.

 

Actually, almost every ball that is put in play is taken out. You just don't see it on TV like pitches in the dirt.

 

 

No, I pay attention to it when I go to games. We even discuss it when it happens in the seats.

[reillymcshane]

I'm good with all the ideas.

 

Make it so!

[jerichoholicninja]

If a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt the ball gets taken out of play. If a hitter hits a sharp 1 hopper through the infield the ball is still in use. I don't understand why.

 

Actually, almost every ball that is put in play is taken out. You just don't see it on TV like pitches in the dirt.

 

 

No, I pay attention to it when I go to games. We even discuss it when it happens in the seats.

 

I'll have to watch more closely. A lot of times after a hit or an out in play, after the pitcher gets the ball, I see him either throw it to the catcher or just chuck it toward the dugout.

[Bombers]

Pitch clock is now coming to AA and AAA fields for this season. It doesn't say which fields. I hope this can continue rolling along and be installed for the 2016 MLB season.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24963362/report-pitch-clock-headed-to-double-a-and-triple-a

[igor67]

The pitch clock might really take some time, but if they use it for 3-5 years in the minors a lot of the MLB pitchers at that time would be more comfortable.

[torts]

fully support this! I have nothing against spending 3 hours at a baseball park, but anything to speed the pace up a bit would be awesome!