Current Events > RULE CHANGES for MLB in 2023

(+) Yeah! (+)

• A 15-second pitch clock with the bases empty and a 20-second clock with runners on
• Two disengagements from the rubber -- including pickoff attempts -- per plate appearance
• A requirement by hitters to be in the batter's box and "alert" with eight seconds to go on the clock. Hitters are allowed one timeout per plate appearance
• Only two infielders will be allowed on each side of second base, with all four required to be on the dirt (or inner grass)
• Infielders cannot position themselves on the outfield grass before the pitch is thrown
• Bases will increase in size from 15 inches squared to 18

Two disengagements from the rubber -- including pickoff attempts -- per plate appearance

• The pitcher must begin his motion to deliver the pitch before the expiration of the pitch timer.
• Pitchers who violate the timer are charged with an automatic ball. Batters who violate the timer are charged with an automatic strike.
• Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark or else be charged with an automatic strike.
• With runners on base, the timer resets if the pitcher attempts a pickoff or steps off the rubber.
• Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance. However, this limit is reset if a runner or runners advance during the plate appearance.
• If a third pickoff attempt is made, the runner automatically advances one base if the pickoff attempt is not successful.
• Mound visits, injury timeouts and offensive team timeouts do not count as a disengagement.
• If a team has used up all five of its allotted mound visits prior to the ninth inning, that team will receive an additional mound visit in the ninth inning. This effectively serves as an additional disengagement.
• Umpires may provide extra time if warranted by special circumstances. (So if, as an example, a catcher were to be thrown out on the bases to end the previous half-inning and needed additional time to put on his catching gear, the umpire could allow it.)

Sounds like they are trying to get the game moving more and eliminating wasted time. I don't watch baseball and I doubt this is enough to make it more interesting to me, but it will probably be healthier for the sport to not have as much wasted time.

This is going to kill the sport, just like any other attempt to grow the audience via abandoning the existing one.
The "purists" are going to be pissed and migrate to minor leagues, or Japanese leagues.

Minor leagues are already experimenting with these rules.

Japan it is, then.

Two disengagements from the rubber -- including pickoff attempts -- per plate appearance

Which is why I find it odd that they would eliminate the shift, as it results in more outs, which would move the game along.

MLB keeps tinkering the rules, searching for a way to make every game be a 10-9 game, but also finish under 3 hours.

And, of course, the easiest solution, make the between inning commercial breaks shorter, is the one solution they will never explore.

This is going to kill the sport, just like any other attempt to grow the audience via abandoning the existing one.
The "purists" are going to be pissed and migrate to minor leagues, or Japanese leagues.
The indifferents still won't care, and won't bother to watch.

The only real benefit to this is games sucking up less of the tv schedule. There's going to be less ad revenue over shorter games, as well less concession revenue.

Not really because of the time difference. The games take place after midnight in the US

No they won't. Die hard fans mostly bitch and keep watching. Few actually stop watching over this kind of shit.

This brings us to the actual answer: Just edit the "bellyitch" bits out of the games after they're over, and show that.
A game edited down to pitch/swing/fielding would be what, half an hour?

I'm not sure what the shift is.

To do this they couldn't broadcast live

That's gonna be fucking broken so quickly.

Lame, get rid of umps.

Shifting rules are fine tho

Just the plate ump really, machines have proven to make more accurate calls.

Just the plate ump really, machines have proven to make more accurate calls.

Imagine seeing the first game where the bases are loaded in the bottom of 9th and the pitcher took too long and the home team won on a timer walk off victory

Sucks to suck I guess

If you want the game to be fun, you gotta disincentivize home-runs. The long-ball is the current-day meta, and even the elimination of the shift won't fix that if players still feel like they might as well hit it out of the park. I think increasing the size of the bases is good since it might make the game more active with running, and increase infield singles.

What I really think needs to happen, though, is to increase the distance for home-runs, make every park less home-run friendly. You have to push it to a point where it's no longer the meta.

The games are in the middle of a workday afternoon anyway. Anyone who wanted to see it live is already at the ballpark, or has a MLB League Pass sub.

You need a plate ump for runs and swing checks

I don't agree with limiting shifts... it just feels like it's rewarding supposed pro-level batters who can't control where they hit the ball (unless I'm underestimating its difficulty).

Swing checks are on the baseline umpires

I don't agree with limiting shifts... it just feels like it's rewarding supposed pro-level batters who can't control where they hit the ball (unless I'm underestimating its difficulty).