There has been an effort in recent years to try to speed up MLB games as new rules have been put in place to reduce playing times. There are regulations on pitch changes and how often the team camera is replaced, but the biggest change for the upcoming 2023 season will surely be the shot clock.
As the new rule is written, players have 30 seconds to resume play between batters and 15 or 20 seconds between pitches, depending on whether someone is on base. But it’s not just the pitchers, and the guys in the batter’s box had some serious trouble Friday and Saturday as spring training games began in Florida and Arizona.
New Shot Clock Affects MLB Spring Training Games
Manny Machado and the Padres were facing the Mariners when in the first inning, the third baseman was hit with an automatic strike for violating the shot clock. The rules also state that the batter must step into the batter’s box when the clock reaches 8 seconds, something Machado violated. The referee pointed to his wrist for the new “clock matter” signal, and the count against Machado was 0-1 with no pitch ever thrown.
The new rules were on full display Saturday at the game between the Braves and Red Sox. The Braves’ Cal Conley suffered the same fate as Machado, but it happened in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded. Conley was unable to establish himself at the 8 second mark and was called for an automatic hit. He was ruled out for the Braves’ third out of the inning, and the game ended tied 6–6.
Tied game, bases loaded, 3-2 count.
Game over by shot clock.
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The rules will take some getting used to, for fans and players alike. “That moment came fast,” Machado said after his rape. “It’s definitely something we’ll have to get used to. It sort of takes the grind out of you, being up there and concentrating before the pitch.”
It is too early to see the results and make any kind of judgment on the success of the new rules, but the small sample size seems good. Compared to last season’s spring training opener, the 2023 version featured three fewer pitching changes, four more hits, and lasted 59 fewer minutes than 2022. It may actually improve the watchability of the product, but that doesn’t mean it won’t take some serious getting used to for everyone involved.
