We’re just days away from the start of Spring Training games for the upcoming 2023 MLB season, but the game has already taken on a very different look, for better or worse.
Baseball has had problems in recent years with playing times. It seemed to be routine for an AL East matchup on Sunday Night Baseball to surpass the four-hour mark, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that it was affecting interest in the game. It happened pretty suddenly, as playtime averages jumped from about 2.5 hours to over 3 hours in 2017 and never looked back. In 2022, the average game length was 3 hours and 7 minutes.
MLB’s new clock rule is working, but what good is it?
2022 MLB average game length: 3:07
MLB Spring Training Game Times, Saturday: 3:063:063:032:542:472:392:352:342:332:322:312:292:262:232:212:162:15
— Mike Monaco (@MikeMonaco_) February 26, 2023
To combat the issue, MLB has put in place new rules for the 2023 season, particularly the shot clock which has already affected the outcome of some of the preseason games. Manny Machado was the first victim of the new rule Friday, when he was penalized with an automatic strike for not being in the batter’s box when the shot clock read 8 seconds. Cal Conley suffered the same fate in the game between the Braves and Red Sox, but this time it happened in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and two out.
The new game tweak has received a lot of criticism, but when it comes to the problem they are trying to fix, it seems like they have been successful so far. Of all the Spring Training games played Saturday morning and afternoon, each was shorter than the average 2022 game. Two games came in one minute, finishing with game times of 3:06, but 14 of the 17 contests were over in less than three hours.
Playing time for the Mets’ first three spring training games:
2:332:342:28
– Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) February 26, 2023
Looking at a specific case, the New York Mets have been especially efficient in their games. All three of his games were over in less than 2 hours and 35 minutes, which would be a blessing if they could get him into the regular season.
Of course, there will have to be some kind of medium found. MLB can’t have games decided by clock rules, especially in the regular seasons and later, when the games have real significance. But if the system is working to solve the problem at hand, then they will have to find a way to bring it into the game naturally without affecting the results.
