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Feb 7, 2023 · Cannon is what's known as a Field Timing Coordinator (FTC), a formerly low-profile position that, with the arrival of the pitch timer at the Major League level in 2023, is suddenly infused with importance. That's why Cannon was one of about 110 FTCs in attendance at the Division II tournament hosted by the Astros over the weekend.
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Cannon is what's known as a Field Timing Coordinator (FTC),...
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- Anthony Castrovince
- The timer works. Under the current pitch timer rules in MiLB, there is a 14-second timer between pitches with no one on base and 18 seconds with a runner on base (19 seconds in Triple-A).
- The timer can possibly improve player health and performance. An oft-stated concern with the timer is that forcing pitchers to speed up their routines will increase the threat of injury.
- The timer adds intrigue to the running game. With Minor League pitchers limited to two step-offs or pickoff attempts under the 2022 rules, it should come as no surprise that runners are attempting to steal more bases and are successful more frequently.
- Pitchers have found a new cat-and-mouse game. The pitch timer rule calls for batters to be in the box and attentive to the pitcher with nine seconds left on the timer.
- Anthony Castrovince
- Obviously, game times shortened. There is no bigger takeaway from the timer, of course. As of this writing, the average nine-inning game time is 2 hours, 40 minutes -- a decrease of 24 minutes when compared to the same number of games in 2022 and the lowest such average since 1985 (2:39).
- Game times did lengthen slightly in the second half. Digging deeper, we do see a rise in game times within 2023 as players became more familiar with the nuances of the timer rules.
- Pitch timer violations declined throughout the year. Players adjust. That’s how they got to the big leagues in the first place, and they proved their adaptability as 2023 rolled along.
- Relatedly, there has been plenty of time on the timer. Though the players pushed for more time on the timer for the postseason, there is no statistical evidence that 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners aboard is not sufficient.
- A Less Lively Baseball
- Interference Rule
- Extra-Inning Runner at Second Base
- Umpire Review Announcements
- Better Bases
- Restricting The Shift
- Step-Off Rule
- 15-Second Pitch Clock
- Automatic Strike Zone
Where: MLB Reacting to changes in ball flight over the past few years, a committee of scientific experts recommended narrowing the gap in the specifications of the official baseball (i.e., size, weight, coefficient of restitution, or COR). Many of the baseballs were playing to the “hotter” end of that gap. This year the baseballs are designed for a...
Where: MLB This is the only new rule added at the big league level this year. If after a dropped third strike the umpire or batter inadvertently deflects the baseball—thereby impeding the catcher—the batter is out and runners are returned to their bases. This is a clarification to an existing rule that makes clear intent is not a consideration.
Where:MLB Okay, it’s not new. But prompted last year by COVID-19 protocols to avoid long days at the ballpark, this one officially is here to stay. Extra-inning games last year ended in the 10th inning 69% of the time, up from 46% in 2017 through '19. With an instant rally in place, viewership on MLB.tv of extra innings as much as doubled in 2020 c...
Where:MLB MLB began to arrange plans last year for umpires to announce results of replay changes with NFL-style explanations over public address systems, but COVID-19 wiped out those plans. Umpires are on board and the plans are still in place, but COVID-19 protocols still are delaying the rollout. You might see such announcements in time for posts...
Where:Triple A This is such a great idea that it should have been in play for this season in the bigs. I have been yelling into the void for years about the hazardous workplace conditions that are the current bases. Too hard and took slick, especially when wet. Bases have shut down great players such as Bryce Harper and Trout, yet baseball and the ...
Where:Double A When the pitch is thrown, the four infielders must have their feet within the outer boundary of the infield dirt. Goodbye, Rover. Goodbye to 200-foot line drives to right field that become boring 4–3 putouts. For now, it still means teams can shift; they just can’t play that flex prevent defense. MLB reserves the right in the second ...
Where:High A The pitcher has to step off the rubber to make a pickoff attempt. (We’re looking at you, lefties; no more of those hanging balk moves.) Again, the idea is to incentivize the stolen base. And wow, does it work. When this rule was tested in the Atlantic League in 2019, stolen-base attempts per game rose from 1.02 to 1.73 and the success ...
Where:Low A (West) Nothing will make a bigger, immediate impact on making baseball more fan-friendly than the pitch clock. When in MLB: 2022—maybe, and with caveats, such as only with the bases empty. Players have shown little appetite for it, but a game that currently gives fans one pitch ever 24.9 seconds needs this kind of help. VERDUCCI: MLB Ca...
Where:Low A (two-thirds of games in Southeast) The strike zone will be redefined from its three-dimensional “box” shape to a two-dimensional “window” that is flush with the front edge of the plate. The top line of the zone will be set at 56% of the batter’s height and the bottom at 28% of the batter’s height. When in MLB:2023 or later. The technolo...
Mar 1, 2023 · When was there no turning back from a pitch clock? Well, 2021 probably clinched it: Batting average dropped to .244, its lowest mark since 1972, and time of a nine-inning game ballooned to a ...
- Gabe Lacques
- MLB Reporter
Mar 13, 2023 · Pitch timer: 15 seconds with the ... the lowest since 3:00 in 2018 and down from the record high of 3:11 in 2021. MLB games have not averaged under 2:50 per nine innings since 2006, and it has not ...
Sep 9, 2022 · MLB says the time of game across the minors decreased from 3:04 in 2021 to 2:38 after the pitch timer was enacted at every level. Meanwhile, the major league game, despite a handful of mitigations ...
