The game of baseball has existed without time constraints for over a century and a half, but in recent years, games have become too long. In an effort to attract modern sports fans and improve the viewer experience, Major League Baseball (MLB) will be introducing a pitch clock in the 2023 season.
What is the pitch clock?
The pitch clock gives pitchers 15 seconds with the bases empty, 20 seconds with runners on, and assesses a ball if they don’t begin their windups before it flashes triple-zero. Batters must be “alert” and facing the pitcher at the 8-second mark or else a strike will be assessed. The aim of the pitch clock is to speed up the game by limiting the downtime between pitches.
Initial resistance from players
The pitch clock was tested in minor leagues in 2022, and some players had initial reservations about it. Tucker Davidson, a left-hander in the Atlanta Braves system who was later traded to the Los Angeles Angels, was one of the players who expressed concerns. He felt rushed and worried that the clock would eliminate the downtime between pitches, which adds to the drama of the game.
Positive feedback after implementation
However, after playing in the major leagues, Davidson found that games were taking too long and now thinks that the pitch clock is great. People inside the game of baseball, including players, coaches, executives, and owners, love the pitch clock. Even those who don’t love it respect it for reducing game times.
Challenges faced by MLB in attracting modern sports fans
MLB has made rule changes to make the game shorter and remove talking points for media. Commissioner Rob Manfred claims that these changes will restore baseball to its former popularity. However, truth be told, MLB hasn’t had the same appeal to sports fans as other major American sports. The biggest names in other sports can carry flawed rosters to the playoffs, but MLB doesn’t allow for that.
Need for drama, big-time players and mind-numbing offenses
The MLB needs to find a way to attract fans with more drama, big-time players, mind-numbing offenses, huge comebacks, and polarizing dynasties. Baseball purists fetishize statistics, but the old metrics no longer matter. As such, the new rule changes aim to make the game faster-paced.
More rule changes to improve viewer experience
Attendance at baseball games has been steadily declining since 2015. Last year’s average attendance was the lowest since 1996. The sixth game of the last World Series had the fewest viewers ever for a decisive game in prime time.
MLB is making additional rule changes to improve viewer experience. Pitchers can no longer make unlimited pickoff attempts; they can only disengage from the rubber twice per plate appearance. Bases are now 18 inches square, making the distance between first and second (and between second and third) four and a half inches shorter. The shift, a defensive alignment strategy that was thought to have the biggest impact before the rule changes, has been limited.
Improvement in pace of game and success rate
The average time of spring training games is now 2:35, 26 minutes faster than last spring. Stolen base attempts and success rate have increased since the rule changes were implemented.
In conclusion, Major League Baseball is doing all it can to keep up with modern times by introducing new rules that help reduce downtime during games. By introducing these changes, MLB is hopeful that it will succeed in attracting younger viewers who have shown less interest in watching baseball in recent years.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
