Changes in Major League Baseball: A Closer Look

Major League Baseball has undergone significant transformations recently, something fans and players alike are still adjusting to.

From pitch clocks to big bases, from limited mound visits to the introduction of technology like PitchCom, the game is noticeably different than it was before the pandemic.

One of the most striking changes is that the average game length has shortened by over 30 minutes. In fact, it used to be common for some games to last around 3 hours and 10 minutes. Following the implementation of a pitch timer in 2023, that average dropped to just 2 hours and 39 minutes. Interestingly, this trend continued into the following year, although a couple of minutes were added back in for the current season.

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who played in the mid-2000s, retired just as the pitch clock was introduced. As he reflected on his career, he noted how much time the game had consumed at its peak.

“It probably got a little too big,” Wainwright mentioned in an interview. He claimed he never really minded longer games, saying, “The length of the game is perfect.” However, he does miss certain aspects of how things used to be.

“I miss those ninth-inning moments, especially in the playoffs when the tension is palpable,” he said. “You recall those instances where pitchers would build the drama. I really miss that.”

From another angle, Wainwright also longs for the time a pitcher had to think through the third order. “You’d get the ball back from the catcher and have a few seconds to strategize,” he added. “I miss that part. I always considered myself a thinking pitcher.”

The game has greatly embraced analysis, and even an experienced player like Wainwright feels the weight of all that data. He pointed out, “There’s definitely a sweet spot between analytics and traditional gameplay.” He appreciates modern tools that break down why certain pitches work better than others and what adjustments can be made.

Yet, he acknowledges there can be too much focus on numbers. Wainwright humorously recalled a moment when he faced Freddie Freeman, a game he won despite a less-than-ideal pitch attempt. “I threw a backup cutter that got away from me, and he made it to second base. Later, the analysis said, ‘Hey, that’s a great pitch for you.’ But that’s not how I felt trying to execute it originally,” he said. “You have to filter out the noise and decide for yourself what’s best.”

Interestingly, these new rule changes seem to be winning fans back. Attendance has been at its highest since before 2017, with an average attendance hitting around 29,000 per game for three consecutive years. It’s worth mentioning, however, that two teams played at minor league parks this season, which did affect attendance numbers for 162 games.

For the first time since 2011 and 2012, the last two seasons have shown an uptick in attendance, suggesting fans are responding positively to the evolution of the game.