The players’ association claims that Major League Baseball’s decision to shorten pitching time by two seconds by putting runners on base was premature.
MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark suggested the conversation about the pitch clock was shorter than it should have been.
“That should have warranted a much longer conversation than the one we had,” Clark said, via The Associated Press. He also noted that some players voiced his concerns about clock reduction upon learning of the proposal.
“We expressed those concerns, the players expressed those concerns, and yet the pitch clock change was enforced.”
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The pitch clock ticks down in the top of the ninth inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies on April 2, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe, File)
The pitch clock, along with limits on infield shifts and several other rules, was adopted ahead of the start of the 2023 season. The pitcher had 15 seconds to start if there were no baserunners, and 20 seconds if there were baserunners.
This season’s clock has been shortened from 20 seconds to 18 seconds when there are men on base, and will remain at 15 seconds when no one is on base.
Due to the pitch clock, the average game time in 2023 decreased significantly. Major League Baseball games were shortened by an average of 24 minutes, making them the fastest games to end since 1984.
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The clock, which was adopted over the objections of the competition committee’s player representatives, was deemed a huge success, with the sport drawing more than 70 million fans to stadiums for the first time since 2017.
The MLB logo is displayed in the on-deck circle during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on September 18, 2023. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Clark also suggested that the 2024 season should have been used to allow players to fully adjust to the time.
“We’ve just made the biggest adjustment in the history of this league in terms of game length and the impact the clock will have on the game,” Clark said. “Rather than give us another year to adjust and adapt, why adjust again and what will be the results?”
The pitch clock is shown as Alex Kirillov of the Minnesota Twins is at bat during the bottom of the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on July 1, 2023 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Clark’s main concern appears to be that pitchers will have less time to recover between pitches, especially when maximum effort and velocity are so important.
“When you’re tired, you’re more likely to get injured,” Clark says. “We’re seeing a lot of injuries and we can’t shake the question of whether it’s in everyone’s best interest to shorten the recovery time.”
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Apart from adjusting the pitch clock, Clark is also keeping an eye on the prospects for players to play in the 2028 Olympics, while also dealing with the uncertainty surrounding the A’s potential relocation and the backlash caused by new uniforms. must be dealt with.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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