The jury is still out, but early reviews this spring training are showing that MLB has succeeded in speeding up the game significantly with the pitch clock in place. Even with other new rules that primarily address beefing up offensive numbers, the pitch clock has had the biggest impact and may be the biggest change we have seen in the game since the designated hitter became a part of it in 1973.
Jeff Passan tweeted his findings on March 9th, after crunching the numbers following the first two full weeks of games. With comparisons to Spring Training 2022 his figures show that spring training games are 25 minutes quicker, even with more runs being scored, more stolen bases attempted and of greater interest, an increased batting average of ground balls in play (.235 vs .258). This last fact attributed to the nixing of the shift and the requirement that infielders have their feet on the infield dirt.
The game time reduction is quite remarkable when you consider that there is more offense, more hits, and more action on the base paths. All things that MLB has wanted in order to boost fan interest. They want more offense and quicker games. It looks like they have accomplished that. Even strikeout rates have decreased, though not remarkably so (23.9% rate in 2022, vs. 23.1% in 2023 thus far). Perhaps “K” rates over the span of a full season will decrease as well. After all, two weeks is a relatively small sample size.
With average spring training game times of two hours and 36 minutes, that number is expected to decrease as the regular season plays out because of the numerous substitutions during exhibition contests. Watch as major leaguers get accustomed to the faster pace as the season rolls on. We’ve seen some uneasy calls and even a game that was decided on an automatic strikeout called when a batter failed to get set in time as the pitch clock lapsed. Those type of events I expect to rarely occur in the regular season. Too much will be on the line and players will have gotten used to the faster pace.
As much as I have been critical of the current baseball commissioner and his propensity to change the game and disrupt the traditions of the sport, I have no problem with officials cracking down on players taking their time and adjusting every article of clothing they are wearing between pitches. It’s time to get in there and hit. The same can be said for many pitchers.
So, there you have it. The Rob Manfred way. The only major sport that didn’t have a clock that monitored when the game will end is now akin to basketball and football. You get penalized for lollygagging. Don’t lollygag and don’t be a lollygagger.
Love the new rules. MLB needed to speed up the pace of the games and create more action, Banning the shift will lead to higher batting averages and bigger bases will hopefully lead to a more aggressive running game.
Dodgers make nine additional roster cuts
C Diego Cartaya, INF Michael Busch, INF Jorbit Vivas, INF Eddys Leonard, OF Jonny DeLuca and OF Andy Pages were optioned. RHP Matt Andriese, RHP Bobby Miller and INF Jahmai Jones were assigned to Minor League camp.
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Bobby Miller came to camp with a sore right pitching shoulder but told David Vassegh @THEREAL_DV he “feels amazing right now” and will throw to hitters tomorrow.
Dodgers brought Miller to big league camp to monitor his workload and give him the experience to be around veteran pitchers.
I was thinking because the Dodgers have 3 outfielders that are probably going to make the team now (Peralta, Heyward, Thompson) that only hit RHP, maybe one of DeLuca or Pages would have a chance since they hit LHP good and I think the Dodgers need one more and I was thinking DeLuca, but I guess not. If Devin Mann is still there maybe him, but he doesn’t hit LHP as good as them, but still good. He’s an infielder though and the Dodgers might want that since there is no back up infielder besides Taylor who is needed to platoon in LF.
I think if there is a surprise guy that makes the team, either Heyward or Thompson would be out. Because I think Peralta and Outman are already in.
Williams?
Yonny?
I think JDM got called out on strikes for a clock violation the other day.
I am not up on the precise rules and protocols. Do they issue a warning first? I hope so because it seems like a petty way to decide games. It would be awful if a petty clock violation ended a suspenseful game in a pennant race
I expect the rules to be tweaked a bit as issues emerge.
I like the idea of speeding up games a bit. Owners will probably keep track of how it will affect the sale of food and beverages….
And in other news, TrueBlueLA points out than Outman found a way to stand out even when he wasn’t in the lineup. He was participating in live BP in the back fields–and went deep off of Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson and Caleb Ferguson. Hudson joked something like:”It’s only the second time I faced batters in a year–and I have to go against Babe Ruth here.”
These are professionals, and they know the rules. The NBA doesn’t suspend the 24-second shot clock at the end of the game. The NFL doesn’t give a team extra time on the 30-second clock at the end of a game to get the play off. The rules are the rules or they are not rules if not enforced. This is why they get all Spring training to get used to them.
BTW, I love the new rules. They were long overdue.
Two hitters were called out yesterday for clock violations on the third strike. JD was one of them. At 10 seconds, he was not in the box ready to face the pitcher. I think what has bothered most hitters is the one-time out limitation. Dodger pitchers still not very good at holding runners but at least the bats are waking up. JD’s hit yesterday went to right field. A thing of beauty since JT was the same type of hitter. I think the fans are going to love JD. Sparkling defense again by Heyward and in center field no less. Team USA pounded Canada like a bad stepchild, 12-1. Mookie hitting below the Mendoza line in the series. Smith did not play in last night’s game. Freddie 0-3 for the Northerners. Busch sent down? Guy was just getting hot.
He will still likely play some games.
NO Dodger Spring training game scheduled today. Kershaw on the mound tomorrow versus the Rockies at home at Glendale.
Last day off of spring. Season getting closer every day. I leave for LA two weeks from today.
Mookie is hitting way to many fly balls, especially for a leadoff hitter.
Re rules, I grew to love the ITB during my daughters softball years. It brings the game to an end, creates excitement at the end of a sometimes dull game, requires strategy and execution.
Old friend Jose de Leon with the first perfect game of the WBC against Israel. Joc Pederson was in CF last night.
So happy for Trevor B that his lifelong dream of playing in the Nippon league has finally come to fruition for him!
People who said he’d never pitch for us again were right.
He may never pitch in MLB either.
Waiting to see what happens when Clevinger toes the bump or bumps his toe or whatever the expression is.
FanGraphs is estimating the Dodgers at 86 wins this year, PECOTA at 95 wins.
In the vicinity where I see them as well with 90-92 wins.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baseball shouldn’t have a clock now they play nine innings that’s their clock. What they should do if like in basketball the referees count how long it takes to get up court. Now an umpire should count when the pitcher gets on the rubber and if he doesn’t pitch in time it’s a ball. And that pitcher can only throw over two first base like three times. And if a batter takes too long to get in the box it’s a strike. But no clock there shouldn’t be one in baseball but the pitcher should pitch in so much time when he touches the rubber on the mound.
The umpire has enough on his mind without having to time the pitcher. That is why they have the clock and it is working. Games are down to around 2 1/2 hours long. The timer is doing exactly what you want the ump to do. There is a buzzer or something on his person that alerts him when the clock is started. He can also call time if the pitcher or hitter wants it, but only once per at bat. I personally am coming to really enjoy the faster paced games and less fussing with equipment while in the batters box.
Can the ump call a ball if the pitcher is taking his time though say you don’t want to waste pitches so u delay Daryl’s around the mound and don’t throw a pitch. Saves your arm then for the next batter. Say freeman comes up if u take your time and don’t pitch it’s a ball. So four clock violations and then face munch I bet teams start doing that. Don’t waste pitch and get clock violations.
Why waste time doing that when all they need to do to walk him is point to first base and that is that. Cmon Bradley, If the pitcher is not ready by a certain point the ump can call a ball. But he only has 15 seconds to do that when a runner is on base and 20 with the bases empty. Bottom line, it is working and it is shortening games. That is what it is designed to do. And it speeds up the action in the game. Batting averages, runs and stolen bases are up. No need for clock violations. They have been able to walk guys without pitching to them for several years. I cannot believe you do not know that. No team or manager or player for that fact is that effing dumb.
I was just saying if they don’t want to throw any pitches and get four clock violations instead. Say like if a pitcher is warming up in the bullpen. Gives the guy in the bullpen time to warm up. Yes they could just walk him. But in some what it delays the game to give the pitcher in bullpen time to warm up. How many clock violations does a pitcher get. What happens then do they have to change pitchers then after so many. I guess I am old school just let pitcher pitch and throw over to first guess it’s just something to get used to a clock.
Dodger Dugout says Cartaya has light =-tower power and plus-plus bat speed
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I would put Vargas 2nd considering Miller’s health concerns.
Have we ever had as many prospects with arms like this:
Miller
Stone
Pepiot
Grove
Nastrini
Sheehan
Ryan
Frasso
?
I love them all, especially Nastrini & Sheehan, but all of them are legit.
Stone has the change up of death. Grove has a polished delivery & full arsenal. Frasso has the fastball, and Ryan has the athleticism of a D1 SS.
The future is bright.
We have not had as many hitting prospects, either.
We need some of our A guys to make the [successful] jump to AA. Leonard, Vivas, Ramos, Rushing all with potential to move.
Pages needs to be a real one. Busch feels 50/50 to me. Trade bait?
Cartaya is #1 and Vargas/Outman time is now.
I’m not quite as bullish on the hitters as you are. Guys like DeLuca need to show me something this guy. Who will break out? (DePaula, Roncon, J. Vargas candidates)
And that list doesn’t include young guns like Kopps, Bruns, Duran, Huebeck…
And Hurt is pretty good too.
A lot of great arms.
Pete Alonso dropped weight. Didn’t recognize him @ WBC w/o 3 day beard & thicc quads. Bet he hits 55+ dingers.
It’s thicc thirty
Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman Exits WBC Game With Injury
On Tuesday, Dodgers superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman exited Team Canada’s World Baseball Classic game with an injury. He was seen running a little gingerly to first base, and was then removed from the game altogether. The broadcast called it a “slight hamstring issue.”
Yesterday I happened upon a teenage Yankee fan Youtuber suggesting a Yankees-Dodger trade.
One idea involved one of their two hot SS prospects–but the the kid wanted Outman, Stone and a third player for the guy.
Then he ventured Isaih Kiner-Falefa for Trayce Thompson, straight up. And today the folks at DodgersNation suggested the same deal.
It makes a lot of sense, actually. Dodgers could use another UT guy, and IKF fits the fill. He’s proved himself as a major leaguer more than Trayce has. IKF isn’t much of a hitter, but he does bat righthanded–and I assume he doesn’t have the reverse splits that Trayce has. (Unless Trayce can hit lefties better, he’s a similar weapon to Peralta, Heyward and Outman. )
Getting IKF would free Taylor more to be a platoon complement to Peralta. He’d be a good late-inning defensive replacement for Max or Vargas. He’d also be the emergency catcher. Bats righty.
Not an exciting deal, but it makes some sense.
Trading Trayce would ease the jam in OF and ensure more playing time for Outman. Plus, it would feel good to trade him to another contender.
Kiner-Fallefa is a so so defender and he has no power. He is now working out in center field for the Yankees who have plenty of outfield problems themselves. Sorry, I keep Trayce, he is a plus defender in the outfield. That he hit righties better than lefty’s after he was called up is weird, because he was killing left handed pitching at AAA. But he is more athletic than Kiner-Falefa. I don’t want the Yankees castoffs.
IKF wouldn’t be an upgrade, but he’s an established major leaguer. The problem is that the Dodgers don’t need six outfielders–or seven, if we include JDM. I would prefer to package Trayce to get a better UT possibility like Ramon Urias.
As for Yankee castoffs…. you weren’t happy with Gallo?
If Freddie’s hamstring keeps him out for OD, perhaps Busch will get his chance. (You’d think veterans like JDM, Peralta and Heyward have 1B experience by now.) Muncy would be logical–but then who plays 3B?
Established yes. But there has to be a better option out there on the trade market. And the Dodgers have five pure outfielders. JD has not played out there much in several years, and Taylor is basically an infielder who can play the outfield. I have never considered him an outfielder. Urias is another so so glove and a really weak bat. I think there will be better players on the waiver wire than that guy. Busch was just starting to hit. I keep it in house and give him his shot. Move Vargas to third if Freddie is down and stick Busch at second, but from what I have seen this spring, Busch could handle first easily. They are not going to make any trades before the deadline. Anyone who thinks they will is definitely wrong. No, Gallo sucked almost as bad as Tyler White, but he at least hit some bombs. Bellinger is not having a very good spring.
Apart from the obvious guys, I think Rushing and De Paula are the most exciting hitting prospects. I hope we keep them… unless the deal is real blockbuster.
MLB.com forecasts that he Dodgers starting CF will be Heyward….
Also that Belli will bat cleanup for the Cubs, and Rios will start at DH.