Ian Miller
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MLB’s new pitch clock has already decided the outcome of a game.
This comes just one day after the first pitch clock violation cost Manny Machado a ball during Friday’s Padres-Mariners game.
READ: WE ALREADY HAVE OUR FIRST PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION OF THE 2023 MLB SEASON
Saturday’s violation was much more impactful, however.
The Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox were tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the bases loaded for the Braves.
The count ran full with two outs, making it effectively a game deciding pitch, in a spring training contest.
Braves hitter Cal Conley took his time getting set in the box, and was called out on strike three on the pitch clock violation.
Pitch Clock Causing Problems
MLB’s changes have already made a significant difference on game times.
Friday’s games finished in roughly two and a half hours, a vast improvement over the three plus hour average length of games in 2022.
But there are almost certainly going to be arguments and attempts to game the clock system this season.
If it’s left up to umpire discretion on who’s responsible for the delay, managers and players could be incensed if major game situations are decided based on subjective violation decisions.
Spring training games are obviously meaningless, but what happens if a meaningful division game, for example, is decided by a game ending pitch clock call?
The desire to speed up the games is going to lead to some speed bumps, as teams, players and umpires adjust to a new system.
But based on the results so far, the clock is undoubtedly improving pace of play and making the games move faster.
It’ll just be fascinating to see what happens if a playoff game gets decided by a hitter taking too long to get in the box.
The pitch clock is beyond asinine and stupid, how about we play baseball as it was always played, what idiot out there thinks MLB is loosing fans because games are too long. Newsflash, if I had absolutely anything to do in my life, I wouldn’t be spending 3.5 or 2.5 or 1 hour on a baseball game. Let adults decide their priorities, especially if most fans just turn on one of the 3,000 regular season games just to stare at something while they slosh beer, no one needs the game to end sooner. For those at the ballpark, you are free to leave at any point and tend to your life.
This commissioner is trying to out do Silver as the worst commissioner in major sports history
Hey stupid idiot Ian the Dodgers are cheaters…
I love baseball, and this is great. As a hitter, get in the box. As a pitcher, throw the ball. Two and a half hour games were common for a decades, and if the pitch clock takes us back there, fantastic. I’m glad to see that umpires are being strict during spring training, so that the players have a chance to adjust before the regular season begins.