Get ready for the shitshow

[Frayed Knot]

There was an incident years ago involving either Boggs or Gwynn (I've forgotten which now) where middler infielders put themselves in motion as
a pitch was being delivered in an attempt to close up gaps that they thought the hitter might be aiming for (Tony's famed '5.5 hole' for instance).
The umps immediately ruled it illegal citing distraction within the batter's sight lines and maybe some other stuff too. I have no idea where, or
even if, such authority was granted in the rule book or whether it was just a 'common sense' thing the men in blue invented on the spot.

[G-Fafif]

First impression of the pitch clock: it’s weird, but maybe we’re no longer used to pitchers working quick and batters stepping in.

[Lefty Specialist]

Seeing that makes me glad Chris Bassitt is no longer pitching for the Mets.

[metirish]

[TransMonk]

I really hope the networks don't create a graphic.

[nymr83]

Well, MLB wanted this and we didn't have to wait long - today's Braves/Red Sox game ended on a pitch clock violation - a strikeout when the batter wasn't "set" with 8 seconds left.

LOL

[metirish]

Well, MLB wanted this and we didn't have to wait long - today's Braves/Red Sox game ended on a pitch clock violation - a strikeout when the batter wasn't "set" with 8 seconds left.

LOL

Wow

[metirish]

I expect to be still watching games at 10pm , this sucks

[nymr83]

I like the concept of a pitch clock, just not the part where it has an effect on the outcome of games. Perhaps instead of an in-game penalty they should just have fines. Every violation is a fine. At the end of the season, they collect and the fines money and divide it up amongst all the players, so overall player compensation isn't down and the guys who don't violate the clock too much actually end up ahead.

[Edgy MD]

I keep reading the title of this thread and thinking of it as the name of Hank Williams, Jr.'s new Monday Night Football theme song.

[metirish]

Relax , Troy

[stevejrogers]

I keep reading the title of this thread and thinking of it as the name of Hank Williams, Jr.'s new Monday Night Football theme song.

These new rules are making me feel so lonesome I could cry, and want to melt Mandfred’s cold, cold heart!

[Frayed Knot]

I like the concept of a pitch clock, just not the part where it has an effect on the outcome of games.

Making sure that it doesn't affect the outcome of the game is something that's entirely within the powers of the players.
And if they find themselves in a position where one ball or one strike is potentially game-altering then whoever is in the
box or on the rubber at that moment better make damn sure that they're aware of the situation.

[stevejrogers]

I like the concept of a pitch clock, just not the part where it has an effect on the outcome of games.

Making sure that it doesn't affect the outcome of the game is something that's entirely within the powers of the players.
And if they find themselves in a position where one ball or one strike is potentially game-altering then whoever is in the
box or on the rubber at that moment better make damn sure that they're aware of the situation.

Ugh, now I’m imagining a world where the Red Sox win the 1986 World Series due to Kevin Mitchell taking to long to realize he doesn’t have anything to adjust below the belt!

[Frayed Knot]

Moral of the story: Don't be taking your pants off with the game, not to mention the season and the championship, still on the line.
iow, the prepared players and prepared teams will be at an advantage with these new rules. Wow, what a concept!

[metirish]

Nomar would have to really make a change

[TransMonk]

Making sure that it doesn't affect the outcome of the game is something that's entirely within the powers of the players.

This. It was the first day. Now they know and I bet that dude never gets caught while in that situation again.

Plus, like the universal DH, the league has been telegraphing this move for YEARS. It's not like it's this is something they made up last week.

The players will learn. Game changing consequences will happen rarely, if ever. Games will be shorter and all will be fine.

[Lefty Specialist]

Yeah, having it happen in precisely the way it did was a HUGE lesson for players.

I also loved Scherzer's cat-and-mouse game getting the hitter to step out, then holding the ball for a long time as the batter gets more and more uncomfortable in the box.

[MFS62]

I also loved Scherzer's cat-and-mouse game getting the hitter to step out, then holding the ball for a long time as the batter gets more and more uncomfortable in the box.

"Wiley veteran."

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Max says he "Loves" the clock because it turns the pace-setting from the hitters over to the pitchers, particularly when/if the batter uses up his lone allowed step-out.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I suppose there might be some pitchers for whom that's not true, but my sense is that those are probably the exceptions.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Looking at the box scores yesterday, I'm seeing mostly games around 2:30 and only one that went past 3 hours (a 14-14 tie that went "only" 3:16, given the 28 runs). After the first couple days of pitch clock violations that went viral, seems like the shitshow is calming a little?

[Edgy MD]

I might-a be a little crazy, but aren't spring games something like 20% faster in general anyhow?

Clearly, the clock will shorten game times. What's still up for discussion is how much of what is being cut is badness and how much is goodness.

[Frayed Knot]

Tim Kurkjian said yesterday (PTI) that, after spending an entire day at NYM camp followed by one at NYY camp, he heard much praise and not a single complaint from players on the new rules.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I might-a be a little crazy, but aren't spring games something like 20% faster in general anyhow?

Clearly, the clock will shorten game times. What's still up for discussion is how much of what is being cut is badness and how much is goodness.

I don't know, I was wondering the same. Spring games always felt long to me, but a good long. I never wanted to get out of the sun and be anywhere else.