Baseball’s new regulations were modified by members of MLB’s competition committee on Monday, according to persons informed on the meeting and reported by The Athletic, potentially paving the way for changes on Opening Day. Although the particular adjustments that were proposed were not immediately known, they are not anticipated to be significant if they are.
This year, MLB is implementing a pitch clock, limitations on defensive shifts, wider bases, and caps on the number of pickoff attempts a pitcher is allowed to make. Before the season’s start on March 30, baseball officials have expressed a willingness to make alterations.
Although the specific adjustments that were discussed are still unclear, it is agreed that they wouldn’t be significant. Here are those notable 메이저토토사이트 new rules for the uninitiated:
- The major leagues now have a pitch clock. When all bases are unoccupied, pitchers get 15 seconds to start their pitches; if one or more bases are occupied, they have 20 seconds. Also, there must be at least eight seconds left on the pitch clock for the hitter to be in the batter’s box and “alert” to the pitcher. A ball will be charged against noncompliant pitchers, and a strike will be deducted from noncompliant batters.
- Just twice during each plate appearance are pitchers permitted to “disengage” from the rubber, either by stepping off or by throwing a pickoff. If one or more runners move forward during the concerned plate appearance, the count is reset. During a PA, pitchers are permitted to attempt a third pickoff, but if the runner is not picked off on that attempt, he advances automatically.
- Instead of 15, the first, second, and third base bags now measure 18 square inches. This increases the baserunner’s “target” area and reduces the distance between the stations. Now there are three inches less between home and first and third and home, and 4.5 inches less between first and second and second and third.
- There are no longer infield overshifts. When the pitcher is on the rubber, the opposing team must have four fielders inside the infield boundary, with two fielders positioned at the moment of the pitch on either side of second base. Outfielders can still be inserted by a team onto the infield or into the shallow outfield. Yet, they are not allowed to deploy four outfielders.
However, MLB has imposed restrictions on pickoff attempts and mandated that when the pitcher is on the rubber, all infielders must be within the outermost portion of the infield and two infielders must be on either side of second. Players have discussed the necessity to make accommodations for specific plays, such as those made when first base is backed up, that delay a pitcher from taking the mound.
“We’ve tried to address the concerns expressed in a thoughtful way, respectful — always — of the history and traditions of the game, and of player concerns,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a press conference Friday afternoon. “Our guiding star in thinking about changes to the game has always been our fans. ‘What do our fans want to see on the field?’ We’ve conducted thorough and ongoing research with our fans, and certain things are really clear. Number 1, fans want games with better pace. Two, fans want more action, more balls in play. And three, fans want to see more of the athleticism of our great players.
“We have another set of issues that we want to see some regular-season games before we make a decision on them,” Manfred said. “I’ve met with six teams’ players already. Our feet are not in stone on this, on the one hand, and we are prepared to make adjustments based on input. On the other hand, we want to give it a chance to see exactly how it plays out after a period of adjustment in some regular-season games before we make any really significant alteration.”
All of these rules have been in place in the 사설토토 minor leagues over the previous seasons, leading to wide-ranging changes in pace of play and on-field action.