With spring training kicking off and the MLB season right around the corner, baseball season is almost in full swing. But what does the future look like for America's pastime? The 2023 season of Major League Baseball is going to look a lot different than it has in the past. With new rules being put in place, people are wondering, "Is this good for the game?
Shift Rule
The first new rule change is the shift rule. A shift in baseball is when infielders and outfielders shift positions depending on whether the batter is left-handed or right-handed. The shift is a strategic move to better position the defense when the other team is batting. The shift has been used by teams for many years and is believed to have been first used in 1941 by White Sox manager Jimmy Dykes.
If the shift rule has been used since 1941, why is the MLB changing the rule now? It all comes back to making the sport more interesting and entertaining. They changed the rule to increase the batting average of balls hit in play. Batting averages have been decreasing throughout the last 20 years and have hit a record low this year. The rule will also help infielders show off their skills on batted balls. The main reason to change the rule is to get back to traditional baseball, which I think is a good idea. I loved watching baseball as a kid because it was the first sport I was introduced to. Once I started watching the NFL, NBA, and other sports, it was hard for me to go back to watching 8 innings with no one getting on base.
Pitch Clock Rule
The pitch clock rule is most likely the most obvious rule to notice. This new rule features a pitch clock, which will limit the time pitchers and batters can take before pitching or batting. The clock counts down from 30 seconds between each batter. For the pitcher, if the bases are empty, the timer starts at 15 seconds, while if there are runners on base, the timer starts at 20 seconds. The batter must be in the batter’s box at or before the 8-second mark. A pitcher will be charged with a ball if he does not start his pitching motion before the timer hits 0. The batter will be charged with a strike if he is not ready in the batter’s box by the 8-second mark. You might be asking, "How does this work with stealing bases? The pitcher is only allowed to step off the mound twice per plate appearance, whether that be to pick off someone stealing a base or to reset.
Why Ban the Pitch Clock Rule?
Before this new rule was put into place there was no timer that limited the time pitchers and batters could take. Throughout the last few years MLB games have been stretching longer and longer. In 2021 the average game lasted longer than it ever has before. Implementing this rule into the MLB will make the game much more exciting and faster paced. It will also cut down the total run time of the game which is a good thing to hear. I have had many experiences watching the Phillies play, and it feels like I've been watching the same thing happen for 8 hours straight. Picking up the speed of the game and forcing players to adapt to the new rule will add excitement that the MLB has been lacking for years.
Larger Bases and New Base Running Rules
The last big change coming to the 2023 MLB season is the new bases and base-running rules. Starting in 2023, the MLB bases will now be changed from 15 to 18-inch bases, although homeplate will remain the same. The thought behind this move is to reduce the risk of injuries for base runners while also increasing the likelihood of stolen bases. With the bases adding an extra 3 inches, this gives the base runner and the defender more room to work with. Reducing the likelihood of collisions or other injuries occurring. This rule change could also reduce the risk of a base runner oversliding; with the bags being bigger, the runner would have a larger area to contact.
Overall, I think the new rule changes coming for the 2023 season are a good thing. One of my concerns is how weather will play a factor with the new pitch clock rule. With the timer pretty much always running, how well will it work when it is raining during a game? Usually, players will take time to wipe off their bats and get themselves situated when it is raining. Will umpires give each batter extra time to get set? Will umpires give pitchers extra time to set up their pitch? Weather will play a factor this season, and I am excited to see how the league handles these situations. My other concern is how the fans will react to the changes. Baseball is America's past time and hasn’t changed much since its creation. With these rule changes put in place, it is going to be fun to see how fans of the game like the changes. I personally can’t wait for the season to start, and I do believe these rule changes are good for the game, but I guess we must wait and see.
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