We need a majority vote to enact the proposal unless some employees from the MLB Braves want to switch tracks and throw this trolley off its careening path. The recently formed Collective Bargaining Agreement includes a newly formed committee of six representatives from the league office, which is referred to as the “member 11” structure. When this structure is implemented, it will lead to a very different game, with a total of 11 members competing. These rule changes will have a significant impact and are part of the comprehensive package of rule changes that MLB is pitching for the 2023 season, as reported by Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic and Evan Drellich.
A mechanical ball leads to a breach by the pitching team, and a mechanical strike leads to a breach by the hitting team. The key point is that there exist numerous additional limitations, such as when the bases are unoccupied, or when there are 15 seconds remaining on a pitch clock set at 20 seconds, commencing with the least unfavorable components.
It is never hoped that something happens, per the discretion of an umpire, instead of taking 21 seconds, on the appearance of a key plate swing in Game Clock Pitch. It is known as “the game clock pitch” and it derails the ability for games to get derailed due to a violation of the pitch clock. Although this is not particularly noble, it is a goal to at least excise dead time itself. There is inherently nothing problematic about this proposal.
Secondly, in an attempt to prevent the opposing team from freely advancing, the pitcher consistently pushes the runner to their limits by attempting pickoffs. This strategy also results in the batters being more cautious. Unless a balk occurs on the third attempt, the pitcher successfully throws out the runner. However, if the pitchers do not succeed in getting two pickoffs, they are not penalized unless it is their second appearance at the plate. It is uncertain whether these pickoffs count as bona fide or not. Additionally, this strategy involves changes in the pitch clock and also includes what is known as “disengagements,” but I won’t delve into all the specifics.
MLB seems to have a very blunt instrument to try and circumvent restrictions, and anyone could have the idea that they are extreme, but these restrictions are not benign. The big killer for my enjoyment of baseball is the burying of the lede, which is a significant shift in changes.
From a pure perspective, avoiding stupid gameplay outcomes and interruptions is just a disaster. At some point, we can get into the other side of the argument that not letting players position themselves in the most effective way is a philosophical issue, saying nothing about the game itself. Oh boy. Can you imagine if a manager wanted to know if a fielder’s cleat on the second base side of the base was sufficiently off? They would eat up a few minutes reviewing the replay. Now, just imagine if umpires could hand out free balls for runners trying to start running across second base, but teams suspected that they would try to circumvent the restrictions and shift more freely. It’s all just a mess.
Oh, and there are bigger establishments, too. Delight.
MLB, in my opinion, stating “cease watching,” serves as a distinct indicator of the alterations and extended playoffs. However, I won’t excessively complain about it here. It remains uncertain whether I will heed this advice. Nevertheless, up until this point, MLB has effectively discouraged me from engaging in the sport, despite the prior satisfaction of being industrious, resourceful, resilient, and sturdy.