‘Pace of play’ review mixed in Zona Fall League
Players are not a fan of the Arizona Fall League’s pitch clock so far. (USATSI)
MLB is testing several rule changes designed to improve the pace of play in the Arizona Fall League this month. Among several changes, hitters are not allowed to step out of the box between pitches and some parks are equipped with pitch clocks that give pitchers only 20 seconds between pitches.
The AFL season is approximately two weeks old now, and Alexis Brudnicki of Baseball America spoke to several players about the pace of play changes. The reviews are mixed so far. Blue Jays prospect Dalton Pompey and Dodgers prospect Corey Seager are among those who aren’t thrilled with the new rules:
“I slid to break up the double play but I didn’t slide right into the base,” (Pompey) said. “I slid kind of off to the right and you have to slide into the base now. It’s tough because now I’ve been playing this way for the past five years and to all of a sudden just change the way I play it’s tough.
“Even the pace of play, we haven’t really experienced it yet until we go to Salt River but they have the 20-second rule and I feel like it’s going to throw off the rhythm because guys have their own rhythm and take deep breaths, practice swings, have their routines. It’s just going to make everybody so generic and I feel like that’s taking away what the game has been all about for however many years.”
Los Angeles Dodgers prospect and Glendale Desert Dogs infielder Corey Seager shares a similar sentiment.
“It’s tough,” Seager said. “You almost feel rushed. It’s not your normal (routine) where you can take your time, get your rhythm. It’s kind of on somebody else’s rhythm. It was a little rushed … getting on and off the field, getting your stuff done in the dugout and in the box mainly because you only have 20 seconds between pitches. You swing and then get right back in—it’s a little weird.”
I’m not surprised players don’t love the changes at this point. Baseball players are very routine-oriented and this a big change. They’re used to working at their own place, not having to look over their shoulder at a clock. I’m sure it’s very frustrating for them right now.
Blue Jays prospect Arik Sikula also expressed some concern about the quality of play suffering due to the rule changes.
“You can speed up play as much as you want, get the fans in and out, but if you’re providing less of a product, I don’t feel anybody would like that,” Sikula said.
Sikula did note he is a fan of the no-pitch intentional walk rule. Rather than force the pitcher to throw four intentional balls, the manager signals intentional walk to the umpire and the batter simply goes goes to first.
There is no way to improve the pace of play without doing something that forces players to change their routine. Even shortening the commercial break between innings would change their preparation. It’s going to a difficult adjustment no matter what.
The pace of play is a very real concern though. Games are too long these days and fans have so many ways to distract themselves between innings and pitches. Anything that speeds up play and helps keep fans focused on the field and not their phones is a big plus.
According to MLB Pipeline, the first three AFL games with the pitch clock averaged two hours and 27 minutes per nine innings, down from two hours and 51 minutes last year.
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