Mat Latos compares pace-of-game changes to cooking hamburgers
One of Major League Baseball’s primary focuses during the offseason was finding ways to speed up the game. On Friday, the league moved forward with that initiative, announcing its first batch of pace-of-play adjustments in conjunction with the MLBPA and Pace of Game Instant Replay Committee.
In one instance, that meant reemphasizing a preexisting rule that requires batters to keep one foot in the box unless there’s a timeout, wild pitch or passed ball. That will undoubtedly annoy a few hitters. On the other side, the league also ruled that play must resume promptly once a broadcast returns from a commercial break, which means pitchers will have to work fast to get loose between innings.
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Obviously, this isn’t going over well with the creatures of habit known as pitchers. In fact, many are already speaking out. Among them is Miami Marlins right-hander Mat Latos, who apparently doesn’t like feeling rushed on the baseball field or while operating his grill. On Friday, he went on record expressing his displeasure with the announced changes, and he drove his point home by comparing it to his prefered method of cooking hamburgers.
If MLB Network ever decides to change its format and involve major league players in their own shows, allow us to be the first to shoot down a Mat Latos’ cooking show. Granted, we all know it’s important to make sure the burger is cooked well, but slow and steady doesn’t always win the race, especially when it’s time to eat. You can get that desired burger by picking the pace a little bit, just as MLB can get its desired results by doing the same.
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We understand Latos’ point though. When you’re used to one pace and have been preparing one way for so long, it will be an uncomfortable feeling those first few times he sees the clock ticking down. The biggest adjustment will come after he’s done batting or running the bases, where it’s possible he’ll be trying to catch his breath and still get his work in. But, as in grilling or anything else in life, we’re sure he’ll be able the make the necessary adjustments with repetition.
Alright, with that out of the way, what time is dinner? All this burger talk has us craving a burger, even at Latos speed.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
