MLB has already sent 10 pace-of-play warning letters to players

Unlike last season when the big MLB rule change was video replay, the new pace-of-play guidelines haven’t been in-our-face the first week of the season. But MLB is watching, you can be sure of that.

The new rules dictate that hitters need to keep one foot in the batter’s box at all times, unless one of a handful of exceptions happens — a swing, a passed ball, etc. Violators get warnings, egregious violators get fines. Those fines won’t be handed out until May, so players get a little time to adjust.

We haven’t seen much drama transpire on the field because of pace-of-play rules, but it’s happening behind the scenes. MLB says it has already warned about 10 violators privately.

From The Associated Press:

Major League Baseball has started sending written warnings to players who have violated the new pace of game rules. MLB spokesman Michael Teeven said Wednesday about 10 letters had been sent since the start of the season last weekend.

This sounds fair. Give the players a grace period, let them know when they messed up, help them learn. Fine. But one thing: Written warnings? Really? If the point of all this is to speed things up for the modern audience, then shouldn’t the warning come swiftly too? How about Rob Manfred sends a dude a text? Or an e-mail? Or a PDF that players have initial via DocuSign? It’s 2015, guys, the options are limitless.

We jest — sort of. It’s probably protocol. Maybe you have to formally warn a player before you fine him, something like that. Let’s just hope players aren’t required to pay their fines by check.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz