MLB 2023 New Rules Review
The 2023 season saw a few big changes be implemented such as the pitch clock, larger bases and the banning of the shift. So nows that we have made it through an entire season (postseason included), how did these rules hold up and what do they mean for the future of the game? Let’s get into it.
Pitch Clock: Probably the most controversial rule implemented this season. The purpose behind this rule is to speed up the pace of play (make the game go faster). Now i’ve seen pitchers take quite a bit of time to delivery a pitch- we’re talking 60 seconds or more. Whether he can’t agree with his catcher or he’s trying to throw off the hitter’s timing, if you add all that time up, it can make a game quite a bit longer. Let’s revisit the rules of the pitch clock real quick:
- The pitcher is required to start his wind up prior to the expiration of the pitch clock- the batter is also required to be in the box and ready within that same time limit as well.
- If the pitcher “violates” the pitch clock, the batter is automatically awarded a ball- if the batter “violates” the pitch clock, they are automatically awarded a strike.
- Mound disengagements (pickoff attempts) are limited to 2 per at bat but reset if a runner advances a base. If the pitcher attempts a pickoff for a third time and is unsuccessful, the runner is automatically awarded the next base. Mound visits and time outs are not considered disengagements.
I get it. The MLB wants to keep fans engaged and a quick way to do that is shorten the time a game is played in. At first, I will say I was not a fan of this idea. I felt that the pitcher taking their time to find the right pitch or psychologically get the batter out of time was part of what the game was at it’s core. But as someone who has attended their fair share of 3+ hours long games, I actually like that the games are now averaging less than three hours and I can still get home at a relatively decent hour. There was an unintended consequence of this rule that no one saw coming though. And it has nothing to do with game itself. With games moving at a quicker pace and finishing faster than most people anticipated, liquor sales were heavily impacted at the start of the season. The MLB for years has required that liquor sales be cut off at the end of the seventh inning. However, with the quicker pace of the games, the seventh inning was coming and going faster than people could buy booze. This was causing organizations to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales- sometimes per game. If you’re concerned by this, don’t be. The MLB and it’s owners were quick to rectify this by agreeing to extend alcohol sales through the eighth inning- which at this point, you might as well do it through the end of the game. So what kind of impact will the pitch clock have on the game in the future? Don’t be surprised if the MLB tries to shorten the time on that clock in the coming seasons just to speed the game up even more.
Banning the Shift: As a fan, I was never a fan of the shift so to say that I was excited when this rule was announced is accurate. Essentially, the reasoning behind this was to get back to the way the game was meant to be played, increase the batting average on balls that are hit in play and allow the players a better opportunity to show off their athleticism. In reality- players have been outspoken for years about their dislike of the shift due to it’s ability to just cut down a player’s opportunity to get on base. To be fair, MLB came with the stats that showed how batting averages had decreased by six points from 2012 to 2022 and a whopping ten points from 2006 to 2022. Can the shift itself be blamed for this- probably not but it definitely plays a big part. So what are the rules the ensure the shift is no longer taking place:
- While the pitcher is on the mound, all four infielders have to be within the infield boundary- meaning none of them can be standing on the grass.
- Infielders are not permitted to switch sides- if your third baseman is your best infielder but the batter tends to hit to the right side, you can’t move the third baseman to the right side of the infield.
- While an infielder cannot be on the grass while the pitcher is on the mound, these rules do not preclude the outfield from being brought into the shallow outfield or event he infield. But there cannot be four outfielders.
From this past season, I definitely saw an increase in balls getting through the infield on plays that it would not have had a shift been in place. I think moving forward, this rule is going to help the game get back to it’s roots. You’ll see higher batting averages and even more Sportscenter worthy plays from infielders.
Larger Bases: This adjustment was less about changing the play of game and more for players safety than anything else. Historically, the bases have been 15 square inches. Beginning this year, the bases were increased to 18 square inches. The hope behind this is that there is more surface area for players to work with and hopefully avoid collisions. With the increase in base sizes, it means that there will be a shorter distance between 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd which should prompt more stolen base attempts-ideally making the day more interesting. Honestly, there is nothing to really change here. This was change was made to hopefully make the game a little bit safer for the players and make baserunning a little more interesting if possible.
