Off Topic: Pace Of Play Depends Entirely On Umpires
- Updated: February 28, 2015
[Image via @SBNationMLB]
Every offseason, Major League Baseball officials decide on rule changes. Most of the recent changes have been small and/or technical – they aren’t changing the height of the mound anymore. So small, in fact, that they don’t typically impact the game to the point where a casual fan would notice.
But for 2015, rule changes are being made specifically to retain fans. After years of increasingly long games, and a handful of half-baked solutions to speed up play, baseball has instituted sensible pace-of-play rules to keep fans from watching a bunch of nothing on the diamond (unless you’re a Phillies fan; even with a sped-up game, you’ll still be watching nothing on the field in 2015. Zing.)
The first change is a rule that already exists in the minor leagues. The “batter’s box rule” requires hitters keep one foot in the box at all times, save a couple exceptions including a wild pitch, and a swing at the preceding pitch.
In the past, batters have done the “fidget and adjust” dance with everything from batting gloves, to cups, jerseys, cleats and helmets after each pitch. Hitters like the Astros’ Jason Castro or the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki averaged more than 26 seconds in between each pitch for every at-bat last year. Pitchers like Clay Buchholz and Matt Garza also deserve blame, walking around the mound adjusting hats, rubbing up new balls and digging out the rubber between tosses. Enough.
The batter’s box rule is desperately needed, but the onus wasn’t just on the commissioner’s office: this rule requires umpires to consistently enforce it on hitters. Major League Baseball claims they will fine players for repeat offenses. I’m skeptical about $500 being a deterrent, but if pace of play fines come down early and often, players will change.
The second pace of play change is cutting time after commercial breaks as a new inning begins. The league wants less time between a station’s return to broadcast and the first pitch of a new half inning. This, too, is fine; any “dead” time that can be cut is agreeable to everyone. But again, this depends on umpires to move pre-inning warm-ups along so the game starts quickly once TV viewers return.
And third, MLB will now allow managers to request instant replay from the dugout, instead of coming on the field. This one is a no-brainer and becomes equivalent to football’s red challenge flag. But again, this depends on the umpires communicating with managers to know what needs to be done quickly without a conference over every single controversial play.
Taken together, all three pace of play rules are sensible, and if they are enforced as they should be, games will speed up by several minutes. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but taken across a full season, that’s a huge change. Major League Baseball adopted three smart and effective rules that will stand to truly improve the game. Besides, it’s better than some of the mind-numbingly ridiculous un-baseball alternatives, like the pitch clock.
![Balkin' Bob Davidson confronts a manager. [Image via @Radio1045Johnny]](http://www.calisportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/BL_h2oxCAAAI2T4.jpg)
Balkin’ Bob Davidson confronts Charlie Manuel. [Image via @Radio1045Johnny]
If pace of play is to be effective in 2015, it depends on every single umpire to enforce it every single time. Hitters like Castro and Tulowitzki, and pitchers like Garza and Buchholz, will try to milk every second they can get. Don’t let them.
If umpires can consistently call out these behaviors beginning Opening Day, maybe pace of play will improve. But call me skeptical about Cowboy Joe West and Balkin’ Bob Davidson leading the charge to modernize baseball. And players won’t help either, it appears.
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