Ding dong, the shift is dead. Long live the pitch clock.

[CheezWizHed]

6 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

Note to batters, step into the box and take your sweet time looking up at the pitcher. Step in at 8.1 seconds, don't look up until around 5. That is really limiting on the pitcher.

Meh... that is one item that should be fixed. Used to be the batter just held up his hand (i.e. Braun) to get set.  If you are in the box, you are in the box. The pitcher shouldn't be focusing on the catcher and not be worried about if the batter is looking or not.

[KeithStone53151]

1 minute ago, CheezWizHed said:

Meh... that is one item that should be fixed. Used to be the batter just held up his hand (i.e. Braun) to get set.  If you are in the box, you are in the box. The pitcher shouldn't be focusing on the catcher and not be worried about if the batter is looking or not.

In this case, clearly Nestor quick pitched. That said, the batter really was dawdling in there. Imagine them getting so strict with the rules that a batter has to be in the box by 8 seconds and looking at the pitcher by 6.5 seconds. Until/Unless they get strict with it, calling this stuff is umpire discretion. I'll have a very negative view of umpires until they start checking their egos at the door and stop throwing players out of games, so I personally want to minimize the amount of umpire discretion calls.

At the end of the day, please add 5-10 seconds to the pitch clock. 20 seconds feels a little too rushed. 5-10 seconds isn't going to completely erase the significant gains of having the pitch clock.

[CheezWizHed]

1 minute ago, KeithStone53151 said:

In this case, clearly Nestor quick pitched. That said, the batter really was dawdling in there. Imagine them getting so strict with the rules that a batter has to be in the box by 8 seconds and looking at the pitcher by 6.5 seconds. Until/Unless they get strict with it, calling this stuff is umpire discretion. I'll have a very negative view of umpires until they start checking their egos at the door and stop throwing players out of games, so I personally want to minimize the amount of umpire discretion calls.

At the end of the day, please add 5-10 seconds to the pitch clock. 20 seconds feels a little too rushed. 5-10 seconds isn't going to completely erase the significant gains of having the pitch clock.

Yeah, I'm saying let him quick pitch.  That will simplify the decisions and remove it from the Ump.  You step in the box, and the pitcher can pitch.  If you need a second to get set, raise your hand to get set.  Sometimes the older, simpler rules are the easier ones.  Trying to get too cute with the pitch clock is going too far, IMO.

[owbc]

That was an obvious quick pitch under the new rules, the rules are straightforward. There was no eye contact. If there is no eye contact by 8 seconds then the batter gets an automatic strike. I get that players are trying to stretch the rules right now to gain an advantage. 

I don't want extra time added to the pitch clock, especially in the late innings. Power relievers will take advantage of that to rest between pitches. In the NFL you don't get extra time added to the play clock near the end of the game. They can use the mound visits if they need a time out. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

18 minutes ago, owbc said:

I don't want extra time added to the pitch clock, especially in the late innings. Power relievers will take advantage of that to rest between pitches. In the NFL you don't get extra time added to the play clock near the end of the game. They can use the mound visits if they need a time out. 

I view it akin to the NBA. Others may feel differently but I don't like that 46 minutes of the game fly by and the final two minutes take 20 real-time minutes to finish.

Slowing the game down a bit during tense moments is fine. But that will happen with the clock either way. Catchers will be slower to throw back to the pitcher. Fielders will slow down throws. More pitching changes will happen.

All of that can and likely will happen without violating any rules of the pitch clock whatsoever. But it'll all be done without pitchers roaming around the mound, stepping off constantly, and all the things that I find absolutely aggravating late in games.

[stoutdude04]

1 hour ago, KeithStone53151 said:

Note to batters, step into the box and take your sweet time looking up at the pitcher. Step in at 8.1 seconds, don't look up until around 5. That is really limiting on the pitcher.

Batter has to be looking at the pitcher by the 8 second mark.

The biggest thing I have noticed is after a foul ball the ump gets the ball to the pitcher immediately and most hitters were way out of position after just fouling one off.  That means they have 7 seconds to right their mind and body.

[owbc]

This was pretty incredible last night: https://streamable.com/ylu1se

Karinchak (notoriously one of the slowest pitchers in MLB last year) shakes off Zunino a few times on an 0-2 count and gets a pitch clock violation. That wouldn't have been a big deal, but he airmails the next pitch which causes the crowd to smell blood and start loudly counting down the pitch clock. He ends up walking Crawford, hits Kolten Wong (which further fires up the crowd, and finally gives up a 3-run HR to Ty France to blow the game. Fantastic stuff. Similar to that time the Pirates fans rattled Johnny Cueto in the wild card game. 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, owbc said:

This was pretty incredible last night: https://streamable.com/ylu1se

Karinchak (notoriously one of the slowest pitchers in MLB last year) shakes off Zunino a few times on an 0-2 count and gets a pitch clock violation. That wouldn't have been a big deal, but he airmails the next pitch which causes the crowd to smell blood and start loudly counting down the pitch clock. He ends up walking Crawford, hits Kolten Wong (which further fires up the crowd, and finally gives up a 3-run HR to Ty France to blow the game. Fantastic stuff. Similar to that time the Pirates fans rattled Johnny Cueto in the wild card game. 

Love it.

I don't like seeing guys melt down on the field but I do like seeing aggravating players be punished for self-inflicted mistakes.

[adambr2]

MLB: What can we do better?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: Agreed, there's too many pitching changes. We'll get rid of the LOOGY role by changing bullpen use rules. What else?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: I hear ya, the shift has gotten out of hand. Anything more?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: Absolutely, games have gotten too long. It's time for a pitch clock. Any more feedback?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it. Also, blackout restrictions are ridiculous and outdated. 

MLB: Well, I think that's about all the time we have for today. 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

18 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

MLB: What can we do better?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: Agreed, there's too many pitching changes. We'll get rid of the LOOGY role by changing bullpen use rules. What else?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: I hear ya, the shift has gotten out of hand. Anything more?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it.

MLB: Absolutely, games have gotten too long. It's time for a pitch clock. Any more feedback?

Everyone: Your umps stink, do something about it. Also, blackout restrictions are ridiculous and outdated. 

MLB: Well, I think that's about all the time we have for today. 

 

I’m not one to come to MLB’s defense often but they’ve been testing robo umps for a few seasons now. It’s not the kind of change that can happen as quickly as a pitch clock or a shift ban, there are too many moving parts and getting everything correct out of the gate is critical. 

[adambr2]

4 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I’m not one to come to MLB’s defense often but they’ve been testing robo umps for a few seasons now. It’s not the kind of change that can happen as quickly as a pitch clock or a shift ban, there are too many moving parts and getting everything correct out of the gate is critical. 

Fair point. If you're saying it's inevitable at this point, just a matter of time, I agree, it's just gotten frustrating watching ump show after ump show year after year. 

I'm definitely talking about roboumps but they could also be holding umpires more accountable in the meantime and it doesn't feel like that happens. 

[AKCheesehead]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Love it.

I don't like seeing guys melt down on the field but I do like seeing aggravating players be punished for self-inflicted mistakes.

You don't?  I do.  C'mon Brock, you telling us you didn't like watching David Cone argue with the 1B ump with the ball in his hand while everyone ran free and scored? 🙂

[Brock Beauchamp]

20 minutes ago, AKCheesehead said:

You don't?  I do.  C'mon Brock, you telling us you didn't like watching David Cone argue with the 1B ump with the ball in his hand while everyone ran free and scored? 🙂

Okay, fair enough. That was pretty fun.

[MVP2110]

I hope they fully implement robo umps and not the challenge system. If the Brewers challenged a single pitch yesterday thats great but if the ump keeps calling the same pitch a strike when it's not then it won't matter

[Brock Beauchamp]

7 minutes ago, MVP2110 said:

I hope they fully implement robo umps and not the challenge system. If the Brewers challenged a single pitch yesterday thats great but if the ump keeps calling the same pitch a strike when it's not then it won't matter

Actually, this would be hilarious, as you do not lose your challenge if you're successful. They could basically shame the umpire into calling the correct zone by successfully challenging over and over again and it'd be wildly entertaining to watch.

[MVP2110]

46 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Actually, this would be hilarious, as you do not lose your challenge if you're successful. They could basically shame the umpire into calling the correct zone by successfully challenging over and over again and it'd be wildly entertaining to watch.

That's a great point, as long as you don't lose the challenge if they are successful 

[young guns]

Manfred has said automated balls and strikes the next big issue.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/31/MLB-Season-Preview/mlb-automated-ball-strike-system.aspx

[jerichoholicninja]

14 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Actually, this would be hilarious, as you do not lose your challenge if you're successful. They could basically shame the umpire into calling the correct zone by successfully challenging over and over again and it'd be wildly entertaining to watch.

Umps won't be shamed into calling pitches correctly. They're ego will take over and they'll start tossing guys for the slightest reaction to a missed call.

[mtsportsfan]

After reading the article . Bottom line is get the call right  , don't really care about players that frame pitches really well and could lose a spot on a roster , players adjust , for me that's just ridiculous that that could be a possible hold up to a automated strike zone . After watching years of seeing Stoke zones differ from ump to ump , pitcher to pitcher , even inning to inning  , really want to see a ASZ ! Want consistency and the human element isn't it . 

[jerichoholicninja]

On 4/1/2023 at 9:41 AM, mtsportsfan said:

After reading the article . Bottom line is get the call right  , don't really care about players that frame pitches really well and could lose a spot on a roster , players adjust , for me that's just ridiculous that that could be a possible hold up to a automated strike zone . After watching years of seeing Stoke zones differ from ump to ump , pitcher to pitcher , even inning to inning  , really want to see a ASZ ! Want consistency and the human element isn't it . 

Agreed. Anything about pitch framing being a hold up is a stupid reason.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 4/1/2023 at 6:20 AM, young guns said:

Manfred has said automated balls and strikes the next big issue.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/31/MLB-Season-Preview/mlb-automated-ball-strike-system.aspx

It's coming, my friend. The PCL already uses it. It's coming to the International League in late April:

Article HERE from the Sound Bytes Blog

From my vantage point: couldn't come soon enough. If we're going to speed up the play, let's help the players have a consistent and knowable strike zone.

[brewcrewdue80]

Just seen video on the Machado pitch clock incident to strike out and then getting ejected.

I dont know what he was doing but definitely deserved having strike 3 violation called on him.  Now of course you'd expect a batter to mince words with the ump as Machado did. That interaction was quite mild almost feel like Machado put his hand out(the calm down kind) near end and appear to say I know you're doing your job. Or it's okay you're etc.  He proceeds on and ump tosses him as manager arrives.  That's bs to me on the ump. Just makes the pitch clock rules look bad as it not only affected the AB, but now a top tier player in baseball is ejected for it. MLB needs to reprimand that ump on the quick hook. 1st inning 3rd out of the inning. That's such trash. 

I hope the umps don't continue ruining the pitch clock.  JT Realmuto was thrown out the other day. 2 extremely poor Elections that I'm aware of in 5 days.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm sure the umps have been told to not take any crap about the clock plus no one really knows what was said and Machado is a dunce as we all know so he probably said something worthy of being tossed. Having watched the video it looked to me like Manny was trying to call time right before the clock hit 8 but didn't get it. Really they need to just get rid of the whole batter being aware thing. I understand the safety reasons but if you're standing in the box you should be alert enough to know a pitch might be coming. I've seen pitchers pitch with a batter not paying attention before I don't know why it's an issue now.

[Playing Catch]

I just watched it. Admittedly, I'm not a big Machado fan, but I didn't think the ump looks bad for tossing Manny. Manny was making himself bigger than the game, and continued with the narcissistic routine after strike 3 was called. It also looked like he used a few choice words just before the tossing.

Admittedly, these days, with the challenges of youth sports and referreeing, I tend to side with umps a lot. I mean, don't get me wrong, when I'm at the game, I yell at the umps about balls and strikes and "bad" calls too. But mostly just for fun.

[Jake McKibbin]

Just now, Playing Catch said:

I just watched it. Admittedly, I'm not a big Machado fan, but I didn't think anything looked bad from the umps point of view. Manny was making himself bigger than the game, and continued with the narcissistic routine after strike 3 was called. It also looked like he used a few choice words just before the tossing.

Admittedly, these days, with the challenges of youth sports and referring, I tend to side with umps a lot. I mean, don't get me wrong, when I'm at the game, I yell at the umps about balls and strikes and "bad" calls too. But mostly just for fun.

Yeah, I think it's important to differentiate that he didn't get tossed because of the automatic strike, but because he was likely being a gob*****

It was close the timeout he tried to call, but given his whole stance towards it, probably didn't help his case and I wouldn't be surprised to find he was trying to push boundaries and see what he can get away with