New MLB Rules for 2024

[nate82]

Pitch clock will change to 18 seconds with runners on base. 

The runner's lane between home plate and first base will be widen by 6 inches.  This is the dirt area. 

Mound visits will be decreased from 5 to 4. 

Relievers will now only have two minutes to complete warming up down from two minutes and fifteen seconds.

After a foul ball the pitch clock will now start when the pitcher has the ball and all fielders have made it back to their positions. 

Any pitcher who warms up at the start of an inning will have to face at least one hitter.

From the Athletic:

https://theathletic.com/5155360/2023/12/21/mlb-rule-changes-2024-pitch-clock/

[LouisEly]

5 hours ago, nate82 said:

Any pitcher who warms up at the start of an inning will have to face at least one hitter.

I assume they mean on the mound and not in the pen.  And does "face at least one hitter" mean a full outcome or one pitch?

I don't like it because if a pitcher has a great outing and you want him to get a standing ovation from the fans you can't send him out to warm up.  Hard for the fans to know if a pitcher is coming out the next inning or not.

[nate82]

8 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

I assume they mean on the mound and not in the pen.  And does "face at least one hitter" mean a full outcome or one pitch?

I don't like it because if a pitcher has a great outing and you want him to get a standing ovation from the fans you can't send him out to warm up.  Hard for the fans to know if a pitcher is coming out the next inning or not.

Yes on the mound.  This will actually help with some strategy in the game you can then pull your next left handed hitter and bring in a right handed hitter to face off against a lefty that came in last inning for one of your left handed hitters.  If the pitcher warmed up they will have to pitch to that batter so a full outcome unless the pitcher is injured.  No more keep the reliever you had from the last inning and then make a change if the other team changes the batter.  I think they should also limit this for a batter if they are due up they have to hit or allow for the opposing team to change their pitcher.  Kind of like in the NFL where the offense has to allow the defense to substitute if they substitute. 

[igor67]

I'm guessing the average game time impact for these will be pretty small, but having done as much as they did trying to find some other small ways to proactively keep times from creeping too far back up is nice.

[titanrick]

Does this mean no hope for automated balls/strikes in the majors for 2024?  Or could they still implement that?

[nate82]

4 hours ago, titanrick said:

Does this mean no hope for automated balls/strikes in the majors for 2024?  Or could they still implement that?

I doubt that gets introduced this year.  I think they said they still have some work to do with it on the technology side of things.  Mostly what they need is a bigger database of all the hitters and their strike zones.  I think some of the MLB stadiums also need to be updated for the tech to work correctly and not all MLB stadiums have this tech installed or have older tech that is not compatible with the automated ball and strike system. 

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm a little confused. This makes it seem like these rules are official but I've also seen that the players union voted against these. So are they being implemented in 2024 or not?

[nate82]

Players union only gets a say on the rules and MLB then either accepts their concerns or doesn't. 

[Samurai Bucky]

On 12/22/2023 at 6:50 PM, nate82 said:

I doubt that gets introduced this year.  I think they said they still have some work to do with it on the technology side of things.  Mostly what they need is a bigger database of all the hitters and their strike zones.  I think some of the MLB stadiums also need to be updated for the tech to work correctly and not all MLB stadiums have this tech installed or have older tech that is not compatible with the automated ball and strike system. 

Once this is implemented, will batters who disagree with "the computer" start yelling at the clouds?

[Brock Beauchamp]

On 12/22/2023 at 2:16 PM, titanrick said:

Does this mean no hope for automated balls/strikes in the majors for 2024?  Or could they still implement that?

Automated balls/strikes needs to cook a little longer. I haven't seen updated information from 2023 but there have been serious problems with the strike zone being quite unlike the ump-called strike zone.

I'm in favor of some level of automation - probably a challenge system - but it really needs to be thoroughly tested before implementation at the MLB level. Unlike previous changes, this one could break the game if implemented poorly.

[titanrick]

On 12/31/2023 at 8:54 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

Automated balls/strikes needs to cook a little longer. I haven't seen updated information from 2023 but there have been serious problems with the strike zone being quite unlike the ump-called strike zone.

I'm in favor of some level of automation - probably a challenge system - but it really needs to be thoroughly tested before implementation at the MLB level. Unlike previous changes, this one could break the game if implemented poorly.

I don't understand why a challenge system would be a better option than simply getting every call correct.  Obviously, if it needs to cook a little longer and get the kinks worked out, fine.  I don't want to implement something that will be worse in its current state.  But when it's accurate, why slow the game down and force a batter to challenge each bad call when umps seem to get a couple wrong each half-inning?  That's just going to look embarrassing for MLB.

[Brock Beauchamp]

57 minutes ago, titanrick said:

I don't understand why a challenge system would be a better option than simply getting every call correct.  Obviously, if it needs to cook a little longer and get the kinks worked out, fine.  I don't want to implement something that will be worse in its current state.  But when it's accurate, why slow the game down and force a batter to challenge each bad call when umps seem to get a couple wrong each half-inning?  That's just going to look embarrassing for MLB.

I have no strong preference in either direction, just as long as automation is implemented in some form.

The reason for a challenge system in my eyes is that umpires tend to prolong outcomes on borderline pitches. A 3-0 borderline pitch is often called a strike. An 0-2 borderline pitch often a ball.

But again, no strong preference for one or the other.