As the 2023 MLB season approaches, there are some changes that fans and players alike are going to have to get used to.
Larger bases will be used to prevent injuries, the shift will be limited so that two infielders are on either side of second base at all times, and a pitch clock will also be introduced.
Pickoff attempts by pitchers will also be limited, meaning that catchers throwing to bases will be more important than ever.
But St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol doesn’t appear to be overly concerned about that.
When asked about the pickoff rule, he said that the team has the right guy behind the plate to ensure runners think twice before taking leads or stealing bases.
With pickoff throws and step-offs limited by new MLB rules in 2023, a catcher’s ability to throw to second and back-pick runners at first will likely be more important than ever. “We got the right guy for that,” #STLCards manager Oli Marmol said of Willson Contreras.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) February 23, 2023
Marmol is of course speaking of the newly-signed Willson Contreras.
St. Louis brought him in to replace the retired Yadier Molina.
But having Contreras in the fold has instilled confidence in everybody around the Cardinals organization.
When concerning pickoffs and catchers throwing to bases to nab runners, there was nobody in the game who had perfected that technique quite like Molina had.
But the Cardinals seem to be pretty confident that Contreras can fill Molina’s shoes quite well.
The limited number of pickoff attempts will be something that pitchers with every team are going to have to adjust to.
These changes have been made in an attempt to speed up the pace of play and generate more action.
But still, the Cardinals don’t seem too worried about it and believe that their new catcher can remedy this issue.
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