Changes are forthcoming for Major League Baseball.
Some new rules have been put in place that are designed to prevent injuries, generate more offense, and speed up the pace of the game.
One such rule that MLB has put in place is the pitch clock.
The rule requires a pitcher to deliver his next pitch within 15 seconds of his previous pitch and 20 seconds with runners on base.
Hitters must also be ready within 15-20 seconds of each pitch.
If a hitter violates this rule, it will result in an automatic strike, whereas if a pitcher violates the rule, an automatic ball will be called.
On MLB Network, former slugger Sean Casey and former Colorado Rockies General Manager Dan O’Dowd discussed the new rule and what it means for both hitters and pitchers.
Dan O’Dowd and @TheMayorsOffice break down how hitters will approach the new pitch timer in 2023.
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Casey talked about the rule from a hitter’s perspective, saying that a hitter’s goal should be to “win these 15 seconds.”
O’Dowd then asked Casey if he would feel any anxiety or discomfort about the pitch clock if he were at the plate and whether or not it would mess with his routine.
Casey replied by saying it would, but he also expressed excitement to see how it works in spring training games this year and how players adapt to it.
The former MLB star then went through what his routine would entail as the crew at MLB Network tested out the pitch clock.
He mentioned that hitters having less time to get prepared allows them to “flush things faster” and refocus while in the box.
The rule will affect hitters too, and it will be interesting to see how things work in spring training.
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