MLB will be going to a three-batter minimum rule in 2020 that should make it especially difficult for lefties who struggle versus righties to find work.

[esmd]

Agreed.  You want to get teams to stop shifting, tell the players to learn to go the other way.  Or bunt.  Then they'll stop shifting.

[spiritof66]

It will take some time, like a few seasons, to see how this shakes out after adjustments by managers (and GMs who set the rosters), and adjustments to those adjustments, and so on. As one possible example. I expect that the three-batter minimum will lead to an increase in borderline or bogus injuries to pitchers who are ineffective but haven't reached the minimum. That may, in turn, lead to changes in how readily supposed injuries lead to unlimited warm-up times for new pitchers. Just an example of potentially unforeseen consequences. 

I can see both sides of the issue on this change, but what continually puzzles me is why MLB doesn't take immediate steps that should be more effective in speeding up play and much less controversial: enforce the rules governing pitchers and batters that are on the books, toughen the penalties for violating those rules, and adopt immediately a 20-second pitch clock (scheduled to be introduced in MLB in 2022).

The current rules require pitchers to throw the ball within 12 seconds when the bases are empty. When a pitcher exceeds that limit – and, I believe, the batter is in the batter’s box, ready to hit -- the umpire is supposed to call a ball:

Rule 5.07(c). Pitcher Delays When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.” The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire. 

The coming rule will (I think) be phrased similarly in setting a limit of 20 seconds when a base is occupied.

The current rules limit a hitter’s right to leave the batter's box. It needs to be modified so that the umpire is required to call a strike when a batter violates the rule by leaving the box improperly or failing to be in the box when the pitcher is ready to pitch: 

Rule 5.04(b)(4). The Batter’s Box Rule The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the batter’s time at bat, unless one of the following exceptions applies, in which case the batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate: (i) The batter swings at a pitch; (ii) An attempted check swing is appealed to a base umpire; (iii) The batter is forced off balance or out of the batter’s box by a pitch; (iv) A member of either team requests and is granted “Time”; (v) A defensive player attempts a play on a runner at any base; (vi) The batter feints a bunt; (vii) A wild pitch or passed ball occurs; (viii) The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound after receiving the ball; or (ix) The catcher leaves the catcher’s box to give defensive signals. If the batter intentionally leaves the batter’s box and delays play, and none of the exceptions listed in Rule 5.04(b)(4)(A)(i) through (ix) applies, the umpire shall issue a warning to the batter for the batter’s first violation of this Rule in a game. For a batter’s second or subsequent violations of this Rule in a game, the League President may issue an appropriate discipline. In National Association play, for a batter’s second or subsequent violations of this Rule in a game, the umpire shall award a strike without the pitcher having to deliver the pitch. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance. (B) The batter may leave the batter’s box and the dirt area surrounding home plate when “Time” is called for the purpose or as a result of (i) an injury or potential injury; (ii) making a substitution; or (iii) a conference by either team.

Rule 5.04(b)(4)(B) Comment: Umpires shall encourage the on deck batter to take a position in the batter’s box quickly after the previous batter reaches base or is put out. (5) The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet within the batter’s box.

If you watch a game from the 60s or 70s, you'll see right away two reasons why games moved faster then. Within a few seconds after getting the ball, most pitchers take the sign, wind up (or go to the stretch) and pitch. And when they’re ready to pitch, the batter is almost always in the batter's box and ready to hit. (I haven’t seen any tapes with Mike Hargrove at the plate.) That pretty much would be the game we'd see today if the rules on the books, with some penalties added, were enforced and the coming rule imposing a 20-second pitch clock were put into effect.

Why not try that first?

[Hallas]

24 minutes ago, mdbdotcom said:

You can't presume that the one reliever facing at least three batters will be as effective as having three relievers face those three batters. It seems likely that in some cases, having to wait two batters to replace a reliever who is not on his game would lead to making the game longer.

3 batters hitting home runs takes up way less time than bringing in 3 pitchers to face 3 batters.

[Hallas]

I like that baseball is trying something here - though I think I would let managers sort out who they bring up, but limit the number of pitchers allowed on the roster.

[Moose Milligan]

As said before, I think this is a dumbass rule.  I also think it creates a slippery slope for the way the game can be strategized moving forward.  It could open the door for more changes in the future.

I'm against them making rule changes that affect strategy.  Outlawing the shift, 3 batter rule...bring back Bud, I say.

[theocean]

2 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

As said before, I think this is a dumbass rule.  I also think it creates a slippery slope for the way the game can be strategized moving forward.  It could open the door for more changes in the future.

I'm against them making rule changes that affect strategy.  Outlawing the shift, 3 batter rule...bring back Bud, I say.

I think it's a pretty dumb rule. I personally like the strategy involved.

We're probably in for a 2020 of a bunch of relief pitchers acting like they tweaked a muscle or something so they don't have to face the three batter minimum.

[BohKnowsBmore]

6 hours ago, Redskins Rick said:

I think this is ludicrous.

While I do not like the one batter specialist, I dislike even more, MLB dictating how the game will be played.

 

 

Same here.  I think rules like this and proposed against the shift (e.g. mandating number of guys to the side of a base), make the game worse. 

[BohKnowsBmore]

10 minutes ago, Hallas said:

I like that baseball is trying something here - though I think I would let managers sort out who they bring up, but limit the number of pitchers allowed on the roster.

Why?  What is the inherent value of "trying something?"

[BohKnowsBmore]

18 minutes ago, spiritof66 said:

 

I can see both sides of the issue on this change, but what continually puzzles me is why MLB doesn't take immediate steps that should be more effective in speeding up play and much less controversial: enforce the rules governing pitchers and batters that are on the books, toughen the penalties for violating those rules, and adopt immediately a 20-second pitch clock (scheduled to be introduced in MLB in 2022).

 

This

[spiritof66]

On 11/12/2019 at 10:45 AM, LookinUp said:

link?

 

Here's a good summary of the coming changes in this article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/02/27/mlb-reportedly-offers-postpone-pitch-clock-until/?arc404=true

 

 

[Moose Milligan]

I think we're going to get a few managers complaining early on in the season, some pitchers, too.  In all honesty, it wouldn't be surprised if they do away with this rule after a season or two.  Especially when games don't get significantly shorter.

[tntoriole]

33 minutes ago, spiritof66 said:

It will take some time, like a few seasons, to see how this shakes out after adjustments by managers (and GMs who set the rosters), and adjustments to those adjustments, and so on. As one possible example. I expect that the three-batter minimum will lead to an increase in borderline or bogus injuries to pitchers who are ineffective but haven't reached the minimum. That may, in turn, lead to changes in how readily supposed injuries lead to unlimited warm-up times for new pitchers. Just an example of potentially unforeseen consequences. 

I can see both sides of the issue on this change, but what continually puzzles me is why MLB doesn't take immediate steps that should be more effective in speeding up play and much less controversial: enforce the rules governing pitchers and batters that are on the books, toughen the penalties for violating those rules, and adopt immediately a 20-second pitch clock (scheduled to be introduced in MLB in 2022).

The current rules require pitchers to throw the ball within 12 seconds when the bases are empty. When a pitcher exceeds that limit – and, I believe, the batter is in the batter’s box, ready to hit -- the umpire is supposed to call a ball:

Rule 5.07(c). Pitcher Delays When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.” The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire. 

The coming rule will (I think) be phrased similarly in setting a limit of 20 seconds when a base is occupied.

The current rules limit a hitter’s right to leave the batter's box. It needs to be modified so that the umpire is required to call a strike when a batter violates the rule by leaving the box improperly or failing to be in the box when the pitcher is ready to pitch: 

Rule 5.04(b)(4). The Batter’s Box Rule The batter shall keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the batter’s time at bat, unless one of the following exceptions applies, in which case the batter may leave the batter’s box but not the dirt area surrounding home plate: (i) The batter swings at a pitch; (ii) An attempted check swing is appealed to a base umpire; (iii) The batter is forced off balance or out of the batter’s box by a pitch; (iv) A member of either team requests and is granted “Time”; (v) A defensive player attempts a play on a runner at any base; (vi) The batter feints a bunt; (vii) A wild pitch or passed ball occurs; (viii) The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the pitching mound after receiving the ball; or (ix) The catcher leaves the catcher’s box to give defensive signals. If the batter intentionally leaves the batter’s box and delays play, and none of the exceptions listed in Rule 5.04(b)(4)(A)(i) through (ix) applies, the umpire shall issue a warning to the batter for the batter’s first violation of this Rule in a game. For a batter’s second or subsequent violations of this Rule in a game, the League President may issue an appropriate discipline. In National Association play, for a batter’s second or subsequent violations of this Rule in a game, the umpire shall award a strike without the pitcher having to deliver the pitch. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance. (B) The batter may leave the batter’s box and the dirt area surrounding home plate when “Time” is called for the purpose or as a result of (i) an injury or potential injury; (ii) making a substitution; or (iii) a conference by either team.

Rule 5.04(b)(4)(B) Comment: Umpires shall encourage the on deck batter to take a position in the batter’s box quickly after the previous batter reaches base or is put out. (5) The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet within the batter’s box.

If you watch a game from the 60s or 70s, you'll see right away two reasons why games moved faster then. Within a few seconds after getting the ball, most pitchers take the sign, wind up (or go to the stretch) and pitch. And when they’re ready to pitch, the batter is almost always in the batter's box and ready to hit. (I haven’t seen any tapes with Mike Hargrove at the plate.) That pretty much would be the game we'd see today if the rules on the books, with some penalties added, were enforced and the coming rule imposing a 20-second pitch clock were put into effect.

Why not try that first?

Here you go..Our man, Chuck Thompson, with the call...The Human Rain Delay himself...

 

[tntoriole]

I understand the goal of faster play, but I am not in favor of this change.  Hard to see why the union agreed to this. 

[Can_of_corn]

9 minutes ago, tntoriole said:

I understand the goal of faster play, but I am not in favor of this change.  Hard to see why the union agreed to this. 

Does the league need the players' union's approval?

[tntoriole]

4 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Does the league need the players' union's approval?

Usually....I think it is part of the collective bargaining agreement. 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-mlbpa-announce-rules-changes-for-2019-and-2020-seasons/