It’s all about entertainment and entertaining the fans that attend the game, regardless of the sport they pay to attend.
Have you ever attended a ball game, Pro or Amateur and wondered if it will ever end because it’s so boring for the paying fans.
This might filter down to the minor leagues as well as youth ball in several countries, but at press time not sure about Canada.
Major League Baseball announced additions regarding the pace of game which came into effective at Spring Training this season.
It will continue in the Postseason, and a series of modifications to the instant replay system.
The World Umpires Association also has given its assent to the new efforts, which will be reviewed by the parties following the conclusion of the 2015 World Series.
The pace of game program will enforce the batter’s box rule, requiring that all batters must keep at least one foot in the batter’s box unless one of a group of exceptions occurs.
Under the new rule 6.02(d) at the Major League level mirrors which was in place in Minor League Baseball in 2014.
A second new element concerning the pace is the addition of timers that will measure all of the non-game action as well as break time between innings and pitching variation during each MLB game.
http://mlb.mlb.com/home
One timer will be installed on or near the outfield scoreboard, and a second smaller timer will be installed on the façade behind home plate near the press box.
Following the third out of each half-inning, the timer will count down from 2:25 for locally televised games and from 2:45 for Nationally televised games.
An MLB representative attending each game will operate the timers from the ballpark and will track the following events:
| Time Remaining |
Activity |
| 40 seconds |
PA announces batter and begins to play walk-up music |
| 30 seconds |
Pitcher throws final warm-up pitch |
| 25 seconds |
Batter’s walk-up music ends |
| 20 seconds-5 seconds |
Batter enters the batter’s box |
| 20 seconds-0 seconds |
Pitcher begins motion to deliver pitch |
Pitchers will be permitted to throw as many warm-up pitches as they wish prior to the point when 30 seconds remain on the clock; however, pitchers will be deemed to have forfeited any of their traditional eight warm-up pitches that they are unable to complete prior to the 30-second deadline.
Exceptions to these rules will be made in a variety of circumstances, including if the pitcher or catcher ended the prior half-inning at bat or on base.
Batters will be encouraged to get into the batter’s box with 20 seconds remaining on the timer.
This is the same time that the broadcasters return from commercial. The pitcher is expected to begin his motion to deliver the pitch as soon as the batter gets into the batter’s box and becomes alert to the pitcher.
Batters who do not enter the box prior to five seconds remaining on the timer and pitchers who do not begin the motion to deliver the pitch prior to zero seconds remaining on the timer will be deemed to have violated the break timing rules.
These rules will be enforced through a warning and fine system, with discipline resulting for flagrant violators.
No fines will be issued in Spring Training or in April of the 2015 regular season.
Donations will be made to the Major League Baseball Players Trust charitable foundation based on the level of adherence to the new rules.
One has to ask if this will filter down to all level’s of ball, including the Single A Vancouver Canadians, farm team to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Let’s keep an open mind and see how it works?
