Spring is in the air.
Well, at least in the baseball world. MLB Spring training has opened with pitchers and catchers reporting in Arizona and Florida. And that means we’re getting ready to see a month’s worth of exhibition games and warm-ups to the 2023 season.
But there are BIG changes to discuss now that you’ll see in the coming weeks. After the 2022 lockout, players and owners agreed on some new rules that will be enforced starting this year, which will undoubtedly take some getting used to.
Fear not! We’re breaking a bunch of them down for you here as the season approaches:
1
The shift is outlawed
This is a big one. See that photo above at the top of the post? That infield alignment is now banned.
Instead: The infielders are required to have their feet on the dirt or infield grass, and it must be two on each side of second base. The fun part? After the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand, they can move. So I wonder if you’ll start seeing motion plays of some sort, but that might be tough if they leave BEFORE the pitch is out of a hurler’s hand.
There are also other intriguing wrinkles this could create:
Talking about this right now on @670TheScore.
This is how some MLB teams are going to combat shift restrictions. Still daring lefty sluggers to go to the opposite field, while asking a LF/super utility guy to essentially be a 4th IF & demanding speed & range from a 3B.
Wild. pic.twitter.com/Gsfcsu2Ekz
— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) February 14, 2023
One thing about the shift ban I learned from today's MLB presentation: Teams can call in an outfielder to serve as a fifth infielder. (They cannot send an INF to the OF anymore.) Would run the risk of more easily allowing an XBH while increasing likelihood of ground ball outs.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) February 15, 2023
If there’s an infraction, it’s an automatic ball.
2
The pitch clock is a thing!
Pretty simple: If there’s no runner on, you have 15 seconds to throw a pitch. If there is? It’s 20 seconds.
A violation is an automatic ball.
But there are also batter requirements — there are 30 seconds between hitters, and batters need to be ready by the time there are eight seconds left, otherwise it’s an automatic strike.
Max Scherzer thinks the new pitch clock will play "right into (his) hand":
"I've always wanted to work quick. The only reason I've never been able to work quick is because the hitter could always call timeout." pic.twitter.com/oGktYPRy0I
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 15, 2023
How the Pitch Timer ticks.
A behind-the-scenes look at baseball’s new rule. https://t.co/CJQJA9VW4X pic.twitter.com/r5PEolXem7
— MLB (@MLB) February 9, 2023
Also worth noting: Pitchers will only be allowed to step off from the mound two teams in a plate appearance with a runner on first, which could limit pickoffs (no more of those endless five-times-in-a-row pickoff attempts that everyone boos!).
3
Bigger bases!
They were 15 inches per side, and now it’s a robust 18. And that’s going to make a difference when it comes to more stolen base attempts (which means more action in a game) and player safety so there aren’t as many collisions at a base.
The size difference in the two bases going into play pic.twitter.com/2VJI1Iv90Z
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 14, 2023
4
A crackdown on balk rules
MLB.com has a good explanation:
The new rule states a pitcher must have a clear point to begin his delivery in order to stop the pitch timer, and Garcia’s multiple steps and arm motions don’t provide that. The rule says the pitcher is permitted to take one step back (or laterally) and one step forward. Thus, taking multiple steps before lifting the free leg is now deemed an illegal pitch movement.
So this stuff from Luis Garcia? No more.
we are fascinated by luis garcia's windup pic.twitter.com/errLVPrnuJ
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 23, 2021
5
Position players can only pitch under certain conditions
Per the report, MLB is also changing its rules regarding position players pitching. Previously, teams were allowed to put a position player on the mound during a game in which they were leading or trailing by six or more runs.
Now, teams in the lead have to hold a 10-run advantage in the ninth inning before sending a non-pitcher to the mound, and teams trailing by eight or more will be allowed to use position players as pitchers at any point in the game, per the report.
I’m sure we’ll still get to see this happen and we’ll enjoy it as always.
6
The "ghost runner" is permanent
In regular-season extra innings, there will be a runner on second to start.
Breaking: MLB’s Joint Competition Committee has voted unanimously to make the extra inning rule permanent for all regular season games moving forward. (2023 and beyond). A runner will be placed at second base at the start of every extra inning. Story coming at espn
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 13, 2023
