We’re just a few days into the MLB season, and with the new rules, we’re going to see a totally different style of baseball for 2023 and beyond.
That could also bring a new element to the atmosphere at MLB ballparks. We at least heard that play out in Seattle on Saturday.
Obviously, the pitch clock is the huge change for this season. Gone are the days of pitchers taking a minute between pitches, and the actual clock in the stadiums gives fans something to focus on as a way of throwing an opposing pitcher off his rhythm — or at least trying to.
Another great thing about the pitch clock:
The fan countdown pic.twitter.com/NEVUVsMTzL
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 2, 2023
Guardians pitcher James Karinchak had a rough outing in Thursday’s Opening Day, and the crowd played a part in that. So, when the Guardians reliever was back for an appearance on Saturday, Mariners fans tried once again to rattle Karinchak.
They counted down the pitch clock in an attempt to shake Karinchak’s focus. It was baseball’s answer to Giannis Antetokounmpo at the free-throw line in an away game.
Now, it would have been especially great if the Mariners fans had a fake count going — like what you sometimes see in college basketball — but if the clock gets fans more engaged with the action, that’s just an added bonus to the new rules.
Fans on Twitter also had thoughts on the Mariners’ countdown.
This was how Twitter reacted
baseball fans are everything https://t.co/djAWweckM1
— Citizen Four (@citizen4ourt7) April 2, 2023
Seattle fans: Created the wave and now the pitch clock countdown. https://t.co/yX4oojE60r
— Allen Almachar (@MrAllenAlmachar) April 2, 2023
July 2021 at a Columbus Clippers vs. Iowa Cubs game, fans were doing this to opposing pitchers for 3 innings straight. It was electric. https://t.co/LAUMmZdPJo pic.twitter.com/0ZsGZDE6rn
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) April 2, 2023
Mariners games seem electric. https://t.co/0h0l17eAPu
— Brett Gilbert (@BrettGilbertTV) April 2, 2023
Gonna need fans to run the fake countdown play and really mess up pitchers https://t.co/9o3oiQh38D
— Drewski (@Drewski2595) April 2, 2023
Fans of every team will be doing this soon.
Pretty funny. https://t.co/oTfRAlNxXg
— Sports Plus (@PrepSportsPlus) April 2, 2023
Counting down the clock like it’s the Royal Rumble 😂 https://t.co/QYqif0J0Bv
— Randy Cruz (@randyjcruz) April 2, 2023
Ngl, this was pretty cool to see and one way to stress the opposing pitcher https://t.co/BQUkA7Q27y
— Zack ( I got my joy back) (@zackhatt1) April 2, 2023
seems like a smart way to stress out the pitcher tbh. gotta give them credit, even if they didn’t mean it that way https://t.co/rGie0LBf5p
— Chris 🐍 (@chrisss4518) April 2, 2023
We’ll probably start seeing this at other ballparks across baseball.
