MLB 2023 Rule Changes

Overview and Reasoning:

The MLB was in need for some changes, or so it says. For the baseball die-hards, everything was fine. However, there are a lot of casual fans out there who feel the game was dragging. They aren't wrong. The average time per game has been slowly increasing for the last decade. In recent years the time per game sits around 3 hours and 6 minutes. While compared to the other major sports, it doesn't seem too long. Admittedly, however, there is much more downtime in baseball that the MLB is trying to reduce. To do that, the MLB is implementing changes, many of which have quietly been tested in the minors for the last few seasons. Part of these changes includes an increased focus on player safety. Baseball, while not known as a contact sport, has seen some nasty collision injuries that they want to curb. These time saving and safety rules have come with a fair share of criticize. Regardless, the implementation has already happened and so let's jump in.

Pitch Clock:

Baseball games will be significantly shorter largely in part to the new pitch clock with a few different enforcements. Between batters, pitchers will have 30 seconds before starting the next at-bat. After a pitch, once the pitcher gets the ball back from the catcher, he will have 15 second to start his motion while the batter must also be ready in the box once that same timer hits 8 seconds. If there is a runner on base, the pitcher will have 20 seconds. If the pitch clock expires, a ball is awarded to the batter. If the batter doesn't beat the 8 second mark, a strike will be awarded to the pitcher.

This is far and above the biggest change as there is a new sense of pace evident in Spring Training games. Obviously, this pitch clock affects everyone on the field and the players are trying to adapt. Some pitchers have even tried to use the pitch clock advantageously throwing off hitters timing. The pitch clock will work itself to be a benefit to the game. This Spring training has been especially fun as the average game time has been shortened by 23 minutes. That is a massive difference in sport and more frequent action means more engaged fans.

Pickoffs:

Remember the dreaded repetitive pickoff? A pitcher would attempt to throw over to first base over and over knowing they weren't going to get the runner out but simply wanting to keep the runner close. Yeah, sometimes 3 or 4 pickoff attempts and the crowd would erupt in boos.

That is no more. The MLB is now looking at what they call "disengagement." Again, the MLB is trying to control that dead time between action. Now, if a pitcher makes 2 attempts and fails to get the runner out he can no longer attempt to pick-off the runner for the remainder of the at-bat. If he does attempt a 3rd time, he must be successful, otherwise a balk is awarded to the runner(s) on base who are advanced 90 feet closer to home plate.

This is one of the most underrated rule changes in my opinion. It won't do a whole lot for speeding up the game, but I think there will be far more base stealing which has been lacking in the years past. It was always a drag watching a pitcher throw over 6 times during an at-bat, but it was always understandable ,especially if you had a prominent base stealer on first. Now, there will be far more of a mental aspect to holding runners. I'm really interested to see what happens in certain scenarios such as where the pitcher has made his 2 attempted pickoffs. Will there be an automatic steal attempt? Will leads expand? Will there ever be a 3rd pickoff attempt? This will be interesting for baserunning statistics and a little cat and mouse game between pitchers and baserunners.

Bigger bases:

In an effort to increase safety, the MLB implemented a larger base to entice runners to slide away from the infielders to avoid collisions. Traditionally, the bases were 15 inches. This year, bases will be 18 inches. With bigger bases, the runners will be ever so closer to the next base and as we see every night, those bang-bang plays may favor the baserunners. If the main purpose is player safety, it makes total sense. However, it will alter those close calls.

This is a weirder and somewhat unnecessary change in my opinion. However, with this and the pick-off rule, stolen base attempts should increase adding to the excitement of the game. As far as the safety aspect, I don't see how these bases will change anything except for at first base where runners can stay further in foul territory. The fielders will simply have to adapt quickly on how to maneuver these larger bases.

Position Players Pitching:

This change is relatively minor. Previously, as long as a team was winning or losing by 6 runs a position player could enter the game to pitch. Now a team must either be leading by 10 runs or losing by 8 runs to have a position player pitch.

Both the MLB and the MLBPA agreed that there have been too many position players on the mound the last few years and slightly boosting players stats. Last year there were 132 instances where a position player took the mound. While I think this is a slightly silly change, I can understand it. Brett Phillips is my favorite pitcher and unfortunately we will see far less of him on the mound.

Shift Ban:

Perhaps the biggest change to the game will be the shift ban. Previously, the defense could line up however they wanted. It was mainly to limit pull hitters chances of sneaking a ground ball through the pull side of the infield. This year, the infielders must have their feet in the dirt by the time the ball is being thrown by the pitcher and there must be 2 Infielders on each side of second base.

This should be a fun change. It'll be exciting to see how some of the pull-heavy hitters improve this year. I expect guys like Corey Seager, Joey Gallo, and Kyle Schwarber to have improved stats. Batting averages should improve with this change and run production should increase as well. Recently in spring training, however, the Red Sox seemed to have found a loophole pulling one of the OF in to play deep behind second base and essentially played with 2 remaining outfielders. So we'll have to wait and see if that is a strategy that some teams use.

Overall:

I think these changes are going to be great for the game and increase pace of play shortening game time. More importantly, there will be more frequent action. It will change some game strategy as well. Expect more stolen bases, an increased reliance of good throwing catchers, more hits/higher batting averages from the pull-heavy left handed hitters and, because of that, increased production offensively. There will undoubtedly be some hiccups along the way from the likes of players, coaches, and umpires, but the changes will work themselves out and be beneficial for the longevity of the game.

-- Cyrus Beermann