MLB Introduces Pace Of Play Rules For 2015

Friday February 20th, 2015, Major League Baseball announced some new rules to help dictate the pace of play, effective immediately.

Those rules are:

Batter’s Box Rule

• All batters must keep one foot in the batter’s box unless one of a group of exceptions occurs:

1. The batter swings at a pitch
2. The batter is forced out of the batter’s box by a pitch
3. A member of either team is granted a timeout
4. A defensive player attempts a play on a runner
5. The batter feints a bunt
6. A wild pitch or passed ball occurs
7. The pitcher leaves the dirt area of the mound after receiving the ball
8. The catcher leaves the catcher’s box

If a batter intentionally leaves the batter’s box and delays play the batter shall be assessed a strike.

Pace Of Play Timers

• Two timers will be added to the field of play, one located near the outfield scoreboard, and the other will be located behind home plate. These timers will measure the non-game action break time between innings, and pitching changes. Immediately following the third out of each half inning, the time will count down from 2:15 for locally televised games, and 2:45 to nationally broadcasted games. An MLB representative will operate the timers and track the following events:

• Pitchers are allowed to throw as many warm-up pitches as they would like leading up to the 30 second cut-off time. Exceptions to these rules can be made in a few circumstances, such as either the pitcher, catcher, or both having finished the previous half inning at bat or on base.
• Batters are encouraged (expected) to be in the batter’s box within 20 seconds remaining, or when the broadcast returns from commercial break. The pitcher is expected to set and deliver as soon as the batter is in the box and alert to the pitcher.
• Batters who do not enter the box within 5 seconds remaining, and pitchers who do not begin motion of delivery prior to 0 second remaining on the time will be deemed in violation of the rule.
• These rules involving the timer will be enforced through a warnings and fines system, with steeper disciplinary action for habitual violators. No fines will be issued in Spring Training or the first month of the season (April) as players and umpires adjust to the new time constraints. The ladder of expected fines was not disclosed by the league, but the league has said it plans to donate to the league’s Major League Baseball Players Trust charitable foundation based on the adherence of the rules.

Manager’s Challenge

• Managers may now invoke a challenge directly from the dugout, and will not need to enter the field of play to do so. Managers must hold play from the top of the dugout and signal to the players and umpiring crew that they are considering a challenge. In order to challenge an inning-ending play, managers must exit the dugout immediately and challenge to keep the players on the field.
• Decisions can be communicated verbally or by hand signals.
• Whether a runner left the base early or properly touched the bag have been added to reviewable calls.
• Managers will retain their challenge after every successful challenge, whereas last season managers only retained their challenge after their first successful challenge.
• Managers must use a challenge to review a home plate incident involving a collision, in adherence to the new collision rules. However, if a manager is out of challenges after the 7th inning, he may still ask that the Crew Chief take a look regardless. It is entirely up to the Crew Chief to comply or not.
• During postseason, playoff tiebreaker games, and the All-Star Game, managers will now have two guaranteed challenges.
• Instant replay will not be in use during Spring Training, but can be utilized in exhibition games at MLB stadiums prior to the regular season.

Rob Manfred -for better or worse- hasn’t been content settling for what the previous regime left for him, and has rapidly moved to leave his mark on the game. He’s been very swift in proposing new rule changes, some a little more justified than others. But the rules enacted today by MLB are very moderate in comparison to some of the proposed rule changes involving pace of play. No pitch clock is a positive sign to see. These new rule changes should not have any effect on the outcome of games, or the sanctity of the sport that loves its traditions.

During the Winter Meetings I wrote an article on why I don’t think pace of play should have been the most important topic, but these new rules are similar to what I suggested, taking a less drastic approach on altering the game we all know and love, while still successfully shaving off some dead time. If these manage to make the 162 game schedule a little bit more bearable by even slicing 10 minutes off a game, which leads to 27 hours cut off in a season for each team, what is there to complain about?

The rule regarding the batter’s box is a little too vague if you ask me, it seems like basically any reason that batters stepped out of the box before will largely still be allowed anyway. But it’s a step in the right direction without jumping to a pitch clock. It will also get players to actively think about stepping out of the box, and soon enough that ritual will entirely exit the game.

I can’t say I’ve agreed with everything Manfred has aimed to do this season, but I am all for today’s changes. Its outcome will be very evident in making sure we’re watching only the action of the games, and not so much the in between things. Chalk it up as a win.

Author: Tyler Arnold

My name is Tyler Arnold, I am the founder, a co-owner, and editor-in-chief of The Runner Sports. Sports have been my life since I was young, so here I am doing the only sensible thing, making a career of it. I love it all, and will watch any and every game I possibly can. Thanks for your readership.

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