According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the pitch-clock rules that have been in effect for the 2023 regular season will remain the same for the playoffs. Passan reports that MLB’s owner-led executive council told the league’s competition committee that they would not propose any changes prior to the postseason despite players expressing hope for more time between pitches. By all measures, the pitch-clock rules in year one have been a massive success, with the average time of games down and no significant changes to the game itself. The postseason will now officially use the same rules.

Latest Mets News

The Mets defeated the Mariners 2-1 on Friday night. Kodai Senga had another phenomenal outing, going seven innings and striking out 12 while allowing just one run. Ronny Mauricio impressed in his major league debut with two hits including a 117.3 miles-per-hour double, and Daniel Vogelbach recorded the go-ahead RBI.

2023 third-round draft pick and two-way player Nolan McLean made his pro pitching debut on Friday for the St. Lucie Mets. McLean pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed a run, with his fastball topping out at 98 miles per hour and his breaking ball reaching 3151 revolutions per minute.

Scott Engel of The Game Day spoke to several former and current Mets players and coaches about the tradition of fantasy football within the franchise.

The Mets were named the winner of the 2023 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel award contest for Best Stadium Food.

The Mets invited the Mariners to visit the Engine 301/Ladder 150 firehouse in Queens in honor of the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. The teams toured the firehouse, provided lunch, and donated tickets to Friday night’s game.

Latest MLB News

Alden González of ESPN wrote about Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s rushed wedding ceremony in Los Angeles the day he became the first 30-home run, 60-stolen base player in MLB history.

JJ Cooper of Baseball America wrote about the tweaks MLB is making to the automated strike zone being used in Triple-A.

Yankees’ prospect Jasson Domínguez hit a home run in his first big league at-bat against Justin Verlander on Friday night. Austin Wells, another top Yankee prospect who was called up along with Domínguez, recorded his first big league hit in his first at-bat as well.

Latest on MMO

In the latest Mets Minors Recap, Sean Kenny highlights strong performances in Binghamton from Drew Gilbert and Joander Suarez.

Michael Mayer wrote about the report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the Mets might be a landing spot for Craig Counsell this offseason.

Colby Morris profiled the newly called up Ronny Mauricio.

On the latest MMO Weekly, Michael Mayer and Sal Manzo talked about Mauricio, the Mets’ front office shakeup, and more.

Jack Markowski projects the Mets’ lineup for the rest of the 2023 season.

On This Date in Mets History

1965: The Mets retired Casey Stengel‘s number 37 just days after he retired as manager, making his number the first retired in the history of the New York Mets.

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Good morning, Mets fans!

Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports that there’s a chance MLB changes its new rules before Opening Day. Member of the league’s competition committee and while it’s unknown what the specific changes could be, they likely won’t be major. Spring training games are taking only two hours and 36 minutes this year, but players have expressed concerns about the pitch clock being too constricting.

WBC Scores

Japan 6, Mexico 5

Latest Mets News

Eduardo Escobar and Francisco Lindor both returned to the Mets’ lineup on Monday, but Justin Verlander walked six batters in 4 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss. Four of Verlander’s walks came in the fifth inning, but he said after the game he thinks he’ll be ready to go for the regular season.

It was revealed Monday that David Wright will be a new legend added to MLB: The Show 23. This is the first time Wright will be in a game since his retirement in 2018.

Reds general manager Nick Krall says the Mets have not inquired about the availability of Alexis Díaz yet. The younger brother of Edwin Díaz has been viewed as a potential trade target for the Mets, but he’ll likely carry a hefty price tag considering his five years of club control.

Latest MLB News

White Sox infielder Yoán Moncada was diagnosed with a concussion after a collision during Cuba’s World Baseball Classic semifinal game on Sunday. Cuba baseball officials say Moncada should be fine in time for the season.

The Phillies released right-hander Mark Appel on Monday. The former first-overall pick from the 2013 Draft finally made the majors in 2022, tossing 10 1/3 innings out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Appel put out a statement on his Twitter account thanking the Phillies’ organization.

Philly, thank you. For everything.

In 2015, you believed in me and traded for me, even as I struggled with performance and injuries.

In 2018, you graciously supported me as I dealt with my struggles off the field.

(more below)

— Mark Appel (@markappel26) March 20, 2023

The Braves optioned both Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to Triple-A Gwinnett, meaning Orlando Arcia will begin the year as the team’s starting shortstop. Ehire Adrianza is expected to break camp as the team’s utility infielder.

Latest on MMO

Nate Mendelson evaluates how the Mets’ offseason acquisitions have fared this spring.

Gianna Arantes recaps the Mets’ loss to the Nationals on Monday.

On This Date in Mets History

2011: The Mets release southpaw Oliver Pérez from the last year of the three-year contract he signed before the 2009 season. Pérez is still owed $12 million for this season, but he had an ugly 6.81 ERA with more walks (100) than strikeouts (99) in 112 1/3 innings for the last two seasons combined.

2013: The Mets name David Wright the fourth team captain in franchise history. He becomes the first player since John Franco to bear that honor.

Birthdays: Shawon Dunston (60), Carlos Carrasco (36), Bobby Wahl (31)

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Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

In his second start of spring training, Max Scherzer breezed through a nine-pitch first inning against the Nationals. He then tossed a scoreless second inning, but a disastrous third inning derailed what looked to be a promising outing for the 38-year-old.

After Ildemaro Vargas singled, Scherzer attempted to quick-pitch Victor Robles on an 0-2 count, resulting in a balk. Speaking to reporters after his start, Scherzer expressed his confusion about why he was called for a balk.

“He calls time, I come set, I get the green light. I thought that was a clean pitch. He (Jeremy Riggs) said no. We got to figure out where the limit is,” Scherzer said.

After Robles ended up reaching on a Luis Guillorme error, Scherzer appeared to induce a double play from Riley Adams, but he was called for an automatic ball because he failed to start his pitching motion before the pitch clock expired.

After a balk earlier in the inning, Max Scherzer has a double play negated because the pitch clock has expired.

pic.twitter.com/qZssqQ5kEI

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 3, 2023

“This is a good time to be testing these things,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said after the game. “Believe me, he (Scherzer) will come out of here with a really good idea of what you can and can’t do, and what is beneficial.”

After retiring Adams eventually, Scherzer allowed a run to score on a ground-out from CJ Abrams before Alex Call singled in Robles with the second run of the inning. Luis García followed by blasting a fastball over the berm in right field for a two-run homer, picking up right where he left off last year when he torched the Mets by going 17-for-43 with two homers against them.

Guillorme then committed another error, which was followed by a double by Jeimer Candelario. Scherzer’s day ended after Stone Garrett brought home a run on an infield single. David Griffin immediately surrendered back-to-back doubles to Vargas and Robles, allowing both inherited runners to score, leaving Scherzer with a very odd stat line:

2 2/3 innings pitched, five hits, seven runs (zero earned), no walks, one strikeout, 49 pitches (37 strikes).

“He felt good physically, he threw the ball well, (there were) a couple of bad hops on ground balls and the wind was a factor,” Showalter said of Scherzer’s overall performance.

Scherzer’s fastball sat around 93 miles per hour, topping out at 96.2. Other than García’s homer (105.7 MPH), the hard contact Scherzer allowed according to Statcast was Candelario’s double, which was measured at 98.1 MPH. The only other batted ball Scherzer allowed with an xBA over .500 was Call’s RBI single.

“I guess we took too much time in-between innings, I guess you have to the ball out by 30 seconds,” Scherzer said. “Hey, you know, find the worst of these rules now. I ran out the pitch clock. I got caught and I wasn’t trying anything on that, forgot about the time and seeing how the umpire called it, it was on 00 for one count. That’s one thing I also want to get cleaned up about the rules. If you look at a basketball clock when it goes 00, there’s still another second on 00 so we’ve got to make sure it’s not 00 the moment it hits 00 or is there a little time on 00. We need to get a little clarification on that moving forward. But that one was my mistake, I just didn’t keep track of time in that split second.”

While Scherzer’s line may have looked ugly, it wasn’t a terrible outing overall. He pounded the strike zone and didn’t allow a lot of loud contact. Considering that Showalter let him go a little deeper into this start, expect Scherzer to continue working deeper in his next appearance.

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Pete Alonso. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Pete Alonso looks primed and ready as the 2023 Mets’ spring training season officially gets under way.

Alonso was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. One of those hits was a lead-off, solo home run in the bottom of the second inning off of Marlins’ starting pitcher, Braxton Garrett. It was a long home run, deep over the center field wall of Clover Park, clocked at 105.3 MPH off the bat.

Alonso spoke with the media after his day concluded. One of the topics he discussed was how he has altered his routine and structured his spring camp with the World Baseball Classic coming up in a couple weeks.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve changed anything,” stated Alonso. “It’s just trying to do the best I can to master consistency,” he said. Alonso talked about trying to be in control of as many outcomes as a possible in a, “Sport where you have little to no control.”

Pete crushed this one in his first AB of the spring! Exit velo was 105.3 mph.pic.twitter.com/ccO1XQX4vz

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) February 25, 2023

“If I can stay within myself and stay disciplined in any situation, I want to be able to get the most out of my ability,” he expressed.

Alonso also spoke about getting used to the new pitch clock rules that are now in place and what it’s been like figuring out a routine and clock management.

“I’m just trying to figure it out right now. I want to be able to establish a routine,” he said. “I want to be able to develop something where I have time, where I have certain cues,” stated Alonso. He went on to elaborate that now that spring games have begun and players get to experience real use of the pitch clock that he can now “tinker,” or figure it out ahead of the regular season.

“I just want to develop a routine or ritual and get it down. I’ll kind of play with some stuff during these spring games, but so far, so good,” Alonso stated.

Regardless, it looked like the new pitch clock had little-to-no effect on Pete. Who exploded out of the gates. It’s early, but a 3-for-3 game with a rocket of a home run is always a great early sign.

The post Pete Alonso Begins Spring Training With A Bang appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

One of the rule changes, and possibly the most significant that we will see in 2023, is the introduction of the pitch clock in Major League Baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred is determined to shorten games, quicken the pace of play, and add more action to the game. The pitch clock has demonstrated its ability to achieve the first of those objectives. Minor league game times have been reduced between 20 and 30 minutes when the pitch clock is used. So how will it work?

In an article for MLB.com, Anthony Castrovince provides some details. First, let’s get ready for new term, the “FTC” or “Field Timing Coordinator.” This is the person who will sit in the press box, and press a button to start the pitch clock. The duration on the pitch timer is 15 seconds with the bases empty, 20 seconds with runners on base. The timer starts the moment the pitcher receives the ball and stops the moment he goes into his motion.

But there are nuances on the start and stop of the timer. The timer starts the moment the pitcher receives the ball and all fielders are set (perhaps an outfielder has gone into foul territory in pursuit of a ball that landed in the stands. Even if the pitcher has a new ball, the timer does not start until the outfielder is set in his position).

The timer stops when the pitcher starts his motion. But this means two different things, depending upon whether the hurler is working from the windup or the stretch. When working from the windup, the clock stops on the first foot movement by the pitcher. However, if the pitcher is in the stretch, the timer does not stop when the pitcher brings his feet together. Rather, it stops when he raises his leg to begin the pitching motion. Got that?

How about coordination with the on-field umpires? Castrovince provides the following:

There is a set of hand signals used by the umps, who will have the discretion to stop the clock in special circumstances, to convey instructions to the FTCs, such as twirling the finger around (similar to a home run call) when a reset of the clock is needed.

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The MLB season is only 50 days away, and with that will come some brand new rules the league is rolling out for the 2023 season. As a refresher, here are the three big changes we will be seeing this upcoming season.

Pitch Timer

To help increase pace of play, MLB will implement a 30-second timer between batters and a shorter time limit between pitches. Pitchers must now begin their motion 15 seconds after receiving the ball when there is no one on base, and 20 seconds after getting the ball with runners on. If they run out of time, they will be charged with an automatic ball. Pitchers also can only “disengage” from the mound two times during an at-bat with a runner on first base, which applies to both pick-off attempts and step offs. If a pitcher steps off or attempts a pick off a third time, it is treated as a balk.

Hitters, meanwhile, must be in the batter’s box ready to hit by the eight-second mark on the clock, or they will receive a strike. Batters also will only receive one time out per plate appearance.

Shift Changes

No longer will we see exaggerated shifts meant to limit pull hitters or take away hits up the middle. Teams must now have four players on the infield at all times, with two players on each side of second base. As an added wrinkle, shift violations will be subject to replay review.

In the minor leagues a season ago, shift changes resulted in an increase in batting average overall, from .247 to .249.

Larger Bases

Bases will also be bigger than they were in the past, which is meant to allow for more room to avoid collisions between hitters and fielders. Home plate will be unchanged, but first, second, and third bases will now be 18 inches on each side, as opposed to the previous 15 inches on each side. Bigger bases may also help increase the running game, giving base stealers a slight advantage.

The new rules will start during spring training to give teams time to adjust to the new rules and will then be in place on Opening Day and throughout the entire season, including the 2023 playoffs.  In the minor leagues, the new rules resulted in faster games, a higher batting average, and more steals, but it remains to be seen if they will have a similar effect on the big-league product.

The post Explaining MLB’s New Rules for the 2023 Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Greg Lovett-USA TODAY NETWORK

There will be some major changes in Major League Baseball in 2023, and the game will look a little bit different to the product we’re used to seeing now.

Per Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the introduction of a pitch clock, a ban on the defensive shift and larger bases will likely be approved in a vote at noon ET on Friday. The commissioner’s office has the majority of seats on the 11-person competition committee, which was formed as part of the collective bargaining agreement between players and owners.

MLB has six appointees, the Players Association has four and there’s also one umpire, meaning that MLB will get its way and will be able to green light its proposal. If the proposed changes are approved, then these would be introduced in time for the 2023 major league season.

All of the alterations suggested were mentioned during negotiations in the thick of the lockout, so this news shouldn’t come as groundbreaking. It is, however, significant because the introduction of a pitch clock would give pitchers 20 seconds to start their throwing motion with runners on base, and 15 seconds with the bases empty. That particular change would help to speed up the game, the league hopes.

The elimination of the shift would mean that a minimum of four players, beside the pitcher and catcher, would have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield dirt, and two fielders would need to be entirely on either side of second base.

When it comes to making the bases bigger, these would be extended from the current 15 inches to 18 inches square, according to The Athletic. The league hopes that the benefits of increasing the sizes of the bases are twofold. For starters; they hope that bigger bases would reduce injuries and collisions. Secondly; MLB also hopes that by making the bases bigger and more room would increase the action and ensure that there is more success when it comes to stolen base attempts.

Overall, Major League Baseball want to implement these changes in the hope of making a much better product for its fans. The proposed changes have largely gone down well and a slightly sped-up game, more action on the base paths, less player collisions and more action in the field should all benefit the game.

For a more detailed breakdown of the proposed changes and what they could look like, you can read The Athletic’s full report.

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]]> https://metsmerizedonline.com/mlb-set-to-green-light-2023-rule-changes/feed/ 0 https://metsmerizedonline.com/mlb-wants-to-implement-a-pitch-clock/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mlb-wants-to-implement-a-pitch-clock https://metsmerizedonline.com/mlb-wants-to-implement-a-pitch-clock/#respond Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:00:14 +0000 https://metsmerizedonline.com/mlb-wants-to-implement-a-pitch-clock/ The current CBA negotiations have led to the discussion of many different rule changes, one of which is instituting a pitch clock. A pitch clock is defined as “a device that counts the time it takes for a pitcher to make a pitch to the batter, to ensure that it is done within a set […]

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Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The current CBA negotiations have led to the discussion of many different rule changes, one of which is instituting a pitch clock.

A pitch clock is defined as “a device that counts the time it takes for a pitcher to make a pitch to the batter, to ensure that it is done within a set period of time.”

The reason for this is to try to speed up the game, which MLB has been trying to do for years. This comes with a few other rule changes that MLB has proposed to speed up pace of play, but I am specifically focusing on the pitch clock.

How it Works Today

With empty bases, the pitcher has 12 seconds to throw the pitch from the second he gets the ball back from the catcher. If he doesn’t do so in time, it counts as a ball. However, the rule changes with men on base. With men on base, the timer goes up to 20 seconds.

History

There has been a pitch clock in Major League Baseball for quite some time, just a little different than the one being proposed. Since 2008, the pitcher has 12 seconds from when the umpire alerts them to throw the pitch. That is different from the current minor league rule, where it starts the second the pitcher gets the ball back.

If they do not, it is ruled a ball. The rule was previously 20 seconds dating back to the 90’s. The current pitch clock first came into play in 2014 during the Arizona Fall League. That followed the current 12-second and 20-second rules. Since that went well, the league decided to implement it in Double-A and Triple-A starting in 2015.

Commissioner Rob Manfred tried to push a 20-second pitch clock for the 2018 MLB season but couldn’t come to a deal with the players. The two sides agreed to other measures to speed up the pace of play that season, which were limited mound visits and shorter time between innings.

In 2019, the league used the pitch clock during Spring Training. In 2021, a 15-second pitch clock was implemented in Low-A with the bases empty and 17 seconds with men on. This experiment led to an average of 20 minutes being cut from every game.

Where it Stands Today

MLB is once again pushing the pitch clock, as it has become a big part of the current CBA negotiations. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that MLB is looking to implement a 14-second pitch clock with the bases empty at the major league level in the new CBA, and 19 seconds with men on.

In 2019, Max Scherzer, who is a part of the union subcommittee, said “there’s no clock in baseball, and there’s no clock in baseball for a reason.” While he may have changed his tune since then, he has been documented as a major voice in the current negotiations.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported that the union agreed to the league implementing a pitch clock — among other rules — in 2023 with at least 45 days’ notice, but anything can change as negotiations continue. Of course, what will be most crucial here is that both sides can agree on a new deal to get players back on the field so these rule changes can eventually take effect.

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