It’s not a secret that MLB wants games to be shorter and move at a quicker pace.
Shorter games would make it easier to sell the product to TV companies, and will help keep fans engaged and entertained.
The league seems to be targeting younger audiences who want the dynamics of the game to move at a faster pace.
To do that, they implemented a pitch clock.
They saw how pitchers took a lot of time between pitches, and how some batters also took forever to get ready for the next offering.
Starting from this season, they are limiting time between pitches to 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with men on base.
If the pitcher exceeds this time, a ball will be added to the count.
If the batter isn’t ready when there are eight seconds left on the clock, he will get a strike.
So far, the experiment seems to be working.
It’s safe to say the new MLB pitch clock is working 😂
Landon Knack completed an entire half inning in the time it took Pedro Báez to throw one pitch 🫣
(Via @PitchingNinja) pic.twitter.com/jB8VGDeuHT
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 1, 2023
Hilariously, in recent days, Twitter users have been using a clip of Pedro Baez taking forever between pitches in a game against the Chicago Cubs’ David Ross as the “benchmark” of why the clock was needed.
Baez takes long enough, and then the batters ask the umpire for some time, too.
It can be exasperating.
Landon Knack, on the other hand, got three outs in the same time that elapsed between Baez pitches.
Not three pitches, three outs.
Watching clips like these are actually helpful for those who are still struggling with the new rules and, specifically, the pitch clock.
Once we all get used to it, it will likely go down as a necessary addition to the game.
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