2023 Baseball Rules
New rules aim to shorten games
If you have been following baseball news leading up to Opening Day, you have probably heard about the new rules Major League Baseball instituted for the 2023 season.
This post will summarize and bring you up to “speed” on the changes.
Pitch Timer
A common complaint of baseball is that the game is simply too slow. The pace of play is different than basketball and football but casual fans have a hard time staying interested for the entire 9-inning game.
The following new rules were enacted with the hope of speeding things up:
When the bases are empty, pitchers have 15 seconds after receiving the ball to begin their throwing motion.
With runners on base, pitchers have 20 seconds to begin their throwing motion.
If pitchers are slower than the 15 or 20 second requirements, they will be charged with an automatic ball on that play.
On the flip side, hitters must be ready and looking for the pitch by 8 seconds or they will get an automatic strike.
Expect annoying pitcher theatrics such as digging cleats in the dirt, spitting, and hat and glove adjustments to decrease as pitchers now have a limited amount of time between each pitch they throw to the hitter.
Disengagements
Disengagement is not the latest Liam Neeson action movie or when your fiancé dumps you - this term refers to when a pitcher attempts to pick off a base runner who is attempting to steal.
A pitcher will now receive two disengagements from the pitcher’s mound for each batter they face. When a disengagement occurs, the timer resets.
Larger Bases
It is an American tradition to make things bigger. When you’re hungry, a normal Big Mac may not do the job so you need to supersize it, or when the 48-oz gas station jug of cola doesn’t do the trick, why not increase that to the 64-oz bathtub of cola?
The great American institution of baseball is also now joining in this season. Let’s just say I like big base(s) and I cannot lie.
First, second, and third bases have now grown from 15 inches on each side to 18 inches on each side.
This should assist baserunners in stolen base attempts as they now have a slightly shorter distance to cover. MLB also cites safety as a reason for the larger bases as it gives baserunners and fielders more room to make plays.
Shift Rules
If you played baseball as a kid, you may remember that when a lefthanded hitter came up up to bat the outfielders would yell at the rightfielder (who was likely not paying attention) to stop playing with the clover or counting birds and shift farther toward the foul line. In an elementary way, that was indeed a baseball term known as a “shift.” New rules dictate where defensive players can position themselves on the field.
The defensive team must have at least four players on the infield. Two of those infielders must be completely on either side of second base.
Early Returns
Thus far the new rules appear to be working.
The average length of game on Opening Day this year was 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is down 26 minutes from the 2022 Opening Day average of 3 hours and 11 minutes.
Also, earlier this week, Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara threw a complete game shutout over the Twins in a rapid 1 hour and 57 minutes!
