© Andrew Villa-USA TODAY Sports
Those who are against the pitch clock or between-batter timer will be happy to see that both were excluded from the pace of play changes for 2018 put out by Major League Baseball on Monday morning. Nonetheless, the announcement did come with several other changes that will go into effect this season, specifically when it comes to mound visits.
OFFICIAL: @MLB will *not* have a pitch clock or between-batter timer in 2018, "in order to provide players with an opportunity to speed up the game without the use of those timers," per league announcement. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 19, 2018
Per the announcement, teams will now be limited to six mound visits per game or an additional non-pitching change visit each extra inning. MLB defined a mound visit as a manager or coach leaving the dugout to meet with the pitcher, along with a position player leaving his position to speak with the pitcher ,and the pitcher leaving the mound to confer with another player.
Significant @MLB rule change for 2018: "Mound visits without a pitching change shall be limited to six per team, per nine innings. For any extra-innings played, each Club shall be entitled to one additional non-pitching change mound visit per inning." @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 19, 2018
MLB also deemed that instances such as conversations between pitchers and any position player after an opposing plate appearance, position players visiting the mound to clean their spikes, injury-related mound visits, and visits to mound after offensive substitutions will not be counted towards a team’s six mound visits.
Should a team exceed the six-visit limit, but it appears as if its pitcher and catcher are in a “cross-up”, the catcher can request an extra mound visit, which the umpire can approve or deny.
While these new rules put out by MLB are crystal clear, the punishment for breaking those rules aren’t as clear-cut. Other than announcing there will not be any ball or strike penalties for violating these rules, MLB vaguely announced violators will be subject to “progressive discipline.”
Key detail: @MLB won't issue ball-strike penalties for violations of pace-of-play rules. However, "players who consistently or flagrantly violate the time limits will be subject to progressive discipline for just cause" by commissioner. That could include fines. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 19, 2018
The announcement revealed that there will be no changes made the rules regarding the batter’s box, but MLB adjusted the replay system to improve communication between a team and its video room, along with the installment of “direct slow-motion camera angles” in each team’s video review rooms.
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