It’s happening.
Major League Baseball has passed a vote to implement a pitch clock, ban the defensive shift, and make a number of other changes that will take effect next season, according to ESPN. A competition committee of six ownership-level representatives, four players and one umpire — that includes Giants owner Greg Johnson and outfielder Austin Salter — voted to implement the changes. The four player representatives voted against the changes but were ultimately outvoted by the seven other members.
The pitch clock, which has been used at the minor league level to frequently reduce game times to around two hours and 30 minutes, will require pitchers to begin their throwing motion within 15 seconds from their previous pitch, and 20 seconds when there are runners on base. Failure to do so will result in a ball.
Batters must have both feet in the batter’s box and be “alert” at the 8-second mark. Failure to do so will result in a strike.
While the pitch clock should have a significant impact on the speed of the game, the banning of the defensive shift will have the most strategic impact, especially for a team like the Giants. All four infielders must be positioned on the dirt, and two must be positioned on either side of the bag.
Other changes include a limit to stepoffs and pickoff throws. Pitchers can only do two per at-bat. If they choose to do a third pickoff attempt, they must get the base runner out or else be called for a balk. The change is expected to increase base stealing, as will the increase in base size from 15 to 18 square inches.
Via ESPN, the committee includes Seattle owner John Stanton, St. Louis owner Bill DeWitt, Boston owner Tom Werner, San Francisco owner Greg Johnson, Colorado owner Dick Monfort, Toronto president Mark Shapiro, Tampa Bay pitcher Tyler Glasnow, St. Louis pitcher Jack Flaherty, Toronto superutilityman Whit Merrifield, San Francisco outfielder Austin Slater and umpire Bill Miller.
