Impacting “Pace of Action”

In 2015, MLB implemented changes to shorten the length of games. As has been widely reported, game times have been reduced. Less widely reported is that the majority of the reduction is due to shorter breaks between innings, and the time between pitches has not decreased.

There is concern that rule changes to directly address the time between pitches will impact the game negatively. There are concerns for the logistics of a pitch clock and tasking umpires to somehow legislate/manage situations requiring exceptions. I am a wholehearted proponent of reducing time between pitches, but I have a hard time envisioning how a pitch clock would work with a fast runner on 1B or when the pitcher has mud in his cleats or when the batter gets dust in his eyes.

I propose an effective and non-invasive method for reducing the time between pitches: focus on player averages. A pitcher (or hitter) can be judged over a rolling sample of pitches and with escalating fines/penalties administered to the player and/or team. This method would not dictate any specific in-game action/penalty. It would not require involvement by umpires. It would be transparent to fans, other than less yawning and urges to check email.

While a simple rolling average would be…simple, improvements to the methodology can easily be envisioned. A player’s time score could be adjusted based upon the batter/pitcher faced, foul balls, stolen base opportunity, etc.

I’m surprised this type of method has not gotten much discussion in the media. I think it would allow MLB to steer behavior change without the negative impact of trying to take action in-game on a per-pitch basis.





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Rotoholicmember
8 years ago

“I have a hard time envisioning how a pitch clock would work with a fast runner on 1B or when the pitcher has mud in his cleats or when the batter gets dust in his eyes.”

One easy solution is the clock only counts with the bases empty, otherwise it’s status quo. If the pitcher has mud in his cleats he has to ask for time, and the umpire has to grant it (so you can’t do it every single pitch).

“I propose an effective and non-invasive method for reducing the time between pitches: focus on player averages.”

I think the guy batting after Billy Hamilton would have an issue with that. And just wait until a batter gets fined after he faces a pitcher who takes unusually long to throw pitches one night. Imagine a Yankees pitcher knowing Pedroia is on the cusp of getting a fine for taking too long in the box, so he takes an extra few seconds between pitches when he’s up.