MLB RULE CHANGES - WHY ARE THEY HERE AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

 by: Zethan Moss

Major League Baseball just passed several huge changes to their rulebook for 2023. Some of these changes are very controversial, changing “the integrity of the game.” These new rules restrict shifts, add a twenty second pitch clock, limit pickoffs, and make bases larger. So why are these new rules here, and what do they do for the game?

To begin, restricting shifts could significantly increase hits and averages, specifically for lefties such as struggling Joey Gallo, and as impossible as it sounds, red-hot Freddie Freeman. The rule states that there must be two infielders on either side of second base at the time of the pitch, as well as having both feet on the infield. Shifts have gotten out of hand in recent years, with third basemen often seen in short right field, highlighted by Padres’ third baseman Manny Machado making a catch in deep right field on the line in Globe Life Field in Texas. Had he not been there, this would have been an extra base hit. A decrease in extreme shifts will certainly bring more hits, bring more runs, raising averages, and making baseball more exciting during a time where pitchers dominate.

The pitch clock is another controversial change. A pitcher is limited to twenty seconds after he receives the ball to make the pitch. This will significantly decrease game time, again making the sport easier to watch. During testing in the minor leagues, average game times decreased from almost three and a half hours to two and a half hours. Many benefits arise from this, including player safety. In addition to the pitch clock rule, pitchers must also face a limited number of pickoffs. They only have two attempts per pitch, and on the third attempt, it will be counted as a balk, causing all runners to advance one base. The pitch clock would also reset following a pickoff. The main goal of most of these rules is to speed the game up significantly, and erase many of the useless mind games that are played in today’s MLB.

The final rule change is to increase the base sizes. They are being increased from fifteen inches square to eighteen inches square. It is believed that these larger bases will decrease the amount of collisions between runners and fielders, and marginally decreasing the distance between bases, and should increase bang-bang plays, benefitting those with speed more. 

Though controversial, these rule changes I believe will benefit the game substantially. Games will move faster, be more exciting and efficient, and will be easier to watch. If you are a fan of the MLB, you should enjoy these changes, sooner or later. On paper, some of these rules seem to be destroying the integrity of the game, but they will benefit it more than you think.