MLB players want to add a few seconds to pitch clock for the postseason
SEATTLE − Major League Baseball is open to considering the possibility of adding a few seconds to the pitch clock in the postseason, but commissioner Rob Manfred says that he prefers to keep the rules the same as the regular season.
“We don’t want a postseason game decided by a rules violation, and I understand it’s a possibility,’’ Manfred said Tuesday before the All-Star Game. “In terms of doing something for the postseason, we’re going to continue to talk to the players.
“I think you ought to play the postseason the way you play the regular season. There’s exceptions. I’m open-minded on that topic.”
“But I prefer to keep the same rules in the regular season and postseason.’’
The pitch clock implemented for the first time this year provides 15 seconds for pitchers to begin their delivery with no runners on base, and 20 seconds with runners on base.
There have been 721 pitch-clock violations this season, but 60% of the games have had no violations with just 12% of the games featuring multiple violations.
Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, says the feedback he has received from players is that they would prefer to provide longer than 15 seconds between pitches with no runners on base during the postseason. The union can make its recommendation, but can not mandate a change.
“I don’t believe there’s any player, nor do I believe there are too many folks that want to have a new rule dramatically affect a game in a pennant chase or in the playoffs,” Clark said. “Players believe that there are some adjustments that could be beneficial in the grand scheme of things so that we’re not having a conversation about a new rule and instead focused in on the game being played.”
The average time of nine-inning games with the pitch clock is 2 hours, 38 minutes, 26 minutes less than a year ago. It’s on pace to be the fastest nine-inning games since 1984.
“We are comfortable with the way the clock and the violations, particularly late in the game in high-leverage situations have been managed,” Manfred said.’
MLB continues to explore the possibility of adding an automated strike zone system, but one high-ranking MLB official told Paste BN Sports that it will be years before it will be implanted, and certainly not before 2025.
The new rules this season, including a restrictive shift and bigger bases, have had just a slight impact on the offensive output this season. There has been an increase from 8.7 to 9.1 runs a game while stolen-base attempts have increased from 1.0 per game to 1.4 per game. Left-handed batters are hitting .248, an increase of 13 points from a year ago, while right-handed hitters are also batting .248, an increase of 1%.
The pace and timing of the games, Manfred said, has also helped lead to an 8.4% attendance increase to 28,404, which would be the highest since 2018, with the median age of ticket buyers down by three years.
Manfred and Clark spoke for 45 minutes apiece in a question-and-answer session Tuesday morning with the Baseball Writers Association of America.
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The highlights
≻ Manfred doesn’t believe that the A’s relocation plans to Las Vegas will not open the possibility of illegal gambling more than any other city.
“With respect to protecting the integrity of the game. I don't see Las Vegas as any different than any other city in America. You know, many, many cities now have sports books that are accessible, and quite frankly, follow the business right?
“So, I don't see that Vegas is different than any other.’’
≻ The A’s still have not submitted their relocation plan to MLB, which includes a proposal of where they may play after their Coliseum lease expires after the 2025 season until their proposed new ballpark is ready in 2028.
Yet, he still believes that there’s no turning back, and the A’s will be relocating to Las Vegas.
“My single biggest disappointment is that because of the kind of political process in Oakland,’’ Manfred said, “we didn’t find a solution to keep the A’s in Oakland. That’s No. 1 on the disappointment list.’’
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≻ MLB will quickly form an expansion committee once the Oakland and Tampa Bay stadium situations are resolved, hoping to expand to 32 teams, which is expected to involve massive realignment, and perhaps end the traditional American League and National Leagues
≻ MLB, which took the All-Star Game out of Atlanta in 2021 out of protest of Georgia’s restrictive voting law, will now strongly consider Atlanta as site of the 2025 All-Star Game, Manfred said.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs also are on the short list of teams under consideration.
The decision is expected to be made at the owners’ meetings in November in Arlington, Texas.
The 2024 All-Star Game will be played in Arlington, and the 2026 All-Star Game will be in Philadelphia.
“The level of interest among our clubs hosting an All-Star Game is really, really high,’’ Manfred said. “I think that as time goes by, I'm more focused on keeping track of when a game was last there, and trying to get back to places where we haven't been in a really long time.’’
≻ Clark and the union remain opposed to an international draft.
“We don’t believe an international draft is necessary …’’ Clark said. “I’m not a fan of drafts, any drafts.’’
≻ The union is willing to open discussions about reducing the 162-game schedule, but not at the expense of players’ salaries.
“We’ve had conversations about the length of schedule in past negotiations,’’ Clark said. “The conversation often stops with the conversation that we had during COVID, which is rolling back player salaries.’’
≻ Manfred says that he’s thrilled there are six small-revenue teams in the playoff hunt this year, including the Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks, but cautions that it’s a long season and their success doesn’t guarantee they’ll be perennial contenders.
“One season, I'm not sure that it fundamentally alters the fact that fans in certain markets feel that disparity remains an issue in terms of how competitive teams can be,’’ Manfred said, “and in that type of market to keep their teams together, which obviously is a core tenant of fandom. But I'm honestly thrilled to see the teams that people didn't expect to play well, are playing.
“That’s great for the game, but does it wash away every concern I have? No. But it’s a great thing, it really is.’’
≻ MLB is working with Dow Chemical in an attempt to develop new baseballs with a sticky surface to eliminate the need for players to use rosin, or illegal substances for a better grip.
≻ MLB has collected 94% of its right fees owed by the Diamond Sports/Bally to its teams this season.
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