Braves News: MLB’s Alterations for 2024 Season and Anthopoulos’ Offseason Insights
MLB recently disclosed rule modifications set to take effect in the 2024 season, spanning alterations to pitch clocks, basepath dimensions, mound visits, and more. These changes were sanctioned by a Competition Committee comprising one umpire, four players, and six owners, chaired by John Stanton.
Key amendments include reducing the pitch timer by two seconds for men on base, widening the runner’s lane to first base by extending it onto the infield grass, and redefining the distance between the foul line and the infield grass, spanning 18 to 24 inches across ballparks. These adjustments aim to enhance the game’s pace, prompted by a seven-minute increase in average nine-inning games observed in the inaugural season with a pitch clock.
Pitchers with men on base will have 18 seconds (down from 20) to commence their motion to home, while no alterations will affect the timing with empty bases. Additionally, a new rule requires a pitcher who warms up at inning commencement to face at least one batter, curtailing instances of replacements after warmups and reducing dead time by about three minutes from 24 occurrences in the previous season.
Mound visits will be capped at four per game, down from five, as these interactions ranked unfavorably among fans. However, defensive players can signal for a visit without physically approaching the mound. The pitch timer will reset promptly after a dead ball upon the pitcher’s readiness, preventing delays, while pitching change protocols have been adjusted to expedite transitions.
The league withdrew a proposal to reset the pitch clock upon a batter’s timeout, retaining umpire discretion on when to resume the clock. Notably, these revisions are less drastic than those implemented in 2023, which notably trimmed game times by 24 minutes.
While the Competition Committee lauds these changes as building upon last season’s successes, the MLB Players Association voiced opposition. Tony Clark, head of the Players Association, cited players’ concerns about unnecessary modifications post last season’s profound rule changes and emphasized the need for comprehensive data collection on health and safety impacts before further alterations.
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