What Will Be the Long Term Impact of New MLB Rules?

 Ever since Major League Baseball has been in existence, its bedrock rules have remained relatively unchanged, except for minor tweaks here or there.  That all changed at the beginning of the 2020 season, when a ghost runner began being placed on second base in extra innings.  Fast forward to the 2023 campaign, and we now have several other regulations in place to speed the pace of play, and increase the action of the game.  The impacts on the manner in which the game is carried out will be felt for the rest of the game’s existence.

One of the most consequential rules added in 2023, was the implementation of a pitch clock.  As one might surmise, under this regulation, a pitcher has only so much time to deliver a pitch to home plate.  If the time is exceeded, an automatic ball will be assessed to the pitcher. Because of this rule, so far this season, the duration of games have been dramatically shorter.  In fact, games have gone from an average of 3 hours last season, to 2 hours and 38 minutes in 2023.  On the field, a pitch clock enforcement could cause pitchers who take longer to deliver pitches to not perform as well as they normally would.  Therefore, it is likely that more runs could be scored, as a direct result of the pitch clock.  Traditionally, baseball has been an untimed sport, and now a clock addition could directly impact performances.  In my estimation, history will not reflect well on MLB for altering the way the game is played in such a dramatic manner.

Continuing in the vain of accelerating game times and increasing scoring, MLB saw fit to create a “disengagement” limit on pitchers.  In other words, the pitchers can only step off the rubber, or throw to first base twice per batter.  On the 3rd “disengagement,” the pitcher must record an out, or a balk is called.  Inevitably, this will and has led to more stolen bases.  In fact, on opening day alone in 2023, there were 23 attempted stolen bases, 21 of which were stolen.  Compare this to the same day in 2022, when there were only 9 stolen base attempts, 5 of which were stolen.  What changed you ask?  Base runners now know when they can steal, with no threat of a throw over by the pitcher.  To me, this is “sanctioned cheating,” and eliminates an important strategic aspect of the game.  We should never mess with the foundational rules of the game, because it is what makes the game great.

Simultaneously, while tearing at the fabric of the game, MLB reinstated a statute of the sport that has existed for all time.  MLB mandated that two players must be on each side of second base.  In other words, the first baseman and second baseman must stay on the left side of second base, while the shortstop and third baseman must remain on the right side.  Consequently, this will lead to more base hits, and more runs.  In my opinion, implementing this singular rule could increase scoring in an ethical way.  In fact, this is the only change that affects baseball positively.

Making such radical changes to a sport for efficiency and entertainment purposes does irreparable damage to the purity of the sport.  To me, other measures could have been taken that do not so blatantly erode the foundational facets of baseball.  It could have been done in a way that doesn’t alter the strategies of the game. Clearly, all of this was executed because of our society that demands instant gratification.  Sad.