Watching the Trash Pandas play B'ham and noticed a countdown clock. Are they experimenting with a time limit between pitches? Sounds like a good thing to do if that's what's happening.
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Watching the Trash Pandas play B'ham and noticed a countdown clock. Are they experimenting with a time limit between pitches? Sounds like a good thing to do if that's what's happening.
This is definitely the best experimental rule and I hope it's added to MLB.
I've come around on limiting throws to first base to 2. You can throw over a third time, and if he's out, it's fine, but if he's safe it's a balk. I hated that at first, but I actually think it's OK after further reflection.
I think people are mistaken in the "pace of play" being a huge issue. The biggest issue facing the time of games is hitters working walks and pitchers targeting K's. You don't need a pitch clock if there are more balls in play and actual action on the field.
I don't care if the guy throws it every 20 seconds if the results are still 25 K's a game and a league batting average under .240.
Best I can tell, it's a 15 second clock. It's out of camera view most of the time - appears to be on the third base side 45 degrees back from the home plate umpire.
I agree that pace of play is overemphasized, especially when there are lengthy advertising times. After all, you don't go to a game to be in a hurry to leave. But baseball is inherently slow and sometimes the pitcher can needlessly screw around a lot, so the pitch clock is a pretty good thing. I remember when basketball didn't have a shot clock, and teams could "freeze" the ball. LSU was notorious for doing that.
I think the Shuckers had a clock two years ago.