Looking Back/Forward:
Changes in the game of baseball
Watching and learning about the changes in the traditional game of baseball has at times been hard for me. I wanted the game to stay put. The game was a big part of my life, both as a boy and as a parent. Slowly things have changed and this year several new changes are coming at us at the MLB level. But before we look at the changes for 2023 let’s cover a little baseball evolution. There have been many changes to baseball and most of the changes have made the game better. Examples from the past:
The Mound: Four big changes have been made. Creating the mound (1893). Setting the height at no more than 15 inches. Then, setting the height at exactly 15 inches (1950). In 1969 dropping the height to 10 inches. (If you remember Bob Gibson and others killed MLB offense in 1968.) Also in 1893 the distance to the mound went from 55.5 feet to 60.5 ft. Batting averages went up immediately.
The Helmet: The use of the batting helmet actually started over 100 years ago, but it took a long time to catch on. The style was a part of the slowness. The helmet started out leather, then protective earmuffs, then plastic. Note: Certain clubs started requiring helmets in the 1940s,, but it did not catch on league-wide. The ear flaps were fashioned onto the plastic helmet followed by C-flaps. None of these were required. But then in 1983 helmets with at least one ear flap were required. C-flaps are common now.
The Bat: The baseball bat has evolved from player-made (no rules and all kinds of shapes) to lathe made, with some regulation. As a kid, I remember using a Nellie Fox ‘bottle bat.” Now bats can not be longer than 42 inches. With ‘treatment’ of the bat no higher than 18 inches. After George Brett’s pine-tar incident, only the bat is ejected from the game, not the hits. Ax handled bats are legal and becoming popular. Will the MLB ever use aluminum bats? It may, but it would disrupt baseball’s statistical history.
Changes to MLB in 2023
Defensive Shifts: They are banned. This ban doesn’t save time (the big problem perceived by many), but it will supply more offense. Infielders must also have both feet on the dirt. Each ballpark will now have to comply with the 95-foot rule regarding the size of the dirt infield. The ban will create more hits. But to adjust, the managers will shift their outfielders and pull their right fielder in to the edge of the grass to effectively create a different kind of shift.
Pitch Clocks: A pitcher will have 15 seconds (20 if there is a runner on base). A hitter has to be ‘alert to the pitcher’ within 8 seconds (both feet in the box and eyes up). This gives the pitcher time to deliver their pitch. The timer will shut off when the pitcher either steps back when using a traditional windup or lifts his front foot if pitching from the ‘stretch’. The pitchers that ‘bounce’ their front foot a lot may have to change somewhat. The umpires will wear buzzers to alert them to timing violations. Large digital clocks will also be clearly placed.
New Hitters: A new hitter has 30 seconds to be ready. Any umpire can enforce these new timing rules.
Step-Offs: With a man on base the pitcher can only step off two times to check a runner. Hitters have one time-out per plate appearance. This means they can not fiddle with their batting gloves so often. (One of my pet peeves.)
Bigger Bags: The bag sizes have been increased from 15 inches to 18. Why? (Hoping for more stolen bases and for safety.) The 90-foot distance will not be changed.
Ghost Runners: A base runner, will be put on second base to start every extra inning. This is already a common practice in many leagues. This runner will be the player that made the last out in the prior inning. The ‘ghost runner’ is an easy way to speed the game up.
Position Players Pitching: Restrictions on using Position Players (PP) as pitchers. Apparently, this ‘strategy’ has become more and more common. Under the new guidelines, leading teams have to be up by 10 or more runs in the ninth inning in order to let a position player pitch while trailing teams can use a position player anytime it’s down by eight or more runs. PP are also allowed to pitch anytime in extra innings. Think Spring, think basketball.
