If you catch a Twins game this season, it might look a little different from years past and will likely end much sooner.
New rules instituted this season by Major League Baseball are intended to speed up the game and bring excitement back to baseball — changes that could result in more hits, more stolen bases and less time out between pitches.
Here is an overview:
PITCH CLOCK
In 2021, MLB set a record when the average length of a nine-inning game eclipsed 3 hours and 10 minutes, about 40 minutes longer than the average game in 1980.
Much of this time increase stems from changes in the way the game was played. Pitchers are throwing harder than ever, resulting in fewer hits and more strikeouts. The batters responded by simply trying to hit home runs, adding more strikeouts.
Worse, the time between pitches, as high-effort pitchers rested and batters adjusted their batting gloves, turned most plays into action-deficient slogs, especially for viewers.
Under the new rules, a pitcher must finish to throw a pitch within 15 seconds of receiving the ball, or 20 seconds if a runner is on base; an automatic ball is called if he is not.
A batter must be in the box and watching the pitcher when the clock hits eight o’clock or an automatic strike is awarded.
Pitchers can step off the rubber, whether to attempt a pickoff or simply reset the clock, only twice per inning; a third time is a refusal, unless the selection throw is successful.
Batters can only call the timeout once.
The changes are expected to result in an average of around 25 minutes of play. When the Twins lost to Miami on Tuesday, the game was played in 1 hour and 57 minutes – the team’s fastest nine-inning game since 2010 .
Here’s where you can see the pitch clocks in the stadium:
Step Timer Slots
There will be two shot clocks in the outfield (so right-handed and left-handed hitters can easily see them) and two more shot clocks behind home plate, for a total of four pitch clocks.
Two field timekeepers:
The stopwatches are positioned so that both right-handed and left-handed batters can easily see the running of the clocks.
Two timekeepers behind home plate and buzzers with the umpires:
In order for the plate umpire to keep his attention on the incoming pitch, the umpire will have a buzzer that will tell him if the pitcher has exceeded the time limit. If the pitcher has not started their swing in time, the umpire will assess a violation.
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The stopwatches are positioned so that both right-handed and left-handed batters can easily see the running of the clocks.
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In order for the plate umpire to keep his attention on the incoming pitch, the umpire will have a buzzer that will tell him if the pitcher has exceeded the time limit. If the pitcher has not started their swing in time, the umpire will assess a violation.
DEFENSE
In recent years, it has become more common for teams to position their defenders based on the tendencies of each batter, further eliminating the offense from the game.
Last season, the Twins used a field shift 44% of the time — sixth most in the majors — and relied heavily on it against left-handed hitters.
Teams brought in someone from the left side – usually the third baseman – to play short right field. This, combined with the second baseman and first baseman, created a triangle of terror for left-handed hitters.
Batters were also foiled on hard-hit balls in the middle that the shortstop, starting on the outfield grass, could gobble up.
The new rules prevent this kind of change and set requirements on where infielders must be positioned.
Infielders must have both feet on the infield when the pitcher begins their swing. This creates a situation where defenders don’t march to the infield at the start of a pitch.
Teams should also have two players on either side of second base or receive a violation – a ball or the batting team may let play stand.
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Infielders must have both feet on the infield when the pitcher begins their swing. This creates a situation where players do not walk to the infield at the start of a pitch.
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Teams must also have two players on either side of second base or be given a violation – a ball or the team at bat can let the play stand.
BASE
Racing game control also becomes more important in this new era.
Starting this season, the chainstays will be taller, reducing the distance between first and second by 4½ inches. With so many stolen bases coming down to a fingernail, will that encourage more base thefts?
Stolen bases — or even attempts — have become less common over the past decade, but represent another way baseball has lost some of its excitement.
Pitchers will have 20 seconds to pitch with a runner on base. They will have three chances to move up to first place. If the third down is unsuccessful, the baserunner is awarded a base. This all seems to give baserunners a big advantage.
In the first weekend of play, stolen base attempts doubled and the success rate increased from 67% to 83%.
Staff reporters Phil Miller and La Velle E. Neal III contributed to this report.
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