Baseball Toaster: The Griddle : MLB to try out a few new rules in the minors

The MLB Rules Committee announced a few rules changes that will be tried out in the minors (New York-Penn and Northwest Leagues) this season to see how they work and if they will be implemented at the big league level:

Pitchers will have 15 seconds, instead of 12, to make a pitch when there are no runners on base. The clock starts when the pitcher receives the ball from the catcher or whomever had it last. If the batter is not ready because he dawdled, each pitch would automatically be called a strike.
In addition to the mandatory removal of a pitcher if the manager or coach visits the mound twice in an inning, the rule is being expanded to include the mandatory removal at the time of the fourth visit overall in a game. No more than one infielder may visit the mound during any visit by a coach.
Baseline coaches (who are already required to helmets this year at all levels) will be prohibited from moving closer to the field than the front edge of the coaching box or the side closest to fair territory until a batted ball passes by them.

Comments

2008-02-28 18:15:33

1. williamnyy23

I would love to see MLB start enforcing obstruction and baserunning rules at home plate: catchers should not be allowed to block the plate without the ball and runners shouldn't be allowed to crash into catchers waiting with the ball. A minor league experiment might be the best way to go.

2008-02-28 18:21:53

2. The Mootz

Just what Cowboy Joe West needs, more opportunities to impose himself on the game.

2008-02-29 06:07:41

3. DXMachina

Speaking of new rules, MLB is imposing some new ones on news organizations as well.

http://techdirt.com/articles/20080226/152535364.shtml

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