Baseball is a time honoured game that has been enjoyed by fans of the sport for over 100 years. But if Shoeless Joe and his friends walked out of the cornfield today, they may not recognize the game they played all those decades ago.
Last year Major League Baseball introduced larger bases, no more shifting, and cemented the pitch clock.
When the MLB players take to the field in March, more changes are in store for the players…
At the top of the list is a wider running lane for a batter running from home plate to first base. Currently, batters headed for first base must run within a box that is actually in foul territory in order to avoid interring with throws on the field of play and avoid a collision.
Come next spring, the rule that has stood since 1882 will change to allow the batters to also run in fair territory – on the dirt between the foul line and the infield grass, but must not touch the infield grass. For purposes of calling a play it would be “dirt good, grass bad.”
Previously, batters who did not stay within the three foot box while running to first base was subject to being called out for interference. Since 1887, all bases have been within fair territory.
Other rule changes include:
The pitch clock has been altered by two seconds when there is a runner on base from 20 to 18 seconds.
The number of mound visits is also being altered in an attempt to speed up the game even further. It should be noted that there were significantly fewer three hour games last season with the implementation of the pitch clock.
Any pitcher who warms up on the mound before a half inning must pitch to at least one batter.
Proposed but tabled for further study is a rule not allowing a fielder to block a base. The rule applying to catchers blocking home plate was altered after a brutal collision between two players at home plate that resulted in San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey breaking a leg. The rule that now bears his name prevents a catcher from blocking the home plate unless he has the ball in in hand at the time of the block.
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Are you a fan of baseball? If you are please subscribe to my blog! I am a young baseball blogger who one day wants to be a real baseball writer. I have talked to many Phillies Sportswriters including Alex Coffey, Allie Foster, Brian Mcquilkin, Todd Zolecki, and Ethan Witte.