The Pitch Clock is Shortening MLB Games
The Pitch Clock is Shortening MLB Games
Major League Baseball changes have been well received so far by viewers
Major League Baseball introduced several big rules changes this past offseason to jumpstart interest in a lagging sport in America’s conscience.
The most noticeable of those changes was the introduction of the long-awaited pitch clock who’s purpose is to speed up the game.
It seems to be working.
The average per-nine inning game has been 2 hours and 38 minutes so far this season, a 25-minute improvement over last year, and reminiscent of game times from back in the 1980s
.The average game on Opening Day Thursday was 2:45, while the shortest game was 2:14. Last year’s Opening Day, with seven games played, averaged 3 hours and 11 minutes for comparison.
Pitchers now have 15 seconds for their delivery and 20 seconds if there’s a runner on base. Also, batters must be in the batter’s box ready to hit with at least eight seconds left on the pitch clock. Other rules changes implemented for the 2023 season include bigger bases and a ban on defensive shifts.
The reception from viewers and announcers has been positive so far.
“When it gets going there’s some quick 1-2-3 innings, is what I’ve noticed,” said ESPN commentator David Cone on Sunday Night Baseball this weekend. “You still get some slow down innings where hits happen and base running happens, but the pace, the overall crispness of the game, is so much better.”
While we only have a weekend’s worth of games to assess the impact of the clock, Spring Training showed the trend is likely here to stay. The average game clocked in two hours and 35 minutes in the spring — 26 minutes shorter than last spring and 31 minutes shorter than the average regular-season game in 2022.