National League All-Star starting pitcher Zac Gallen measured the difference the pitch clock made for him.
“Last year we didn’t have the pitch clock, I didn’t make the All-Star Game,” the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander said Monday with a smile. “This year there was a pitch clock and I made the All-Star Game. So maybe that helped.
The retort made those attending the press conference laugh.
“It was definitely an adjustment period,” Gallen continued. “Spring training was, for sure. It was hard. But I think like everyone else, we just adapt. There are some parts where you can play and also parts where you have to think clearly, maybe take a visit to a place you don’t expect.
“I’m still figuring it out. But (playing) times are significantly reduced. I think it’s a little nicer for the fans. Yeah, so it doesn’t bother me.
While many of the game’s best gathered at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday for the All-Star Game, earlier in the day the potential impact of the rule changes on the playoffs was discussed.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark discussed what worked and what October could look like when they met separately with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Before Manfred even spoke, MLB associates distributed materials touting the impact of the rule changes such as:
The addition of a pitch clock (the average playing time is 2h38, compared to 3h04 last season and 3h10 in 2021);
Larger turnovers/bases (average base stealing attempts per game was 1.8 – highest since 2012 – with a 79.4% success rate);
And defensive team changes (batting average on balls put in play increased by 7 points compared to last season).
“For me, it’s about action and athleticism,” Manfred said.
He thanked the players: “I understand how important routines are to the players. And when you say to a professional athlete, “You’ve done this a certain way your whole life and we’re going to change it because we’re going to have a rule change,” that’s very serious. Our players adapted quickly and efficiently. And just as importantly, overall we have remained very positive about the rule changes.
Clark made it clear that “no one likes to play three-and-a-half-hour or four-hour games.”
However — and with baseball, there’s often a but or a but — Clark said there was some concern when it came to the pitch clock and games in September and October.
“I don’t believe there’s a single player or too many people who want a new rule to significantly affect play in a pennant race or in the playoffs,” Clark said. “The players think there are some adjustments that would be beneficial overall, so we are not having conversations about a new rule.”
The clock is currently set to 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners on.
Clark said he doesn’t think “a few extra seconds here and there are going to create a three-and-a-half or four-hour game” and that it will allow players to take a deep breath.
“When you’re trained as a pitcher or a hitter to be able to execute and slow things down, it’s actually a big difference adding the extra two or three seconds,” Clark said.
Clark said “the lines of communication are open” with MLB.
Manfred said he remains “open-minded” on the subject, adding that he generally likes “the idea of playing everything by a single set of rules.”
“We don’t want a playoff game to be decided because of a violation, we had the spring training game (where that happened), but other than that we haven’t had a match decided that way,” Manfred said. “I understand it’s a possibility. As far as doing something in the playoffs, making changes, we’re going to continue to talk to the players. I’m sure I’ll have a few conversations with Tony Clark about this.
“Yes – and there are exceptions to this, including the extra innings rule – in general I think you should play the playoffs the same way you play the regular season. There are exceptions. But in general. And we’re happy with how the clock and violations, especially late in games and in high-leverage situations, were handled.
Time is running out for the rest.
