MLB rule and schedule changes will continue to have a noticeable impact on the game and it’s a good thing. There are shorter games, more offense, and a fair schedule.
These new rule changes are working as MLB intended with bigger bases, pitch clock, and shift restrictions. Teams have built their rosters while taking into consideration the rule changes. It looks like baseball again and the fans are certainly enjoying it. MLB will be going with a similar schedule format as last season which was a dramatic change from years before.
Guide to Rule Changes
Standard code Embed from Getty Images. A prominent rule change is the implementation of a pitch clock that they keep tweaking from last year. The pitch clock gives the pitcher fifteen seconds to throw the pitch with no base runners and twenty seconds with base runners. It does not just apply to pitchers but batters as well.
Last season baseball saw shorter games and more efficient pitching due to the new rules. The shift restriction has made the game more intriguing since more offense and base are running. Defenders are making more athletic and fun plays that were missing due to the shift. Also, the bigger bases are having a small impact on the game. As it has created more room for base- runners and more defense. There are a lot of fans enjoying the pace of the game and other impacts from new rules.
Schedule Changes
Standard code Embed from Getty ImagesMLB changed the format of their schedule to where every team plays every team again this year. Fans will get to see all the big stars from every team instead of just every few years. Therefore interleague play has become the game’s biggest attraction creating more excitement among fans. Under the previous schedule, every team played each team in their division a staggering nineteen times a year. That is far too many games against the same teams. This year they see each other only thirteen times, two series a year at home and away.
Also, different teams were making the playoffs. The old-school schedule seemed to penalize teams playing good divisions with harder schedules due to playing each other so much. MLB seemed to be rewarding the bad divisions with easy schedules so the teams. This schedule looks to help prevent and provide a more competitive balance.
There are a lot of fans enjoying the pace of the game and other impacts from new rules. Of course, there are some growing pains but over time it will become a new normal. Stay tuned for MLB news and stories.
Featured Image: Photo by Megan Briggs via Getty Images
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1 Comment
When the “about author” is this poorly written, you start to wonder about the author’s writing skills.
And, in this case, those same skulls are represented in the article itself.