The pitch clock has been a hot topic of discussion amongst baseball fans during spring training as the MLB has implemented a number of new rules for the upcoming season. The pitch clock is one of the most striking of these new rules, and it has already been enforced with no exceptions during the preseason.
On Saturday, Atlanta Braves minor leaguer Cal Conley experienced the enforcement of the pitch clock first-hand when he was called out on a strike in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded, two outs and a full count. Conley had to be ready for the pitch with eight seconds left on the pitch clock, which meant he had 12 seconds from the time Red Sox pitcher Robert Kwiatkowski caught the ball.
Unfortunately for Conley, he was not ready in the batter’s box in time and the umpire called a strike three, ending the inning and the game in a 6-6 tie. The enforcement of the pitch clock in such a high-leverage situation serves as a reminder that the MLB will be strictly enforcing their new rules with no exceptions.
The rules on the pitch clock are laid out in great detail in the MLB rulebook, which states that pitchers receive 15 seconds from the time they receive the ball to make their delivery with the bases empty and 20 seconds when there is a runner on base. Meanwhile, batters must be ready for the pitch with eight seconds left on the clock.
The pitch clock is sure to be one of the most talked-about rules changes of the season, and with its strict enforcement in spring training, it is clear that MLB is intent on having players adhere to it. It remains to be seen how the pitch clock will affect the outcome of games throughout the season, but it is sure to have an impact in some way or another.
