Major League Baseball passes significant rules changes including pitch clock, banning defensive shifts

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Major League Baseball voted Friday to implement a pitch clock and ban defensive shifts in the next five years in order to speed up the game.

A pitch clock of 15 seconds with empty bases and 20 seconds with runners on, a defensive alignment that must include two fielders on each side of the second base bag with both feet, was approved by the league's competition committee.

There was a vote that wasn't unanimous. The players voted no on the pitch-clock.

The pitch clock has been used in the minor league for a long time. Minor league games this season have consistently been under 2 hours, 30 minutes, and average game times have settled a little over it.

The catcher needs to be in position when the timer hits 10 seconds, the hitter needs to be alert at the 8-second mark, and the pitcher needs to start his pitch count. An automatic ball is a violation of the pitcher's rules. An automatic strike occurs when one by the hitter.

The banning of defensive shifts is one of the more extreme versions that prevents defensive player movement in multiple directions. The days of the four-outfielder setup will be over because all four infielders need to be on the dirt. It's no longer legal to over shift three infielders to the right side of the second base bag.

If a defense is deemed illegal, the batting team can either accept the outcome of the play or take an automatic ball.

By limiting disengagements with the mound, either via pickoff move or stepoff, the rules hold accountable pitchers who would otherwise have a pitch-clock workaround, and are likely to increase stolen bases.

The rules will limit pitchers to two for each plate appearance if pickoffs and stepoffs are used. If a runner advances, the number would change. A pitcher can try for a third pickoff, but if it's not successful, the runners will be allowed to move up a base.

The Major League Baseball Players Association explained why players on the competition committee voted against the implementation of the pitch clock.

The statement said that player leaders from across the league were engaged in on field rules negotiations through the Competition Committee and they provided specific and actionable feedback on the changes proposed by the Commissioner's Office. Major League Baseball was unwilling to meaningfully address the areas of concern that Players raised, and as a result, the players voted unanimously against the implementation of the rules covering defensive shifts and use of pitch timer.

The bases will increase from 15 to 18 square inches, with expectations that the larger size will allow fewer accidents around the bag and shorten the distance between bases.

If a team has exhausted their allotted visits, they will be given an extra mound visit in the ninth. The team doesn't get an extra visit if it still has visits left.

The bailiwick of the league was the only place where rules changes could be implemented on the field. The creation of the competition committee was part of the new collective-bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association.

The committee includes owners of Seattle, St. Louis, Boston, San Francisco and Colorado.