MLB NEWS

MLB pace-of-play rules set for 2015

Lindyssports.com Staff

February 20, 2015 at 11:32 am.

Major League Baseball announced Friday significant pace-of-play rule changes for the 2015 season in an effort to speed up the game.

Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr., MLB players association executive director Tony Clark and Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz, the chairman of the Pace of Game and Instant Replay Committees, jointly made the announcement.

The changes include the additions of the pace-of-game program, which will be effective in spring training, the regular season and the postseason, and a series of modifications to the instant replay system.

The World Umpires Association also gave its approval to the new efforts, which will be reviewed by the parties following the conclusion of the 2015 World Series.

The rules include mandating that managers stay in the dugout during replay challenges, that hitters keep at least one foot in the batter’s box during at-bats, a prompt return to play after TV commercial breaks and timed pitching changes.

“These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to streamline the pace of play,” Manfred said in a statement. “The most fundamental starting point for improving the pace of the average game involves getting into and out of breaks seamlessly. In addition, the batter’s box rule will help speed up a basic action of the game.”

The league established a pace-of-game committee in September aimed at making recommendations to speed up games, which grew to a record average of 3 hours, 2 minutes in 2014, up from 2:33 in 1981.

Players who violate the rules will receive a warning, with “flagrant violators” subject to a series of fines up to $500, sources familiar with the changes told ESPN.com. The intention is not to impose penalties but rather to help change the habits of current players in an effort to speed up the game, according to sources.

The new rules begin in spring training, but the warnings and fines will not be imposed until May, as spring training and the first month of the regular season will be a phase-in period.

“The players believe that enforcing the rules that currently exist regarding between inning breaks and plate appearances is the best way to address the issue of pace of play,” MLBPA’s Clark said in a statement. “We’re confident that today’s announcements will have a positive impact on the pace of the game without jeopardizing the integrity of the competition.”

The new replay rules intend to reduce the time managers spend chatting with umps while awaiting recommendations from video coordinators or their own coaches. Among the changes, managers now can review whether a runner left a base early or properly touched a base.

“The Pace of Game Committee wants to take measured steps as we address this industry goal to quicken the pace of our great game,” Schuerholz said. “It is not an objective of ours to achieve a dramatic time reduction right away; it is more important to develop a culture of better habits and a structure with more exact timings for non-game action.”

Brian Lam, who represents the Major League Umpires, stated: “These strides to hone the pace of game over time will improve the natural rhythm of baseball, and we applaud and support the Players Association and the Commissioner’s Office as we all move toward this goal.”

Pace of Game rules:

–The pace of game program will enforce the batter’s box rule, requiring that all batters must keep at least one foot in the batter’s box unless one of a group of exceptions occurs. The new rule at the Major League level mirrors 6.02(d), which was in place in Minor League Baseball in 2014.

–A second new component to the pace of game program is the addition of timers that will measure non-game action and break time between innings and pitching changes during each major league game. One timer will be installed on or near the outfield scoreboard, and a smaller timer will be installed on the facade behind home plate near the press box. Immediately following the third out of each half-inning, the timer will count down from 2:25 for locally televised games and from 2:45 for nationally televised games. An MLB representative attending each game will operate the timers from the ballpark.

–Pitchers will be permitted to throw as many warm-up pitches as they wish prior to the point when 30 seconds remain on the clock; however, pitchers will be deemed to have forfeited any of their traditional eight warm-up pitches that they are unable to complete prior to the 30-second deadline. Exceptions to these rules will be made in a variety of circumstances, including if the pitcher or catcher ended the prior half-inning at bat or on base.

–Batters will be encouraged to get into the batter’s box with 20 seconds remaining on the timer. This is the same time that the broadcasters return from commercial. The pitcher is expected to begin his motion to deliver the pitch as soon as the batter gets into the batter’s box and becomes alert to the pitcher. Batters who do not enter the box prior to five seconds remaining on the timer and pitchers who do not begin the motion to deliver the pitch prior to zero seconds remaining on the timer will be deemed to have violated the break timing rules.

–These rules will be enforced through a warning and fine system, with discipline resulting for flagrant violators. No fines will be issued in spring training or in April of the 2015 regular season. Donations will be made to the Major League Baseball Players Trust charitable foundation based on the level of adherence to the new rules.

Instant replay modificaitons:

–Managers may now invoke instant replay from the dugout and will no longer be required to approach the calling umpire to challenge a call. Managers may hold play from the top step of the dugout by signaling to players and the home plate umpire that he is considering a challenge. A decision can be communicated verbally or with a hand signal. To challenge an inning-ending call, managers will be required to leave the dugout immediately in order to hold the defensive team on the field.
–Whether a runner left the base early or properly touched a base on a tag-up play will be reviewable.

–A manager will retain his challenge after every call that is overturned. Last year, a manager retained his challenge only after the first overturned call.

–A manager must use a challenge in order to review whether a play at home plate included a violation of the rule governing home plate collisions. However, in the event that a manager is out of challenges after the start of the seventh inning, the crew chief may still choose to review whether there was a violation of the rule.

–During postseason games, regular-season tiebreaker games and the All-Star Game, managers will now have two challenges per game.

–Instant replay will not be utilized during 2015 spring training, but it will be in place for exhibition games at major league ballparks prior to the start of the 2015 regular season.

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