garnetpalmetto
Jerkministrator
Not a fan of this at all but the writing was on the wall. Let's hope the idiotic "let anybody bat in the 9th" proposal doesn't gain any traction lest it get tested out next year.
MiLB announces pace-of-play regulations for 2018
The high points:
MiLB announces pace-of-play regulations for 2018
The high points:
- At all levels of MiLB, extra innings will start with a man on 2nd. That man will be the player in the batting order position previous to the leadoff batter of the inning (or a pinch-runner). So if you start the 10th with your #6 man, #5 is put on 2nd.
- For purposes of computing ERAs, the runner on 2nd will be treated as a runner who reached on an fielding error.
- Mound visits by coaches and position players will be limited based on level. Triple-A clubs will get 6 visits, Double-A will get 8, and Single-A (Low-A and High-A) will get 10. There'll be no limit on mound visits in Short Season A or Rookie ball.
- Each team gets an extra mound visit per inning in extra innings
- If a pitcher and a catcher get their signs crossed up, a visit from the catcher to the mount will count as a mount visit. If the team has used up their mound visits, the catcher may request a brief mound visit at the umpire's discretion.
- Pitchers at Double-A and Triple-A will be on a 15-second pitch timer when no runner's on base and 20-seconds when there's a runner on base. They don't have to deliver the pitch in that time, but have to begin their windup/motion to come set by the time the timer's up. The timer will start when the pitcher has possession of the ball in the dirt circle surrounding the rubber, the catcher's in the catcher's box, and the batter's in the batter's box.
- Failure for a pitcher to deliver a pitch in that time will result in a ball being awarded to the count and failure by the batter to be in the batter's box and alert to the pitcher with 7 or more seconds remaining on the timer, will result in a strike being awarded to the count.