Among the biggest changes that came to MLB for the 2023 season is a pitch timer intended to improve the pace of play and increase action on the field.
The new pitch clock dramatically changed the way Spring Training matchups were played and is having a similar effect on the regular season. “It’s great,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“I think for all of us, we’re all going to be looking forward to some more baseball. It’s just not that much of a grind, so applause and kudos to Major League Baseball and Players Association. They got this one right.”
In addition to shortening game times by nearly 30 minutes on average, the pitch clock has led to more offense, including runs scored and stolen bases. “I do,” answered Roberts when asked if he believes timer has made position players and pitchers more engaged.
“The great thing about baseball is the time in between plays and the reset, but that’s also can be detrimental as far as viewership. So now when it’s kind of more, the pace of play is better, certainly players have to be more engaged because it’s happening kind of in real time, really quickly.”
The Dodgers strung together multiple rallies during their Opening Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which Christian Walker believes was possible due to sustaining momentum from the improved pace of play. “Yeah, I do think that,” Roberts said of Walker’s observation.
“Momentum is real, in my opinion. And because you can’t stop momentum with slowing down an at-bat, you have five visits as far as the mound visits, I think those will come into play more and you got to use those.
“As games get tense late, later in the season, it’s going to really show itself because you can’t stop the momentum because the clock is not allowing that.”
Miguel Rojas felt pitch clock impacted high-leverage at-bats
Miguel Rojas nearly came through with a game-tying hit in the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on March 31, but the line drive was snagged by Nick Ahmed for the third out of the eighth inning.
After the game, Rojas opined that the pitch clock impacted multiple high-leverage situations, including his key at-bat.
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