Minor League Baseball has long been seen as a place for experiment for both players and baseball itself. This year, the MiLB has announced major pace of play rule changes in what seems to be a test-run for the Majors. Minor League games will now have mound visit limits similar to what has been adopted in the Majors but they are taking a few more big steps in the Minors. A pitch clock will be installed. Pitchers will have 15 seconds to start their motion between pitches when there is no one on base. This clock will lengthen to 20 seconds while any runners are on base. In addition to the pitch clock, extra innings will now always begin with a runner on second base. The runner will be the hitter directly above the lead-off man for that inning. So if the fourth player in the lineup is due to lead off, the player in the third spot will be the runner. Any substitutions will be treated like a pinch runner and the player will not be eligible to return to the game once he leaves. Baseball cited problems like the roster and bullpen chaos that is brought on by marathon games as well as the incentive to increase pace of play. I am skeptical right now about the extra innings rule. I think that it is too big of a step. Automatically putting a runner in scoring position is a massive change from the current situation and will impact the strategy of games immensely. The purist in me loves the 19 inning classics that end with some left fielder throwing his best fastball. But I am interested to watch this happen in the Minors and see what happens. I’m glad that baseball is using the Minors to test these ideas and if they prove to be successful without compromising the values of the game then I would be welcome to having them in the Majors. But I definitely need a solid trial period first. Let’s see where this goes.
