Major League Baseball has a new Pace-of-Play rule they are expected to be implemented this upcoming season. Baseball games have reach of an average of 3 hours and the rule is expected to cut the game time down 10-15 minutes. David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox hates this new rule, feels that it helps the pitchers and has voiced his opinion on the rule.
New MLB pace of play rules: 1. Managers challenge from dugout 2. Batters keep one foot in box 3. Play resumes immediately from com. break
— 95.7 The GAME (@957thegame) February 20, 2015
“It like every rule goes in the pitcher’s favor. After a pitch, you got to stay in the box? One foot? I call that bulls—.”
“When you come out of the box, they don’t understand you’re thinking about what the (pitcher) is trying to do. This is not like, you go to the plate with an empty mind. No, no, no. When you see a guy, after a pitch, coming out of the box, he’s not just doing it. Our minds are speeding up.”
“I saw one pitch, I come out, I’m thinking, ‘what is this guy going to try to do to me next.’ I’m not walking around just because there are cameras all over the place and I want my buddies back home to see me and this and that. It doesn’t go that way.”
“When you force a hitter to do that, 70 percent you’re out, because you don’t have time to think. And the only time you have to think about things is that time. So, I don’t know how this baseball game is going to end up.”
David Ortiz doesn’t plan to change batting routine even though he could be fined $500 each time he breaks the rule.
“Well, I might run out of money. I’m serious. I’m not going to change my game. I don’t care what they say. My game, it’s not like I go around and do all kinds of stupid s—. But I have to take my time and think about what that (pitcher) is going to do next. I’m pretty sure every single hitter at this level is on the same page.”
As a lifelong baseball fan, I don’t think this rule is needed. Yes baseball games last for 3 hours but MLB teams are not having problems with attendance due to the length of game. Fans know what to expect when attending a baseball game and enjoy the slower pace of the game.
HT: BleacherReport