MLB Batters Frustrated That New Pitch Clock Rules Force Them to Skip Four Course Meal on Way to Plate
As new MLB rules are being implemented across Spring Training this year, one in particular stands out as being difficult for batters to adjust to: the new pitch clock, said to help increase the speed of the game, has been very unpopular amongst batters during this year’s spring training, who have said that they are now forced to skip their four-course meal on their way to the plate.
The new rule, which charges batters a strike if they are not in the batters box with at least eight seconds left in the pitch clock, has been described as a "nuisance" for the batters who have spent years fine dining on the way to the plate.
"It's absurd," said Manny Machado, who was charged with a strike on Sunday after he failed to eat all four courses of French cuisine in the allotted time, "Baseball man. It's all about tradition. So many years of catered dinners, fine dining. Playing in Boston is especially fun, because there is lobster and clam chowder. So good! And playing in Baltimore, so much crab. I'm going to miss that. But yeah, they're really on the short track to killing baseball."
While some have praised the new pitch clock to increase the speed of the game, many others are complaining that not having time to eat some of the best food in the world before stepping up may disrupt their flow.
"This game is built on superstition," said Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, "It always has. Like how everyone has the same walk up song for their entire career or how they do that weird tap of the foot with their bat, some players need to sit down and enjoy a fine Italian dinner to get their mind psyched up for the battle with the pitcher ahead. I myself loved being treated to a well-seasoned duck pate before my at-bats. I think I would have hit half the home runs I did last year without that."
"If I wanted to feel like I was being rushed to eat my food and get going, I would've just gone to a restaurant."
Many pundits are criticizing the rule, saying that the four-course meal on the way to a player's at-bat is as part of the game as peanuts and cracker jacks.
"Babe Ruth was notorious for stuffing down hot dogs and bourbon before batting, and look what he was able to accomplish," reminisced ESPN commentator Buster Olney, "The long era of eating a five-star meal before batting looks like it's on the way out and will be remembered to be just as significant as the steroid era, at least in terms of how players were able to bulk up. It will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame reacts to this new rule change."
MLB officials did say that despite the change in the rule, there will still be a white-cloth-covered table between the on-deck circle and batters box full of some of the best cuisine that the home team can provide.
"We are not eliminating the four-course meal," assured MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, "You can still eat your meal, but you have to do it in the 30 seconds allotted to switch batters."
The new rule did not eliminate the ability for batters to complete a four-course meal when they hit a home run, however. Many batters this spring training have taken the luxury of eating an appetizer at first base, a salad at second, the main course on third, and a tiramisu at home plate as they rounded the bases.
