Pitch Clocks in MLB
Ernie Banks once said “Let’s play two.” This statement was a pronouncement for his love of the game. A statement that one game wasn’t enough. Not everyone shares the Hall of Famer’s love for the game. Many think it is too long. Many think it is boring. The leaders of MLB are looking to change that, and shortening the game with a pitch clock is one method they have tested in the minor leagues and the Arizona Fall League.
Baseball games have lengthened, with many games lasting over 4 hours. In 2021, the average 9 inning game lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes. In 1950, games were 51 minutes shorter, lasting just 2 hours and 19 minutes. In the last 25 years, games have lengthened by 19 minutes.
The testing in the Low-A West league used a 15 second pitch clock. The results were promising as games were shortened by 21 minutes. It also increased scoring marginally. How will that translate to the Majors when the stakes are much higher?
The biggest issue arises when there are runners on base. Sign stealing is a real thing. The runner at second base will often relay information to the hitter by moving his body in various ways.
The defensive team will usually have a code, or sign package, to combat this. The sign package allows them to communicate the pitch without letting the runner relay it to the hitter. To do this, they first need to agree on the their signal. It could be as simple as the second sign, so if the catcher puts down 2–1–3–1, the 1 signals a fastball. These packages get more complicated, sometimes changing based on the number of strikes or outs.
All of this takes extra time and focus. If a pitcher doesn’t want to throw that fastball, he shakes his head no and the catcher puts down four more signs. All of this can be very difficult to fit into a 15 second window. When the game is on the line, getting the right sign is very important. In response, you’ll have teams stepping off or throwing a pick-off to reset the clock, minimizing the impact of the clock.
One option might be to have a 15 second clock with nobody on and a longer one with runners on. That would make the effect even smaller and add a complexity to the game that can be confusing and inconsistent. If the clock only shaved off 5 or 10 minutes, would it be worth it? Probably not.
Baseball is one of the only sports that doesn’t operate with a clock. That makes it unique. Is 10 to 15 fewer minutes enough to really change someone’s opinion of the game? Will that make them watch?
