Nightengale's Notebook: MLB's drastic rule changes 'going great' – but could use tweaks

PHOENIX – It has been 10 days now since Major League Baseball began playing with the most dramatic rule changes in history, adding a pitch clock, banning shifts, playing with enlarged bases, limiting walk-up music to 10 seconds, and you know what?

The game has managed to survive, just fine.

There are tweaks that managers and players would like to see with the pitch clock, and MLB had to issue guidelines to all teams clarifying that umpires will call a quick pitch before the batter “is reasonably set,’’ but all in all, it has succeeded beyond MLB’s greatest expectations.

There were only 1.4 pitch-clock violations per game last week, with game times averaging 2:38 compared to 3-hour games last spring.

It has been so smooth, MLB officials say, they are not currently considering a single modification to any rule.

“Things are going great right now,’’ one MLB executive said.

Still, players and managers have a few concerns, and certainly no one wants a regular-season game decided by a pitcher taking too long to throw a pitch, or a hitter taking too long to get into the batter’s box.

“I like the pitch clock,’’ Chicago White Sox veteran pitcher Lance Lynn says, “but there’s too much at stake for a win-loss to be decided when games count because of a rule violation. You can’t end a game on a Ball 4 or Strike 3 because of a clock violation. It’s like a shot-clock, but you lose possession in baseball.

“You look at football in the last two minutes, there’s a different set of challenges. So maybe eighth in ninth inning of close situations, when the game is on the line, it goes back to where it was. It’s you versus me, let’s play it straight the last two innings.’’

The real fear is that during the tense postseason games, with the boisterous sellout crowds, that fans could actually affect the outcome of games.

“Fans can disrupt the game,’’ Lynn says, “if you can get them to do things at the right time, and you suddenly can’t hear your headset.’’

More pitchers are calling their own game this spring wearing the PitchCom device on their wrist, knowing that you can’t shake off the catcher more than twice, maybe three times, without running out of time.

It has already led to a few comical incidents.

NEW RULES: Understanding the shift ban, pitch clock and more

“We saw [Royals veteran pitcher] Zack Greinke shaking himself off,’’ Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “He was just pushing buttons until he got the one he wanted. He didn’t know what button he was pushing.

“The PitchCom device, you’ve got to learn how to use it. There are nine buttons there. It’s kind of in a circle, it’s not easy. You’ve still got to get comfortable with it. It causes some anxiety.’’

Most managers surveyed have loved the pitch clock in the early-going, but say they would like to make a few modifications.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hates the idea that if a baserunner calls timeout, the timeout will be charged to the hitter.

“That’s where there is some concern when the times goes on the hitter,’’ Bochy says. “I don’t like that.’’

The biggest adjustment, managers say, is getting used to the idea that the umpiring crews no longer are in charge of controlling the game. The umpires are instructed to enforce the rules to the letter of the law, no matter how unreasonable it may seem.

“The thing that stood out to me so far is that there are going to be some mistakes, there are going to be some issues,’’ Cubs manager David Ross says, “and we’re all working to get better. We’re so used to the umpires having everything down and locked in, and knowing how things go, this is new to them, too. There’s a lot of conversation the umpires, they’re kind of finding their new rhythm."

Says Bochy: “Overall, I like it, I’m fine with the clock, I really am. A few coaches think they should add a couple of seconds, but I think they’ll get used it.

“Eventually, there will be some adjustments.’’

Managers, like David Bell of the Cincinnati Reds, believe that with pitchers having a limit of two disengagements before a balk is called on an unsuccessful third attempt, could create havoc with baserunners on first and third.

“There will be teams taking advantage of that for sure,’’ Bell says. “I know we’re spending time practicing that.’’

Says Bochy: “I do think that’s going to be one that talked about. You’re going to get some false breaks, and try to have a forced balk on you. It’s going to be interesting how the teams are going to be dealing with that. Every team is looking to see how they can use that to their advantage.’’

There are other potential problems, players cite, particularly if the pitch clock starts early after a player has run a long way for a ball and needs time to get back to his position.

“When a ball is hit in the gap, really every fielder on the field is running,’’ says Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell, “and some fielders are running significant distances. An outfielder may run 100 feet. We had an instance where guys are sprinting back to their positions as the pitch clock is going down.

“I don’t think that’s right, so I think there has to be some adjustments there.

“I do hope that Major League Baseball is responsive to that part of it.’’

Cubs first baseman Eric Hosmer had a game this spring when he was watching his foul pop-up land in the stands, but by the time he got back into the batter’s box, it was too late, and he was called for an automatic strike.

“I thought that was a little quick,’’ Hosmer said, “but I think it’s a situation where hopefully they see what the feedback is and modify it from there. But good to do it here, and not during Opening Day or the season."

Certainly, picking up the pace of the game is one thing, players say but when New York Yankees reliever Wandy Peralta needs just 20 seconds for a three-pitch strikeout this past week, that’s not good for the game, either, let alone the beer vendors.

“I think we will find some things around the pitching clock that will need to be amended,’’ Counsell says. “I don’t think moving from 15 to 20 [seconds] is the answer, but I do think there are situations that happen, and we need to understand how are we going to handle that situation."

The clock operators will be critical in the success of the new rules. Players and managers have expressed skepticism, wondering whether they can manipulate the clock if they are employees of a club. No, they are MLB employees, they’ve been told.

And as long as everything is uniform in every ballpark, with the clocks being in the same location, and starting and stopping on time, the pitchers are all for it, believing they will have a decided advantage.

“It’s going to be fun for us older guys,’’ Lynn says. “You might see some panic, like with the hitter standing in the box and thinking, 'I’ve been here a long time, what’s going to happen? When’s he going to throw the pitch?' I’ve got anywhere from 14 to 20 seconds to do whatever I want out there. That’s going to make it fun.’’

There is a prevailing belief among managers that the velocity across the league will diminish with the pitch clock. It’ll be difficult for pitchers to throw 100-mph on five or six consecutive pitches without a little fatigue setting in. You no longer have the luxury of catching your breath when throwing at max velocity, having just 15 seconds to do it again and again.

“The only thing about the pitch clock that worries me,’’ veteran Brewers pitcher Wade Miley says, “is that now I’ve got to change my approach. I always go at a fast pace to keep guys off-balance, which is to my advantage. Now, I’ve got to slow things up, and change my tempo, just to make sure things are different.’’

Pitchers like New York Mets ace Max Scherzer have used spring training to experiment with trying to quick-pitch or holding the ball, making the hitter uncomfortable, while testing umpires at the same time.

“That’s why I think the clock will give us pitchers an advantage,’’ Miley says, “maybe a huge advantage.’’

Really, the pitchers will tell you, instead of being stressed having to throw a pitch in the allotted time, they’ve been surprised how much time they really have before delivering a pitch.

“It may be over-exaggerated how quick it was,’’ Cubs starter James Taillon said, “but in my first start, I was throwing every pitch like at seven, eight, nine seconds. It felt like I was just getting the ball, rocking and firing. I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing. It almost felt like I was a pitching machine. I need to be a little more aware of that.

“But other than that, it’s been great.’’

Taillon made an instant adjustment in his second start Saturday.

"I felt like I was in a lot better tempo and control with it, ‘’ Taillon said. "I think I saw some of them [pitches go down to like 3, 2, 1 seconds], which I’m not saying that was like a goal of mine, but I definitely need to remember to breathe and process pitch to pitch what I’m doing, what I want to do with the next pitch.  I already feel way more comfortable with it.”

There are times perhaps it won’t be so great, and there will be hiccups along the way, but there more than three weeks still remain to iron out any flaws before Opening Day .

“It’s different for sure,’’ Ross says, “but players and athletes adjust to the rules really fast. I think we’ll be fine.’’

Ross paused, and then said, “But I’m not saying I won’t yell and scream, either.’’

Manny Machado mania

While the San Diego Padres celebrated Manny Machado’s new 11-year, $350 million contract, with a huge celebratory team dinner being planned, Machado’s former teammate couldn’t be more thrilled.

“He’s solidified himself as one of the top five players in the game, who’s on a Hall of Fame track,’’ Cubs first baseman Eric Hosmer told USA TODAY Sports, “and he’s doing everything the right way. You hear about guys who get the big contract, and maybe change their ways, but Manny was doing that after he got that first big contract [10 years, $300 million]. He’s earned every piece of that, big time."

NIGHTENGALE: How Manny Machado's new $350 million deal gives Padres flexibility to sign more stars

And now, even with all of the stars in San Diego, with five players earning at least $100 million, let’s be perfectly clear:

This is Manny Machado’s team.

“That’s what’s cool now,’’ Hosmer says. “You go to certain places, like when you went to St. Louis, you were going to Yadi’s [Molina] town. You go to Kansas City, and you were going to Salvy’s [Salvador Perez] town.

“Now, you go to San Diego, you’re pretty much going to the house that Manny built.’’

Around the bases

► Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes is no longer openly venting his frustration over the way the Brewers handled his salary arbitration hearing, meeting with the front office to talk about it, but isn’t saying everything is forgotten, either.

“It’s not necessarily smoothed over,’’ Burnes told USA TODAY Sports. “What’s done has been done. But we know we got to go out there and compete and be ready for Opening Day.

“We’re at the point now we got to get ready for the season. That’s the focus. That’s what I preach to all of the guys.’’

► Strange but true: The Royals quietly gave GM Dayton Moore a three-year contract extension just one month before firing him as president of baseball operations in October, stunning not only him, but the baseball industry. He is now senior adviser of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers.

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► Now that Los Angeles Dodgers are without shortstop Gavin Lux for the season, look for them to re-visit trade talks with the New York Yankees about Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The trouble, however, is that Kiner-Falefa is earning $6 milion and the Dodgers would like to re-set their luxury tax to pursue Shohei Ohtani without any restrictions.

The Dodgers could also reach out to the Cardinals about shortstop Paul DeJong, but he’s earning $9 million this season. Also available are infielders Nick Madrigal of the Cubs, Nicky Lopes of the Royals and Jorge Mateo of the Baltimore Orioles.

“It’s difficult, it’s not the most natural time to make a trade,’’ Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, told Los Angeles reporters. “So we’ll spend more time figuring out what’s possible. We’re not sure at this point and we’re trying to wrap our arms around the various profiles of a player and how it would fit.’’

► Just how much money do the Padres have on the books in future commitments?

Try $1.018 billion!

► There has been nothing more comical this spring than Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona talking about his dental woes after breaking a tooth, and swallowing it, eating a frozen dinner that wasn’t completely unthawed.

“I don’t understand whythey [dentists] feel the need, when they have both hands down your throat,’’ Francona says, “to ask you how the team’s going to be.’’

► Padres DH Nelson Cruz, GM on the WBC Dominican Republic team, didn’t mince words talking about his expectations: “We have the best and most talented team in the history of the World Baseball Classic.’’

Yet, two days later, Dominican first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had to back out with knee inflammation.

► Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis, who received a suspension last season for testing positive for PEDs, including the first 20 games this season, says the most painful part of the penalty is staying home during the WBC.

“Not being able to represent the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic,’’ Tatis says, “hurt me more than the suspension.’’

► The Roberto Clemente story is going to be on the big screen with award-winning producer Jonah Hirsch and AJ Munoz making a film off the book, “Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero.”

Clemente’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr. and Luis Roberto Clemente, will be the executive producers, showcasing Clemente’s Hall of Fame baseball career along with his battle for Latin American equality and social justice.

► White Sox manager Pedro Grifol is already campaigning for center fielder Luis Robert to win the MVP award.

“I told him the last time I saw somebody work like that in the outfield,’’ Grifol said, “was a nine-time Gold Glover in [Royals left fielder] Alex Gordon, the way he prepares. The way he gets after it. This guy loves to work. When you have that type of work ethic and that kind of talent, there’s no telling what can come out of that.

“This guy has got incredible talent and his attention to detail is off the charts. That combination is a recipe for greatness, really. …

“He’s an MVP candidate.’’

► Trivia of the week: Did you realize there were seven Yankee players who wore No. 3 after Babe Ruth, with the last being outfielder Cliff Mapes?

Ironically, Mapes was also the last player to wear No. 7 with the Yankees before Mickey Mantle, and the last Detroit Tigers’ player to wear No. 5 before it was retired in honor of Hank Greenberg.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB rule changes 'going great,' but could use tweaks