(New York) Major League Baseball widened the running lane toward first base, adding a playing portion, thus modifying a more than century-old rule that caused controversy following an obstruction ruling in the World Series.
MLB also reduced the time allowed for pitchers to pitch with runners in the lanes from two seconds to 18, as well as further reducing the number of mound visits to shave a few more minutes off the length of games.
Another rule adopted Thursday by the 11-member competition committee is that a pitcher who warms up on the mound between half innings must now face at least one batter.
The new corridor for runners replaces the one established by the National League in 1882. This three-foot-wide corridor covers the last 45 feet leading to the first bag, in the foul zone. Those who did not comply could be removed for obstructing defensive players as they attempted to throw.
The rule was created to avoid collisions. Foul territory first crossed first and third bases in the middle before the bases were completely put into play in 1887.
The new rule expands this area to include 18 to 24 inches in play to the start of the grass in the infield. MLB will provide a grace period before implementing this rule as it requires modification of certain artificial surfaces.
The old rule brought its share of frustrations, as right-handed hitters must inevitably begin their run toward first base in fair territory.
The interpretation of the rule by some referees also generated several discussions.
“This will make life easier for the umpires and the players,” said official Sam Holbrook, himself involved in an obstruction call — and the ensuing argument — during the 2019 World Series. Runners will be able to run directly to first base, especially right-handed people. We’ve been talking about this for a long time and I think they’re trying to do the right thing [avec ce changement]. »
Speed up matches
One of the priorities of this committee continues to be to speed up the games.
Nine-inning games took an average of two hours and 40 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes) to play last season, with the former using a time limit between pitches. These were the shortest matches since 1985. This cruising speed carried over to the playoffs, while the average length was 3:01, the lowest since 1996.
The duration of matches, however, increased throughout the season, going from 2h37 in April to 2h44 in September.
To make meetings more restricted, teams will now have to limit themselves to four visits to the mound instead of five. They can still get one in the ninth inning if they run out of one after the eighth. The catcher can also call a visit to the mound, stopping the clock, without going there. The dial will also reset after a foul ball once the pitcher receives a new ball, not when he returns to the mound, as the rule said in 2023. MLB hopes to eliminate unnecessary “health walks” for pitchers with this ruler.
Major Baseball has stressed the obligation of a reliever who throws his warm-up pitches from the mound to face at least one batter to eliminate these timeouts, which occurred 24 times this season and two other times in the World Series.
Six managers, one referee and four players make up this committee, chaired by Seattle Mariners president John Stanton. Three other rule changes were considered but put on hold for now.
