Matt Slocum/AP
Baseball has always been known as a sport that values tradition and history. However, in recent years, there has been a growing debate about the use of a pitch clock and illegal substances The pitch clock is a countdown timer that requires pitchers to throw a pitch within 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base. The “sticky stuff” is used by pitchers to get a better grip and spin rate on the baseball. The team came down hard on sticky stuff in 2021, but eased back in 2022. However, new reports state they are cracking down again this season. This means we will now have the pitch clock AND sticky police on the field. Let’s talk about the pitch clock first.
Supporters of the pitch clock argue that it would speed up the game, which has become notoriously slow in recent years. In 2022, the average game time in MLB was 3 hours and 3 minutes, up from 2 hours and 46 minutes in 2005. Proponents of the pitch clock believe that by forcing pitchers to throw pitches more quickly, the game would become more exciting, and more accessible to a younger audience. This remains to be seen as even a 2-hour, and 46-minute game is a lot for this new generation of tech-addicted children.
Opponents of the pitch clock argue that it would fundamentally change the nature of the game. Baseball has always been a sport that has allowed for moments of contemplation and strategy, and a pitch clock could remove that element. Pitchers might also feel rushed and not have enough time to properly prepare for each pitch, leading to a decline in the quality of pitching.
There are also concerns about the impact that a pitch clock would have on the mental and physical health of players. Pitchers, in particular, would be under increased pressure to throw quickly, which could lead to injuries and burnout. Batters also now are rushed into the box and are limited in when they can call time out.
Despite these concerns, several minor league baseball leagues have already implemented the pitch clock, which have been met with mixed results. In the Arizona Fall League, where the pitch clock was introduced in 2014, game times were reduced by an average of 15 minutes. If that holds true we can plan on seeing games around 2 hours and 50 minutes this year in the MLB.
However, with the news that the league is going to come down hard on sticky stuff again this year, the results could be disastrous. I won’t get into a long tangent about it, but many players prefer pitchers to use some sort of substance so that they can better control their pitches, resulting in less HBP. My fear now is that with the pitchers rushing because of the pitch clock and “sticky stuff” being cracked down on we will see a big jump in HBP. Time will tell, but I think it should be a point of conversation.