Thoughts on MLB's Pitch Clock

Photo by si.com

We're two months into the 2023 Major League Baseball Season and the "new" rules seem to be helping the game that used to be America's pastime.

MLB claims games are roughly a half hour shorter than they were last year. I did a quick check yesterday and of the 16 games played, four were over three hours, three more were within five minutes of three hours and the other nine were less than 2:55 in length.

As a fan I am happy the games are shorter.  No one liked watching pitchers step off of the rubber and batters step out of the box on what seemed like almost every pitch. The 15/20 second pitch clock has made a big difference but there are still some issues needing to be addressed.

Many MLB umpires, for whatever reason, are unwilling to call the strike zone as it is written.  Many pitches near the bottom of the zone are being called balls resulting in hitters taking what should legitimately be called strikes.  This results in more pitches and batters waiting out pitchers for walks.  Walks slow down the game and add to the time needed to play the game not to mention the lack of action on the field.  MLB needs to address this immediately and force the umpires to call the strike zone correctly.  This issue can be resolved with technology that's currently being tested in the minor leagues.  The robot umpire doesn't miss any pitches in the strike zone.

Both hitters and pitchers are lobbying to increase the length of the time clock. Currently hitters are allowed to call one time out per at bat as are pitchers.  But, both sides are wanting the play clock to be longer.  I have heard some inane arguments from both sides saying the games are too fast and fans don't have a chance to go to the concession stand without missing a chunk of the game.  I call baloney.  MLB must keep the existing play clock times in effect.  If anything they can probably be shortened a few seconds with runners on base.

Time will tell if the players end up getting their way or the fans can expect reasonably played games at a relatively snappy pace.  If the games go back to their old length of over three hours and 15 minutes fans will stay away in droves and both attendance and TV ratings will continue to fall.

Wow, Did I Miss Calling that Series!

In my previous post of nine days ago I predicted the Atlanta Braves would sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in a National League Divisional Series.  I blew the call.  The Cards won the series three games to two this afternoon and advance to the National League Championship Series against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Washington Nationals.  (The outcome has not been determined as I write this).

In the decisive game this afternoon the Cards scored ten runs in the first inning and the rest, as they say, is history.  Redbird starter Jack Flaherty was sharp and pitched six strong innings giving up only one run as the Cards went on to win 13-1.  Flaherty is only 23 years old and if you are not familiar with him, watch him pitch.  He is something special and might be one of the great ones if he stays healthy.  Many times this season he pitched when his teammates did not give him run support or the bullpen blew a save.  But, he still  posted an 11-8 record with an ERA of just 2.75.

This Cardinal team has surpassed my expectations, especially when you think how feckless it was at the All-Star break. On July 12 the Birds were 44-45, three games back of the then division leading Chicago Cubs.  I don't know what will happen from this point on but the rest of the season is gravy.  Game one of the NLCS will be Friday night in either Los Angeles or St. Louis.

Where Did April Go?

Here it is the last night of the month and it seems to me as if the month just started.  Lent and Easter have come and gone and another baseball season is a sixth of the way finished.

When I get some time in the coming days I will write about the games I am seeing this year and the continuing trends from previous years that are not for the best of the game.  Just look back to my posts of last October and you will figure out what is on my mind.

I hope it's been a good April for you and you have a great May!

Where did May Go?

Its been a good month, but it seems like it was just May Day.  I have been busy with work, volunteering for several organizations and then taking care of two homes and yards. I've also been keeping up with three kids who are playing baseball this summer.

I am also a die hard St. Louis Cardinal fan and have been disappointed by their lack of hitting, particularly timely hitting. I still believe the Cardinals have the pitching to get them to post season, but the hitting is suspect. As I wrote last month I hope the bats warm up as the weather gets hotter.

Finally in this look back on May, I want to thank all veterans who have served the United States.  Thank you to all who have served or are serving abroad or at home be you active, reserves or retired.  And thank you to all of our men and women and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation.  I sleep easy at night time knowing you are protecting me.

Have a good one and I promise to post more quickly next time.

Farewell to Baseball's Perfect Knight

Stan Musial now belongs to the ages.  I am saddened by the passing of my childhood hero.  Stan "The Man" died today at the age of 92.

As an eight year old kid my Dad would take me to the original Sportsman's Park on North Grand Avenue.  I can recall seeing "The Man" hit balls over the right field screen during batting practice.  I also saw my share of Musial home runs during the games.  He ended his career with 475 HRs and even more impressively 3630 hits.  You know what made that even more special?  Mr. Musial had 1815 hits at home and 1815 on the road.

The Man appeared in 24 All-Star games, which to this day has been tied by only Willie Mays. Stan the Man won three MVP awards and was a player on three World Series champions. Even more impressively Stan was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in his first year of eligibility in 1969.

Yes, Stan Musial was baseball's perfect warrior.  On the occasion of his retirement in 1963, then baseball commissioner, Ford Frick uttered the following; "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior, here stands baseball's perfect knight".

The NFL is Back

What a great day. I just got back from watching the 10 year old play his first tournament of the fall season...and he played well.

Now, I'm watching football at a local watering hole that has the NFL Sunday Ticket. It Rocks. This place has over 500 beers and WiFi. I think this is (outside of sex) as good as it gets!!!

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Who cares?

Redbirds are Stinking it Up

This year's version of the St. Louis Cardinals is an enigma. They win when they have to against relatively good teams, but then when they play the lower division outfits, they stink up the place.

The team has lost four in a row now and really aren't playing very good defense and at times just lack hustle. This squad should have been 5 - 10 games out in front of the rest of the division by now but instead are 4.5 behind the Cincinnati Reds at the start of play today. Granted the Cards have been beaten up by injuries all year and have lost their 4 & 5 starters. They've also lost games at third base and in the outfield due to injuries.

But, as hurt as the team has been this year, they still have more raw talent than anyone else in the NL Central. My thought is something is missing from this squad. And my guess is there is a divisiveness or dissension on the team. If that's the case it's manager Tony LaRussa's job to figure out how to make everyone play nice together. But, the bottom line is the Birds are not winning like they should be and now are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. I may be wrong, but this club doesn't look like it has any fight in it and it is just going through the motions.

The Cardinals Get a Wake Up Call

The Birdies went to Philadelphia this week and played a good team in the Phillies. The result - the Cards lost three out of four, and they didn't do much hitting or more accuratly much timely hitting.

So, while the Birds are the best in the NL Central, they are by no means the best in the National League. That honor must be reserved for the Phillies or Giants. The Cards have three good starters right now and the best everyday player in the game. Outside of that the bullpen is suspect and two of their brightest prospects are not hitting. I know it's a long season but let's hope the hitting comes around as the weather warms up. Otherwise, it will be another year of close but no cigar.

Life Is Good!

As I write this I am sitting out on the back patio barbecuing chicken and drinking a Founder's Centennial IPA. The IPA is very drinkable. (Someone should teach Anheuser-Busch what drinkability really is).

To top it off I am watching the Dodgers and the Mariners on satellite (you know I am a huge baseball fan) and blogging on my laptop. Indeed life is good!