Major League Baseall's new rules have consequences and some hitters who are struggling. at the plate could be due to the new rules instituting the pitch clock – former National Juan Soto, who is off to a slow start on the year, said he did not like the pace of play rule limiting his ability to play mind games with the pitcher.
"It really is affecting the hitters more than the pitchers and I wouldn't have guessed that when we introduced this thing," Rizzo said during his weekly appearance with 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office
"I see the majority of the players making the adjustment and getting their pitch sequences and at-bats underneath them," he told the Junkies. "I think you see more and more, day-by-day pitchers and hitters are making the adjustment. I think overall it's a great thing for the game is to quicken it up, have the pace of the game be a little faster. I think the enjoyment of the game for the fan base is what it's all about."
One player who is struggling at the plate so far is Joey Meneses, who was a big bat in the Washington lineup in 2022, slashing .324/.367/.563 for a .930 OPS (165 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in just 56 games. But fresh off a solid World Baseball Classic, 31-year-old first baseman is off to a slow start.
"He's gotta get his rhythm at the plate," Rizzo told the Junkies Wednesday. "I think that the WBC was good for some people and kinda detrimental to others. I think that his rhythm at the plate is off a little bit, he's kinda in-between pitches and when you get in that position you start guessing at the plate a little bit. And inevitably it seems like you always guess wrong. You're looking fastball and you get breaking ball, and you're looking breaking ball and you get the fastball and I think he's in that position right now."
Representing Mexico, Meneses had 10 hits in 27 at-bats with two HRs and six RBI.
"He just needs to relax and they're working on some things mechanically with him pregame and I think the base hit to right field a couple games ago was indicative of what he needs to do to continue to be a good hitter in the big leagues. And I think you'll see that double, home run power come back when he gets his stroke back underneath him," Rizzo said.
The Nats' GM also said expect to see more steal attempts – a byproduct of the new rules – to increase when Washington players who are base stealers get more comfortable on the basepaths.
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