You have the pitch clock. You have the elimination of shifts. And, then there are the new bases.
Of all the rule changes, the enlarged bases probably have gotten the least traction. But maybe it's time to take a closer look. Certainly, after Alex Cora's comment Tuesday morning regarding the new equipment the unveiling got a bit more attention.
"The bases, they're the bases," Cora told reporters. "Wait 'til you see them -- they look like a pizza box, to be honest with you."
The bases have gone from 15 square inches to 18 square inches, a move made for what Major League Baseball believes is for safety. But another part of the equation is what the increased base size will do for the running game.
Think about it: The basepaths are now shortened by four inches, giving the baserunners an advantage on all those bang-bang plays.
There was just one player with more than than 40 stolen bases in MLB last season, with the Red Sox being led by Trevor Story's 13 swipes.
The new landscape was one reason why the Red Sox prioritized a player like infielder David Hamilton, who was added to the 40-man roster after stealing 70 bases for Double-A Portland, getting caught just eight times.




