Much of the pitch clock discourse in baseball is centered around the impact it has on pitchers.
Hitters would like a word.
A pitch clock has been instituted in minor league baseball, and the early returns – at least in terms of trimming down game times – have been promising.
“Games are definitely a lot shorter,” Boston Red Sox prospect Alex Binelas told WEEI’s “The Bradfo Sho” podcast. “We started at 7:05 last night, and we were done by I think it was 9:15, so a little over a two-hour game.”
As the human attention span continues to get shorter, that’s promising.
But the pitch clock has thrown routines for hitters and pitchers alike on its head. From the second the pitcher steps on the mound, he has 14 seconds to throw the ball with bases empty, and 18 with runners on. However, there’s a clock working against hitters too, Binelas explained, and it’s a quick one.
“I’d say I kind of like it, but sometimes it definitely can get kind of annoying,” he said. “I’m walking up to the plate doing my routine … and I’m stepping in and the umpire is like ‘He’s ready, he’s ready. You’ve got two seconds.’ And I’m like what? I’ve never heard that before. The next at-bat he’s going ‘you’ve got three seconds’ and he’s telling me how many seconds I’ve got.
“We’ve had two guys get a strike called on them, because right when the pitcher gets the ball and steps on the mound, the 14 seconds starts counting down. As a batter, you have until the clock hits nine seconds to be in the box, looking at the pitcher. So if you’re not looking at the pitcher by that nine-second mark, the umpire will call time and give you a strike. …
“It is uncomfortable for the hitter, I’ve seen more strikes called then balls called. I’ve seen four strikes called and one ball called. … If you foul a ball off and it goes in the stands and you want to regroup yourself and take a swing, you’ve got to do that immediately. You have a few seconds when the umpire gets the ball out, gives it to the catcher, catcher throws it back and by the time the pitcher steps on the mound, you’ve got five seconds to get ready pretty much.”
While some pitchers have been hammered for their plodding pace, others move rapidly because it helps them get in a rhythm. Chris Sale, for example, is a quick worker, and when he’s really motoring, he’s basically beginning his delivery the second the hitter looks like he’s ready.
Of course, the number one way to rectify that issue is by stepping out of the box, taking your time and disrupting the pitcher’s pace.
You can say goodbye to that.
“Yesterday, the starting pitcher was getting in a good groove against us,” Binelas said. “He was getting right back to the mound, getting a sign and boom. Getting on the mound, getting a sign, boom. And we’re like dude, we’ve got to slow him down a little bit, but if we do we’re getting a strike called on us. … A lot of guys are getting pretty annoyed at the plate.”
Binelas, a 2021 third-round pick of the Brewers who went to Boston in the trade that resulted in the Jackie Bradley Jr. reunion, reiterated that he thinks the change largely is for the good. Ultimately, guys simply are going to have to adapt. Judging by Binelas’ take on the clock, some might have to make substantial adjustments.
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