Look: Baseball World Reacts To Controversial Pitch Clock
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 11: A general view of the ballpark during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at PETCO Park on July 11, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
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Last September, the MLB Competition Committee approved a pitch clock to create a quicker pace of play.
For starters, a 30-second timer between batters has been implemented for the 2023 season.
There's a 15-second timer in place between pitches when the bases are empty. The timer increases to 20 seconds when there are runners on base.
On Friday afternoon, we had a chance to see the pitch clock in action. Let's just say it makes for an awkward viewing experience.
It looked as if Padres right-hander Nick Martinez was rushing through his routine because of the 15-second timer.
Some baseball fans aren't extremely fond of this new rule.
"I think I'm only just now realizing how much this is going to stress me out as a viewer," Brenden Schaffer said. "I get secondhand stress when teams in a basketball game get near the end of a shot clock. This is going to be like that except for every dang pitch."
On the flip side, there are fans who like the change of pace.
"So much better," one fan tweeted.
Another fan wrote, "I love it."
This pitch clock could end up being a disaster when it's all said and done, but it's too early to tell.
All that really matters is the overall product doesn't get damaged by this new rule.
