Major League Baseball (MLB) recently announced that they will be allowing pitch clock delays following player input. This is a major change in the way the game is played, and it has been met with both excitement and criticism.
The pitch clock is a timer that counts down from 20 seconds, and it is used to ensure that pitchers don’t take too long between pitches. This helps to speed up the game and keep it moving along. MLB had previously implemented the pitch clock in the minor leagues, but now they are allowing teams to delay it if players request it.
The idea behind this change is to give players more control over the pace of the game. It allows them to take a few extra seconds if they need to make a decision or adjust their approach. This could be beneficial for pitchers who need to take a few extra seconds to think through their strategy, as well as for hitters who need a few extra seconds to get ready for the pitch.
However, some critics have argued that this change will slow down the game too much. They point out that the pitch clock was originally implemented to speed up the game, and allowing delays could lead to longer games. They also argue that this could lead to more games going into extra innings, which would further slow down the pace of play.
Overall, this change is a major shift in the way MLB games are played. It gives players more control over the pace of the game, which could be beneficial for certain players. However, it could also lead to longer games and more extra innings, which could slow down the pace of play. Only time will tell if this change will be beneficial for MLB or not.