The Arizona Fall League has used the Pitch Clock each of the last three years and at first I thought it was silly. As I was sitting in the most perfect weather in the country, I wanted no part of anyone forcing the game to end quicker when I wanted to spend three hours in the sun. It made no sense at first and I wasn't in favor of it. Plus it didn't have much impact on the game.
But now you are seeing the players get used to this new Pitch Clock and it is being enforced at the AFL level. The Pitch Clock is now 15 seconds and it starts as soon as the pitcher gets the ball and is called a ball if he doesn't get in the windup in 15 seconds. What you are seeing now is pitchers getting the ball back from the catcher and getting in his windup more quickly. You aren't seeing any batters stepping out of the box as they also have to be ready to hit. You can't step out and adjust your batting gloves or your privates with this faster Pitch Clock. You just don't have time to do it.
And the end result is a quicker game and a much better game. The fact that the ball is in play more often in the AFL is also a nice change. You are seeing better defensive plays in the AFL and more hit-outs than you see in today's major league game.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about: I went to five games in the AFL and the longest game was 2 hours and 45 minutes. There was a Thursday night game that featured 21 hits and it was done in 2 hours and 25 minutes. The Rising Stars All-Star Game was 2 hours and 25 minutes in a 4-2 game that was slightly delayed by the commercials on the MLB Network. We waited several times for the network when the pitchers were ready to go, yet the game still was completed in a crisp, well-played 2 hours and 25 minutes. Man, what a great game that was to sit through. And it was 72 degrees, so that was nice too.
THIS is what Major League Baseball needs to embrace. Yes, with all of the pitching changes in MLB games and with all of the long commercial breaks it will be tough to get games under 3 hours, but the AFL is proving that it can be done. And get rid of that low strike in the majors. There's no reason for it. Tighten the zone and you'll see the ball in play more often and yes a reduction in strikeouts. Hitters can't hit that pitch for positive results, so raise the strike zone and get the ball in play more often. It's happening in the AFL and it's a good game to watch.
I've seen the future of baseball and I love what I see. There are good arms coming up to the majors very, very soon. There are good hitters coming up too, but the arms in the AFL were special. I mean VERY special. And we're going to like them. But best of all, we're going to like baseball more if this new Pitch Clock is brought to the majors. It will definitely ruffle the feathers of old-time baseball lovers, but once you see how the players easily adjust to it you will like it a lot. The game flows like it should, the ball is in play more often and we start to see better defense, better outs and a crisper game. The game is so beautiful, so let's enhance the skills of the players by getting to see the ball in play more often. It can happen with two easy changes: The Pitch Clock and the raising of the strike zone just a little.
You will love it. And more importantly, the game will continue to grow in popularity. Let's do this.