LEARNING THE NEW GAME OF BASEBALL—CHANGES IN 2023

Baseball has been around since the mid-1800s. And it certainly has changed—in cost, in style, in culture, in teams and yes, even rules. The rules of the game are supposed to support the growth, safety and evolution of the sport. And over the years, the game has gotten a face lift. So, it is a new learning curve for those of us who are traditionalists and liked the game of the 1970s, 1980s and you get the picture. This year we need to relearn the game of baseball—let's dig into what the changes are and how they will impact fans and players alike.

One of the biggest fans and avid readers of BYB is my mother—Dore. She shares her love of the game in her comments, texts and in watching the game together with me. In late 2022, she celebrated her 80th birthday and as a longtime baseball fan, I take her comments very seriously—and of course because she is my mom. She texted this week: "What do you have to say about MLB's new pitching and batting rules?" My response was simply, "Let me dig into it deeper in a piece this weekend." So this piece is multi-generational, just like the fans of this game. And there are Six Big Changes to unpack!

1. Bigger Bases—The bases have grown to 18 inches by 18 inches instead of the traditional 15-by-15 that has been part of the game pretty much forever. Now you might not think that this is all that different, but trust me, when Buck Showalter of the Mets says "Wow!" at his first look at them in action, the change is dramatic. The purpose of this change is to help prevent injuries for base runners and fielders. 

Source: Morry Gash/AP Photo

2. Stricter Rules Surrounding Balks— According to MLB, "The rule says the pitcher is permitted to take one step back (or laterally) and one step forward. Thus, taking multiple steps before lifting the free leg is now deemed an illegal pitch movement." So, no more weird movements will be tolerated. 

Source: NJ.com

3. Ghost Runners Are Here to Stay— To me, that was the first rule they should have eliminated. I would rather have the shift than this ridiculous rule. It takes teams out of the game. It is artificial. It is even more in-authentic than the 7-inning double header rule, which I also dislike. Honestly, what is the rush? The rule is in place to help speed up the game. Sometimes extra innings can go on forever, but I disagree that it loses its dramatic effect. And I am sure the home stadium misses the extra concessions. 

4. Specific Rules for Position Players as Pitchers—According to MLB, a position player may only pitch if the game is in extras, in the 9th inning when trailing by 8 or more runs, or in the 9th inning when leading by 10 or more runs. Honestly, this is fine. It helps to keep the game real. This isn't Little League after all.

5. The Pitch Clock Will Be Real—This could cause some significant problems for pitchers and batters alike. In an effort to speed up the game, MLB has enforced the pitch clock which calls for pitchers to deliver their pitch within 15 seconds with no one on base, and 20 seconds with runners on base or they will be charged with a ball. Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark or they will be charged with an automatic strike. Yikes, let's see how that goes. 

6. The Shift is Over—According to MLB, "With the new rule changes, defensive teams will be required to have a minimum of four players on the infield, with at least two infielders completely on either side of second base." This is to increase batting averages which have gone down with the shift in place. This also enables the defense to get even more creative. For instance, teams can call in an outfielder to serve as a fifth infielder, which could increase the use of utility players who are used to both infield and outfield positions. This could get interesting.

Source: Twitter

You know, change is difficult but at times, very necessary. If you are feeling fatigued, you do something about it. If something doesn't fit right, you exchange it. If you are in a rut, you diagnose it, sometimes with help and you make a change, and try something new. We all have had our ups and downs in life. And as we evolve, we change. 

So, mom, and anyone else who is ready to embrace change in the sport you have loved your whole life, 2023 will provide a lot of opportunity to relearn the game of baseball. There will be more strategic moves, faster games and hopefully less injuries. What do you think about the new changes? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof