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Friday, March 31, 2023

MLB new rules: Opening Day 2023 sees faster games, more stolen bases and Mets-Marlins confusion

The average length of the 15 games was two hours and 45 minutes. For reference, last season’s average game lasted three hours and three minutes. In other words, Opening Day bouts were about 18 minutes shorter than the typical contest was in 2022. The range included the Blue Jays-Cardinals marathon (relatively anyway) that lasted more than three hours and 30 minutes, as well as a Tigers-Rays sprint that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.

As for stolen bases, teams went 21 for 23 on those. That works out to 1.53 attempts per game. Last season, teams attempted 0.67 stolen bases per game. If the first day of the year was any indication, teams are going to be far more aggressive thanks to the bigger bases and the limited number of “disengagement” that pitchers are afforded per plate appearance..

Lastly, we’ll note that there were 14 pitch-timer violations. Nine were recorded by pitchers or fielders, five by hitters.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: March 31, 2023 at 11:21 AM | 14 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: pitch clock, stolen bases

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1. Walt Davis Posted: March 31, 2023 at 03:10 PM (#6122038)

The listed SB numbers are incorrect. Last year it was 0.67 attempts per TEAM-GAME or 1.34 per game. This year's pace would result in 3,726 attempts; last year there were 3,297 attempts. That's still a solid 13% increase.

EDIT: I will add that 21 for 23 is crazy and if success rates stay up there, teams will run even more.

2. Walt Davis Posted: March 31, 2023 at 10:29 PM (#6122104)

In other episodes of one-day small-sample theater: K-rate up to 26.2% ... HR rate down to 1.9% (as many SB as HR) ... AL 3-0 vs NL ... Jays hitting 442 ... TWO teams with 9 walks ... 4 teams with 15+ Ks (scoring a total of 16 runs) ... 4 teams with 5 Ks (scoring a total of 14 runs).

3. kirstie819 Posted: April 03, 2023 at 11:06 AM (#6122381)

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4. KronicFatigue Posted: April 03, 2023 at 11:28 AM (#6122387)

I bet pitch-outs become more prevalent. They felt non existent last season, but with more stealing attempts and less tools to prevent that, the pitchout will have to come back.

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 03, 2023 at 11:49 AM (#6122390)

@JeffPassan
·
The first four days of the MLB season, by the numbers:

Games

2023: 50
2022: 49

Time of game

2023: 2:38
2022: 3:09

Batting

2023: .245/.323/.392
2022: .230/.308/.374

SB

2023: 70 of 84 (83.3%)
2022: 29 of 43 (67.4%)

Pitch clock violations

2023: 40 (0.8 per game)
2022: N/A

No data on portable fans sold.

6. jmurph Posted: April 03, 2023 at 12:56 PM (#6122400)

7. Der-K's enjoying the new boygenius album. Posted: April 03, 2023 at 02:02 PM (#6122422)

4: and moreso, catcher pickoffs

8. vortex of dissipation Posted: April 03, 2023 at 02:48 PM (#6122429)

You should also consider buying a portable fan if you have an open floor plan in your home. Portable fans are great for circulating the air in larger rooms.

Portable fans are great because they'll root for any team. Just make sure they know what team you support, and they'll be happy to cheer for them. The only problem with portable fans is that with the new pitch clock rules, they'll have trouble moving from room to room in time if you're watching multiple games in several rooms.

9. Booey Posted: April 03, 2023 at 03:01 PM (#6122431)

Gotta be honest; bot or not, kirstie819's posts sometimes make me chuckle due to how random and completely irrelevant they are to the discussion at hand!

10. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: April 03, 2023 at 03:24 PM (#6122442)

Those numbers in post 5 are great to see. And obviously I can't speak to the experience of the players, but it doesn't feel rushed, it just feels totally normal. It's incredible that we put up with the terrible pace of play for so long.

It's a small sample size, but I've been saying for a while that the pitch clock would help solve the recent offensive declines because pitchers won't be able to throw as hard on every pitch with less recovery time between throws. I'm curious whether Ks are down as well.

11. Booey Posted: April 03, 2023 at 04:00 PM (#6122451)

I'm very excited about the early results of the new rules. They've (so far) solved most of my biggest problems with the modern game. My only concern is that the last major issue remaining IMO - the decrease in IP for starters and the endless parade of anonymous, interchangeable relievers - might actually be exacerbated by these changes. Will starters tire out quicker and pitch even fewer innings with less rest between pitches? Or will they adjust and learn that they don't need to throw as hard as they can on every pitch to be effective? I'm hoping for the latter but expecting the former.

12. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: April 04, 2023 at 02:55 PM (#6122590)

a Tigers-Rays sprint that lasted two hours and 14 minutes

Speaking for all Tigers fans everywhere, I think we'd all be happier if Detroit's games were over as quickly as possible.

13. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 04, 2023 at 03:33 PM (#6122594)

It's a small sample size, but I've been saying for a while that the pitch clock would help solve the recent offensive declines because pitchers won't be able to throw as hard on every pitch with less recovery time between throws. I'm curious whether Ks are down as well.

IIRC, the minors did not see a significant change in K rates or pitcher injuries, but MLB pitchers are obviously different.

14. kirstie819 Posted: April 09, 2023 at 09:07 AM (#6123173)

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Friday, March 31, 2023

MLB new rules: Opening Day 2023 sees faster games, more stolen bases and Mets-Marlins confusion

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