The Boys of Summer Get Ready for Another Season
In the doldrums of winter, there’s always a beacon that shows the way to spring and summer—the beginning of spring training, when the world’s best baseball players convene in Florida and Arizona to shake off the rust and get ready for another season. Fifteen teams, including the world Champion Houston Astros, will travel to Florida, and another 15 will head to the desert in Arizona. Opening Day is scheduled for March 30, with three games on the calendar—defending champions Houston hosting the Chicago White Sox, the San Francisco Giants traveling to Yankee Stadium to take on the Bronx Bombers, the rejuvenated and newly named Cleveland Guardians making the sojourn to Seattle to take on the Mariners.
What’s New for Major League Baseball in 2023?
MLB fans will see a number of new rules this year, rules which have been tested and refined in the minor leagues. Here are the most significant ones:
- The pitch clock—Following most other major sports, baseball is trying to move the game along by instituting a time limit between pitches. Effective this season, a pitcher will be required to throw the next pitch within 15 seconds, if there are no runners on base. The clock will be extended to 20 seconds when there are runners on base. If a pitcher violates the pitch clock, a ball will be added to the count. If the batter is not in the box by the time the clock expires, a strike will be added to the count.
- The new “pickoff” rule—A pickoff attempt, fake pickoff or step from the pitching rubber will be designated as a “disengagement.” A pitcher may have only two disengagements per plate appearance, unless a runner advances a base. The number of disengagements is then reset. A pitcher who violates the rule will be charged with a balk, which will allow runners to advance one base.
- The shift—This rule prohibits the defensive team from having more than two infielders on either side of second base when a pitch is thrown. All infielders must also be on the infield dirt or infield grass. Furthermore, an infielder cannot switch from one side of second base to the other side in the middle of an inning. If the fielding team violates the rule, the hitting team can choose to either add a ball to the existing count or accept the consequences of the play.
