STEELE SPORTS

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the Minnesota Twins' opening-day game against the Houston Astros and was finally able to witness the new MLB rules designed to speed up games.

While I have to say that I was initially skeptical that the 15-second pitch clock would be good for the game when it was first announced, I can officially say I see why the league chose to implement it.

As someone who firmly believes that watching baseball on TV and in person are two completely different ballparks – pun intended – I think the pitch clock enhances both experiences tenfold.

First and foremost, arguments that games take too long and the sport moves too slowly can finally be put aside.

According to Sports Illustrated, the implementation of the pitch clock in 2023 has cut the average game time down from three hours and three minutes to just two hours and 38 minutes.

I understand that 30 minutes doesn’t sound like a crazy difference, but when you compare it to the state’s favorite sport, you begin to see the results.

The average NHL game will run 60 total minutes with 20-minute intermissions in between periods, meaning that the game will take a minimum of one hour and 40 minutes.

This number is not accounting for stoppages and commercial breaks as well.

Accounting for these variables, hockey games typically run over two hours long, meaning that baseball’s new and improved run times are progressing closer to the mean run times of other professional sports.

This is not only good for the game, but better for viewers who are interested in non-stop action.

With restrictions also being placed on pick-off plays, pitchers and batters are now focused on making at-bats as quick and efficient as possible – leaving no time to waste.

Outside of just the obvious argument of the game taking too long, another positive of a faster game is seeing the players more locked in for every pitch.

There is no longer anywhere to hide if you are not ready on the field.

With 15 seconds in between pitches, fielders have to be prepared at all times, meaning positioning and focus are crucial.

In my opinion, this concept has overall improved athletes’ abilities to make plays and gives players with weaker baseball IQs nowhere to hide.

Time will only tell if the MLB’s pitch clock is here to stay, but with all the positives I have seen so far, I have a feeling that it is going to help baseball draw an even larger audience.