Can I just say how big a difference the pitch clock makes to enjoy baseball
I have tried multiple times to get into baseball in my many decades. Couldn't do it, just too slow. I get that the deliberate pace is part of the appeal, it never worked for me though. I had stopped watching baseball years ago, aside from a little Nats WS viewing.
Then I moved to a new state and decided to try again, with the Braves. And my goodness, the pitch clock is a game changer. The flow is so much better and more uniform. Some games end in less than 3 hours. I've really enjoyed this season so far, and plan to actually attend a few games.
Bravo, MLB. Bravo.
26 Replies
M
MikeVT85
3mo
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
J
jdkhokie
3mo
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
3mo
Atlanta just seems to have a special culture there with the Braves but pitch clock is good as well.
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
3mo
Definite sense of "our team"
(In response to this post by OrlandoHokie)
3mo
a handful of games a year after that strike. I started watching again once the pitch clock was implemented. We had gone to a Reds game, and enjoyed it so much I started watching on TV. I bet I watch 3-4 games a week now. We've been to a couple of other MLB games since (Detroit & Fenway), and are bummed we won't be able to go again this year.
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
3mo
slow the game too much.
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
3mo
worse spot when they screw up than they have ever been in. That, or not have it at all.
** Edited by reestuart at 4/9/2026, 11:58:03 AM
(In response to this post by RhinoVT)
3mo
Which to me is roughly the same technology. I do thing 2 missed challenges the whole game will become a problem. Especially getting down to the playoffs and an ump makes a terrible call in the 9th that affects the game, but a team can't ABS it because they are out of challenges.
I saw Jomboy/Talkin' Baseball discussing this that had a game with 25 missed pitches the other day (egregious in itself without ABS) but they did bring up the point MLB should look at moving to something like what the NFL has with challenges. Under 2 min. is a booth initiated review. This should happen with MLB in the 9th I think. Or possibly the 8th/9th and proceeding innings.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
3mo
they don't sometimes deserve the heat, but I saw one overruled that was 1/10" out of the zone. That's just dumb.
(In response to this post by hoosnowahokie)
3mo
Close. But not quite. Those few seconds between the call, the challenge, and the result make a significant difference in the accuracy of the final call. If that happened on every single pitch people would complain about the delay
(In response to this post by reestuart)
3mo
Will solve a lot of problems.
Maybe even Recreation Level? Hard to find enough umps and then entitled parents can yell at technology instead of people.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
3mo
Cause the pitching just ain't there!
(In response to this post by Hokie Chris)
3mo
We had 4 errors and they walked us 15 times. It went 3 hours - no time limit for HS games (7 innings).
US 14R 8H 4E
THEM 15R 15H 1E
The scorekeeper had a heck of a job. He deserves hazardous duty pay or some sort of massive bonus (it was me). I hate assigning errors, because it is a stupid "statistic" that doesn't help anyone. Especially for kids and parents I like. I kind of wish we went back to my 10U rec ball scoring policy - if the ball hits the bat and you happen to somehow get to third base, that's a triple.
I would guess you could adjust the strike zone (which as you say may be needed) for the level but at least keep it consistent.
(In response to this post by Agoodhokie)
3mo
I say this as a 40+ year ump, you could literally never swing and probably score 10 runs in 60% of HS and 80% of U16 and below. Never EVER had a coach ask me to tighten my zone!
(In response to this post by Hokie Chris)
3mo
But there just aren't enough good umps out there. And it gets harder to recruit them, so the quality gets worse and worse.
Since I likely only have 3 years of baseball Dad life left, I would consider doing it except my brain works too slow. It would take me a couple seconds to decide if it was a ball or a strike. Forget about infield fly. I'd figure out a couple plays later. And my skin is to thin.
(In response to this post by Agoodhokie)
3mo
They can do it now because of the multitude of cameras and technology present. I don't think that's feasible to do at high school and community fields.
Not to mention the need for strict measurements of all players involved. That's not gonna happen at lower levels.
** Edited by Nova Hokie 95 at 4/9/2026, 1:57:00 PM
(In response to this post by Hokie Chris)
3mo
But the level of technology, the price and size, of all this stuff changes so quickly.
The amount of data you can get by strapping a phone to the fence behind home plate now is astounding. It might be quickly cheaper to buy a few boxes with cameras and install them at the fields than to pay umps if you can find them.
As I understand MLB, the model is based on the height of the player and not his stance. So everyone who is 5'9" has the same strike zone. (Also, the average size of an MLB player shrunk measurable due to the system being implemented!)
Has a way to go, but I'm not prepared to say will never happen.
(In response to this post by Nova Hokie 95)
N
No Clue
3mo
The umpires get way too many wrong for a player to be that selective on what they challenge.
(In response to this post by RhinoVT)
3mo
Routinely calls strikes that are six inches inside, outside, low or high, no problem, so long as he is consistent. Same if he calls balls that are on the corner. Hitters and pitchers know what to expect and know what the call will be. But the review can throw that calculus completely off and give one side or the other an unfair advantage.
Either have the review apply to every pitch or none.
(In response to this post by No Clue)
N
No Clue
3mo
over the place because of different batters and strike zones.
Maybe at some point, the abs system will train them since it is immediate feedback. The catchers seem to be getting really good at knowing when the umpire is wrong.
(In response to this post by RoswellGAHokie)
3mo
Yanks through 7 and the Yanks manager, bench coach and two players got ejected for arguing. Mussina was routinely throwing several inches off the plate, unhittable, yet the ump called them strikes. He eventually threw one down the middle by mistake and someone doubled. I was loving it b/c it's rare the O's get a break from the ump against the Yanks, but clearly unfair.
(In response to this post by RoswellGAHokie)
3mo
(In response to this post by RhinoVT)
3mo
Ump runs the show, directs traffic...let the bot call ALL the balls and strikes...
(In response to this post by RoswellGAHokie)
V
VTNateRx
3mo
Let ABS catch the egregious calls but leave a little grey in the game. Not everything has to be perfect.
Part of my thinking to is I was catcher and loved having to learn the umps strike zone so you could affect the game by framing pitches, you'll lose that if everything is reviewed.
Admittedly I think I'm on the opposite side from most people but think the umps calling balls/strikes should be a core part of baseball.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)