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MIAMI — Major League Baseball plans to send rule clarifications to teams, players and umpires on the new rules for the upcoming season, providing time to make the necessary adjustments by Opening Day.
There will no actual rule changes, and the pitch clock will remain the same – 15 seconds with no one on base and 20 seconds with runners on base – but simple modifications will be made, MLB and union officials say.
“We had a series of clarifications that we’re going to announce shortly,’’ Manfred said, “things that have come out of player input conversations that have taken place. We have another set of issues that we want to see some regular-season games before we make a decision on them.
“I’ve met with six teams, already, our feet are not in stone this. On one hand, we are prepared to make adjustments based on input, on the other hand, we want to give it a chance to see exactly how it plays out after a period of adjustments in some regular season games before we make any really significant changes.’’
Among the adjustments:
- Pitchers will be informed that no warmup pitches will be permitted with less than 30 seconds left on the clock in between innings.
- Baserunners, who are running on a pitch, will be given time by the umpires to get back on a foul balls.
- Hitters also will be given time to be set in the batter’s box, with at least eight seconds left on the pitch clock, preventing quick pitches.
The modifications were discussed Monday in a rules committee meeting.
“The clarifications are important in my mind,’’ Manfred said, “because they are responses to things players said.’’
Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale
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