Astros take on new speed of play, mound visits rules

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – If major league baseball officials have their way, fans will get in and out of ballparks more quickly in 2018.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has a goal of speeding up play, and he has announced some changes after spending time with players representing all 30 organizations across major league baseball.

Manfred says there will be no pitch clock in 2018, but a change has been instituted when it comes to mound visits. He hopes the pitch clock discussion can be readdressed at a later date with the Players Association.

Sign theft is also an ongoing issue in baseball that Manfred want to see go away. It’s been a part of the game for a long time, but in recent years, it has become more of an issue. While mound visits will now be limited to six trips per nine innings, new lines of communication tied to sign stealing will be implemented. The solution, for now, involves communication options between the team dugout and video review rooms inside the stadiums.  

It all comes down to pace of play in games, and everyone involved in the sport wants to see improvements.   

“Players are getting more aware of the advantage you get by paying attention on second base,” Collin McHugh said. “All the info is out there at our fingertips through the video replay room. Anything you want to know, you can figure out. You have to counteract that on the pitcher and catcher side.”

Mound visits will be limited to six during a nine-inning game, with additional visits available if a game goes to extra innings. MLB’s new rule will be tied to any player trips to the hill, or any coach or team manager visiting the mound during a game.

To help with speed of play, the timing between innings will not change. Two to two-and-a-half minutes will remain the standard. 

“You saw it in playoffs and in (the) season, players are changing signs every pitch, every inning  and every batter to try and keep things honest. For us, we understand that slows the game down," McHugh said. "That’s one of the things we hope to discuss and make adjustments to that. We understand there is an integrity issue with that, and also keeping the game going and not burn a mound visit because you have to change signs."

Astros left hander Dallas Keuchel weighed  in on the subject Tuesday morning.

"I know Stromy (pitching coach Brent Strom) gets his cardio in before the game, so maybe it’s good for him. You have technology in 2018 where teams are trying to get edges on other teams and win at all costs. If a video guy can steal your signs and figure out pitch sequences then that’s what they are going to do,” Keuchel said. “We have to combat that with something. I'm not going to be out there with other teams knowing what I am throwing, that will kill my career.  That’s every pitcher and catcher because every catcher cares about the pitching staff.   Guys behind us don’t want to play defense for 45 minutes at a time, so we’ll switch signs up. If that takes longer than (it does presently) so be it."