HOUSTON – In an attempt to improve pace of play, Major League Baseball will implement several measures during the 2018 season.
The league will proceed with a rule change limiting the number of mound visits and will implement changes to reduce the time required for inning breaks and pitching changes.
"I am pleased that we were able to reach an understanding with the Players Association to take concrete steps to address pace of play with the cooperation of players. My strong preference is to continue to have ongoing dialogue with players on this topic to find mutually acceptable solutions," Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
The Commissioner's Office also is taking steps to expedite the replay review process and to deter sign-stealing through the use of electronic equipment. MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to meet during the 2018 championship season to continue to discuss pace of play.
Below is a summary of 2018 rule changes
Mound Visits: Mound visits without a pitching change shall be limited to six per team, per nine innings. For any extra innings played, each club shall be entitled to one additional non-pitching change mound visit per inning.
Definition of mound visit: A manager or coach trip to the mound to meet with the pitcher shall constitute a visit. A player leaving his position to confer with the pitcher, including a pitcher leaving the mound to confer with another player, shall also constitute a mound visit, regardless of where the visit occurs or the length of the visit.
The following shall not constitute mound visits:
- Discussions between pitchers and position player(s) that occur between batters in the normal course of play and do not require either the position player(s) or the pitcher to relocate.
- Visits by position players to the mound to clean spikes in rainy conditions.
- Visits to the mound due to an injury or potential injury of the pitcher.
- Visits to the mound after the announcement of an offensive substitution.
Cross-up in signs: In the event a team has exhausted its allotment of mound visits in a game (or extra inning) and the home plate umpire determines that the catcher and pitcher did not have a shared understanding of the location or type of pitch that had been signaled by the catcher (otherwise referred to as a "cross-up"), the home plate umpire may, upon request of the catcher, allow the catcher to make a brief mound visit. Any mound visit resulting from a cross-up prior to a team exhausting its allotted number of visits shall count against a team's total number of allotted mound visits.
Inning breaks and pitching changes
Time of break: The timer will count down from 2:05 for breaks in locally televised championship season games, from 2:25 for breaks in nationally televised championship season games, and from 2:55 for tie-breaker and postseason games as follows:
- The pitcher may take as many warmup pitches as he desires, but regardless of how many warmup pitches he has thrown, he must deliver his final warmup pitch at least 20 seconds prior to the end of an inning break or pitching change. OBR 5:07 will be revised to reflect that pitcher is not guaranteed eight warmup pitches.
- The umpire shall signal for the last warmup pitch at 25 seconds, unless a special circumstance (as described below) applies.
- The batter must leave the on-deck circle and proceed directly to the batter's box when the pitcher throws his final warmup pitch.
- The pitcher must begin his motion for the first pitch as soon as the batter steps into the box and is alert to the pitcher; provided, however, the pitcher cannot begin his motion for the first pitch more than five seconds prior to the end of an inning break or pitching change so that television is ensured to be back from commercial break.
Special circumstances
A player will be excused from following the time limits set forth above if the umpire determines that any of the following special circumstances are present:
- There is a delay in normal warmup activities during the inning break due to no fault of the players (e.g., injury or other medical emergency, equipment issues, playing field or grounds crew issues).
- The umpire believes the pitcher is at a legitimate risk of injury if he does not receive additional time to throw warmup pitches.
- The umpire believes the batter is at a legitimate risk of injury if he does not receive additional time to enter the batter's box.
- Any other special circumstances which, in the umpire's judgment, warrant allowing the pitcher to throw after the deadline.
Start of timer for inning breaks
Last out of inning: The timer shall start on the last out of an inning for an inning break.
Close plays/replay review: The Field Timing Coordinator shall delay the start of the timer if the final out of the inning is a close play that may be reviewed by instant replay. If the final out of the inning is determined in instant replay, the timer shall start as soon as the out is signaled by the umpire.
Pitcher or catcher on base/on deck: If a pitcher ends an inning on base, on deck, or at bat, the timer shall reset when the pitcher leaves the dugout for the mound. If a catcher ends the inning on base, on deck, or at bat, the timer will reset when the catcher enters the dugout (and another catcher must begin warming up the pitcher).
Start of timer for pitching changes
Pitcher crosses warning track: The pitching change timer shall begin as soon as the relief pitcher crosses the warning track (or foul line for on-field bullpens) to enter the game. In the case of a pitching change that occurs during an inning break, the timer shall reset if previously started as soon as the relief pitcher crosses the warning track (or foul line for on-field bullpens).
Relief pitchers must promptly leave bullpen: Relief pitchers shall leave the bullpen promptly following an appropriate signal by their manager or coach. During the playing of "God Bless America," or any other extended inning event previously approved by the Office of the Commissioner, the timer will begin at the conclusion of the song or event.
Enforcement: Umpires shall direct players and enforce the inning break and pitching change time limits on the field. Players who consistently or flagrantly violate the time limits will be subject to progressive discipline for just cause by the Office of the Commissioner.
Batter's box rule: The batter's box rule that was in effect during the 2017 season will remain in effect during the 2018 season.
Video replay review
The following adjustments will be made to the video replay technology:
- Install capability for all club video review rooms to receive direct slow-motion camera angles for the 2018 championship season.
- Install new phone lines connecting the video review rooms and the dugout, and monitor the communications over those lines to prevent their use for sign-stealing.