Critical Thinking Paper

Joshua Dominguez
3/31/15
Red Group

Major League Baseball has been contemplating how to fix the

length of their games for years, and as of the fall of 2014 they have
started to test pitch clocks, which are designed to limit the amount of
time pitchers are allowed to hold the ball between pitches, and the
amount of time between innings. MLB must not implement these
clocks because doing so would throw players off; MLB already has
other options to limit pace of play, and it may even add more delays
than it is trying to eliminate. Professional baseball is famously, and I
thought proudly, the only major North American team sport to be
played without a clock (Cliff Corcoran, Sports Illustrated.com). In other
sports such as soccer, football, basketball, and hockey the play clocks
all serve a strategic purpose, whether its counting down the amount of
time left in the game, amount of time left before a player has to take a
shot, or the amount of time remaining for a player has to stay in the
penalty box. A professional baseball game would not be altered for the
better, and the deleterious impact of a clock on the feel of the game,
its natural ebb and flow, the rise and fall in tension and suspense,
would seem to me to be far greater than the positive impact on the
length of the average game (Cliff Corcoran, Sports Illustrated.com).

Pitch clocks would not only disrupt the game itself but each player
individually.

If these pitch clocks are implemented into regular season play,

every position will be affected negatively, from the pitcher who is the
primary focus, to the fielders, who many people view as an
afterthought. Even though other players are affected, it is the pitchers
who are the angriest when it comes to these clocks. The argument that
is most seen among pitchers is that it will disrupt their normal routine.
Also, this feeling is not an isolated one; You cant find a pitcher whos
in favor of it, fearing that it completely disrupts his wisdom (Bob
Nightingale, U.S.A Today.com). Pitchers also feel that if they are forced
to comply with these clocks it will give the hitters an unfair advantage,
such as New Yankees pitcher Chris Capuano stated, What are we
supposed to do, put the ball on the tee for them (Bob Nightingale,
U.S.A Today.com). The biggest reason that these pitchers are upset is
the disruption of the natural flow of a baseball game, which they feel
will take away their ability to strategize, and allow the hitter to be
better prepared for the incoming pitch because they will always now
the exact time in which the pitch will arrive at home plate. The players
in the field are also put at a disadvantage because of the fact that
since pitchers will be on a more set schedule, they will face added
pressure from hitters who will end up putting more balls in play. Finally,

many fans will be turned away because of a decrease in suspense. For

many games, the most exciting, and suspenseful part of the entire
game is the moments when the pitcher is getting the signs from the
catcher in a key moment when one pitch, or one hit could change the
outcome of the entire game. With these clocks moments like these
would be almost entirely eliminated. Everyone will now when the pitch
is going to happen, when the batter will swing, and when the ball will
be put in play. Ultimately, these clocks will not only disrupt pitchers
and put them at a disadvantage, but also take away certain parts of
the game that all fans cherish.
MLBs biggest goal, and reason they are implementing these
clocks is to limit length of games, which have indeed increased from an
average of 2.85 hours per game in 2004, to 3.13 hours in the past
year (Ted Berg, For the Win.com). While many MLB officials feel as if
these clocks will bring the lengths of these games back down,
implementing pitch clocks would be a drastic overkill. It is perfectly
acceptable for MLB officials to want to decrease game length but there
are many other ways they could do it. As a first step, MLB should try
and place specific time limits without a clock that cover pitching
changes and inning breaks, as well as keeping hitters in the box (Cliff
Corcoran, Sports Illustrated.com). MLB already has rules in place that
they could just enforce more strictly such as rule 8.04 which states,
When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to

the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the
pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call
Ball (David Schoenfield, Espn.com). Instead of creating a whole new
electronic device MLB can reconsider how their umpires enforce this
rule, and maybe alter it to fit their wants and needs. Many critics will
argue that this rule wouldnt fully solve the time issue and that clocks
should still be put into use to control the amount of time that batters
take when they step out of the box. It turns out that there is also rule
on the books that controls this too, rule 6.02 states, The batter shall
take his position in the batters box promptly when it is his time at bat.
The batter not leave his positions in the batters box after the pitcher
comes to Set Positions, or starts his windup (MLB.com). Ultimately,
these clocks would be unnecessary because MLB officials have other,
more simple options to shorten game length, that wouldnt anger
players or fans as much as the clocks.

If MLB decides to use these clocks in professional games they

may add delays that would not be there in the first place,
counteracting the goal of these clocks. In the first years of these
clocks players will be adjusting to this new piece of the game, and it
would especially throw off relations between pitchers and the rest of
their infielders, specifically catchers. Many pitchers take upwards of 24
seconds between pitches, which involves them getting the sign telling

them what pitch to throw. Daisuke Matsuzaka who takes 25.9 seconds
in between pitches (David Appleman, Fangraphs.com), would lose
almost six seconds to this clock, which could greatly disrupt his ability
because to receive sings from the catcher and decide which of the
seven pitches he uses to throw. If this pitcher were to pitch in a game
where these clocks are in effect and he needs more time the catcher
would have to call time out, which would stop the clock and just create
unneeded delay. These clocks would create a delay that wouldnt exist
if the clocks werent implemented in the first place.

If Major League Baseball implemented play clocks it would throw

off pitchers and fielders. They also already have rules in place to do the
jobs of pitch clocks, and it could lead to delays that arent necessary,
and could be easily avoided. As of right now these clocks are being
tested in the Arizona Fall League and are not scheduled for at least two
to three years. As simple of a decision as it may seem, in order for an
entirely new rule, or aspect of a game that has existed since the Civil
War will take time, and the proposal will have to be passed down from
commissioner Bud Selig, to the players, whos opinion is vital to new
rule being added. If these clocks do get implemented, which they
shouldnt, players will be outraged and old fans who enjoy the
traditional baseball game filled with the suspense of waiting for the

vital pitch in a game where the pitchers are not on a schedule, and the
hitters do not always know when the pitch is going to be delivered.