Cleveland Indians: The potential of a pitch clock in 2018

Cleveland Indians fans and others around the country may see the introduction of a pitch clock to speed up games during the 2018 MLB season.

Baseball has always been a unique game due to the lack of an official clock.

A game can take two hours to reach the ninth inning, only for that final inning to take another two hours. Anything is possible when the game doesn’t end when a clock hits zero.

But one type of clock may be hitting the game in 2018, according to Ken Rosenthal.

The article shared in that tweet explains how the league will likely see a pitch clock used in 2018, which is expected to be set at 20 seconds. Rosenthal also explains how limited mound visits may be enforced as well.

It is clear that Commissioner Manfred wants to speed up games. And while I don’t understand why people complain about the length of games, (if you think they’re too long just don’t watch them), Manfred has made shortening game times a priority since taking the job. That, and allowing Derek Jeter to ruin a team.

But a pitch clock is not going to drastically reduce the time of any given game. What it will do is frustrate pitchers and managers, and likely cause unnecessary controversy. This clock will also exist when insanely long replays continue to add time to games, although that is seen across the NFL and NBA as well.

With everything wrong with baseball, forcing a pitcher to potentially rush in high-leverage situations shouldn’t be high on the list of what needs fixing.

The league is making progress with things like new statistical data and extended netting, but not all change is good. I may change my stance on this after seeing the clock implemented, but it seems that Manfred is overestimating how much time this will actually save compared to the frustrations it will cause those on the field.

ICYMI

Can Carlos Carrasco become the ace in 2018?

Francisco Mejia is the top catching prospect

My take on the pitch clock

Nothing better than summer nights under the lights.

Helping out a great cause

A final thought

Baseball is a beautiful game and while I understand the view from some that games are too long, there’s no other way I’d rather spend a day than sitting at Progressive Field and watching the Indians play.

Next: Should Tribe pursue JD Martinez?

Even if they lose, there’s nothing that beats a baseball game.