The "So What Do You Think Of Baseball's New Rules? - Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Watching my Phils win another one in the 9th inning.  Game seems to be moving along a bit faster this year with the new rules that were added this season.  I wonder if the new rules will continue into next season of if they will drop a few of the new rules.  Makes for exciting baseball!  One of the new rules that I do enjoy is the use of the pitch clock. Does make for a faster ballgame!  Implementing clocks for both pitchers and hitters has made the game go a bit faster.  Pitchers have 15 seconds to deliver their next pitch when the bases are empty and 20 seconds when runners are on base.  Batters must be in the batters box with more than eight seconds left on that clock.  Major League Baseball has been searching for years for ways to make the game more exciting to watch.  So, maybe adding a few new rules might be the answer.  But, have baseball officials sold the soul of America's pastime in the process?  One thing is for sure...the time of a game has decreased significantly so far this year. According to baseballreference.com, the average time of a game is currently 2 hours and 38 minutes.  Last year the average time was 3 hours and 6 minutes.  That's a huge difference!  But, to some, the game now feels unnatural.  The countdown clock behind the plate has been distracting and every game seems to be rushed.  Every at-bat seems to be frantic.  The beauty of baseball had always been that there was no clock and now that beauty is gone.  Many players, especially pitchers, have expressed their distaste for the pitch clock.  Many feel that the game has lost part of its identity.  Many players feel the game is more like basketball than baseball.  Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm said the game is losing part of its identity.  Some players have discussed concerns about injuries due to the rapid speed of the game this year.  If players have less time to rest between pitches, they may wear out and sustain injuries at a more frequent rate.  The forced pace-of-play rules harm the performance of pitchers and hitters alike.  If a pitcher is "in the zone," the batter has no time to adjust and regroup after a few bad swings.  If a hitter--or an entire lineup--is seeing the pitcher well or if the pitcher has lost his control of the strike zone, the pitcher has no time to catch his breath.  This development has seemingly resulted in more "crooked" games, where the winning team wins by a lot.  While the pitch clock is a problem, there is praise for some other changes that Major League Baseball has implemented this year.  The larger bases have worked exactly as designed and have created numerous exciting moments that do not feel cheap or contrived.  The pitch clock, however, is an insult to the history of baseball.  It makes games feel unnatural and causes more harm to players than it benefits them.  Designed to draw in new fans, the pitch clock and Major League Baseball have done more to alienate the diehard fans who love American's pastime.  And, as far as the TV fans are concerned, it gives you less time to head to the restroom and to grab a drink and a sandwich before the next pitch.  I still haven't decided if I like it or not!  Some things I like better while others I dislike more.  Maybe after another year of the new rules we will be able to tell better if we like them or not.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.