Baseball Picks Up Pace Releases Speed Up Rules

Majot League Baseball announced new rules to improve the pace of play.

After consultation with the Major League Baseball Players Association and team personnel, MLB will proceed with a rule change limiting visits to the mound to six.

This is not six manager or pitching coaches visits, it includes visits by infielders and catchers as well.

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There are exceptions:

1) A pitcher and fielder can speak to each other in the normal course of play as long as neither leaves his position.
2) A position player needs to clean his spikes on a rainy day.
3)  Injury or potential injury to the pitcher.
4)  A visit during an offensive substitution (pinch hitter).
The is also a "Cross Up" provision in which a catcher can visit the pitcher after the six visits have been used.  Any mound visit for "cross ups" count against the total, if the sign was missed by the pitcher.

The Commisioner's Office will defer the implementation of the between inning timer and the between batter timer to see if the game speeds up on its own.

MLB is also taking steps to expedite replay reviews.  They are also cracking down on sign stealing with electronic equipment.

"They talked to us about this at the winter meetings," Cleveland Indian manager Terry Francona said. "I understand what they're trying to do,take out a lot of dead time without altering the way the game is played. There are going to be some adjustments. We will have to pay attention to things that we didn't worry about before."