The Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation is asking the league to make tweaks to the brand new pitch clock rule earlier than the playoffs arrive.

Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that he desires the rule to remain the identical for the rest of the common season and the playoffs, however minor modifications could also be below dialogue, with MLBPA government director Tony Clark saying Tuesday that “the traces of communication are open” with Manfred’s workplace.

“Normally, I believe you should play the postseason the best way you play the common season,” Manfred instructed reporters forward of the MLB All-Star Recreation in Seattle. “We’re comfy the best way the clock and the violations — significantly late within the sport, in high-leverage conditions — have been managed.”

Beneath the present guidelines, which had been launched this season, pitchers have 15 seconds to throw a pitch when the bases are empty and 20 seconds when there’s not less than one runner on base. Hitters should be within the batter’s field and prepared for a pitch with not less than eight seconds left on the clock. Pitchers obtain an computerized ball in the event that they violate their finish of the cut price, and hitters take an computerized strike in the event that they violate the rule.

Clark mentioned the gamers’ union will not be trying to get rid of the rule, which has shortened the typical size of video games, however that a couple of extra seconds can be appreciated.

Changes like lengthening the timer by a couple of seconds or giving gamers additional timeouts “will afford them and people watching an opportunity to take a couple of additional seconds right here and there and a deep breath,” Clark mentioned.

Manfred, for his half, understands it would not be standard if a pitch clock violation helped decide the result of a playoff sport.

“We do not desire a postseason sport selected a violation,” Manfred mentioned. “We have not had a sport determined that approach (to this point). I perceive it is a chance.”

Additionally Tuesday, Manfred mentioned there aren’t any plans to implement an automatic strike zone for the 2024 season. In June 2022, Manfred instructed ESPN that the so-called robotic umpire “will possible be launched” by 2024.

Manfred did have excessive reward Tuesday for the Automated Ball-Strike System that’s being examined on the Triple-A degree this season. It was additionally used within the All-Star Futures Recreation on Saturday as a arbiter for challenges.

“Happy that it is gone properly within the minor leagues,” Manfred mentioned. “We had numerous change this 12 months. The joint committee goes to should get to some form of consensus on whether or not and when.”

In one other guidelines division, Manfred mentioned MLB is continuous to work with Dow Chemical on making a “cheesy ball” that may remove pitchers’ want to make use of sticky substances for his or her grip. He described the idea as a “pure white baseball” and a “pearl” whereas admitting it will fire up a brand new spherical of controversy.

“It might actually remove all — properly, not all — however lots of the variables within the present course of,” Manfred mentioned. “It might come out of a sealed foil pouch on the ballpark. No particular person mudding.”

–Area Degree Media