Freshly behind us is the first weekend of Cactus and Grapefruit League spring training games, and that occasioned a first look at the new rules in play for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. The early verdict is that it didn’t take long for said new rules to make a palpable difference.
For the uninitiated, here are those most notable new regulations:
A pitch clock is now in place in the majors. Pitchers must begin their deliveries within 15 seconds when the bases are empty and within 20 seconds when one or bases are occupied. As well, the batter must be in the box and