MLB introduces new pace of play rules and replay modifications

Major league baseball announced some new pace of play changes to take place starting this season and also replay modifications.  The changes will be mostly about in between innings and batters not being allowed to step out unless they have one of several excuses that are allowed.  MLB will be implementing clocks above the stadiums to count down in between innings and they want everyone to be ready to go once the game comes back from commercial break. 

The batter needs to keep one foot in the box at all times unless he has one of a few allowed excuses.  The umpires need to enforce these rules and it will also be done by  a warning and fine system.  Immediately following the third out of each half inning a clock will count down from 2:25 for locally televised games and 2:45 from nationally televised games.  A MLB representative attending each game will operate the timers from the ballpark and will track the following:

40 seconds-PA announces batter and begins to play the walk up music

30 seconds-Pitcher throws his final warm up pitch

25 seconds-Batters walk up music ends

20 seconds-5 seconds-Batter enters the batter box

20 seconds to 0 seconds-pitcher begins motion to deliver pitch

Pitchers will be permitted to throw as many warm up pitches as they wish prior to the point when 30 seconds remain.  Pitchers however will be deemed to have forfeited any of their traditional eight warm up pitches that they are unable to complete prior to the 30 second deadline.  Exceptions to these rules will be made in a variety of circumstances including if the pitcher or catcher ended the prior half inning at bat or on base. 

Batters will be encouraged to get into the batter's box with 20 seconds remaining on the timer.  This is the same time that the broadcasters return from commercial.  The pitcher is expected to begin his motion to deliver the pitch as soon as the batter gets into the batter's box. and becomes alert to the pitcher.  Batters who do not enter the box prior to five seconds remaining on the timer and pitchers who do not begin the motion to deliver the pitch prior to zero seconds remaining on the timer will be deemed to have violated the break timing rules. 

Discipline will result for flagrant violators but no fines will be issued in Spring Training or April of 2015.  Donations will be made to the Major League Baseball Players Trust charitable foundation based on the level of adherence to the new rules. 

Instant replay changes: Managers may now invoke instant replay from the dugout and will no longer be required to approach the calling umpire to challenge a call.  Managers may hold play from the top step of the dugout by signaling to players and the home plate umpire that he is considering a challenge.  A decision can be communicated verbally or with a hand signal.  To challenge an inning ending call, managers will be required to leave the dugout immediately in order to hold the defensive team on the field. 

Whether a runner left the base early or properly touched a base on a tag up play will be reviewable. 

A manager will retain his challenge after every call that is overturned.  Last year, a manager retained his challenge only after the first overturned call. 

A manager must use a challenge in order to review whether a play at home plate included a violation of the rule governing home plate collisions.  However, in the event that a manager is out of challenges after the start of the seventh inning, the Crew Chief may still choose to review whether there was a violation of the rule. 

During postseason games, regular season tiebreaker games and the All-Star game, managers will now have two challenges per game. 

Instant replay will not be utilized during 2015 Spring Training, but it will be in place for exhibition games at Major League ballparks prior to the start of the 2015 regular season. 

Yankees postgame notes after CC dominates the Mariners

Here are the Yankees postgame notes, mostly to do with CC Sabathia and his almost no hitter perfect game that was screwed up by the rain.  It was a special night anyway for him, he was just so dominant and set a career high in strikeouts and only gave up one hit.  He unraveled after the second rain delay, walking three batters and got taken out of the game. 

Through most of CC Sabathia’s career with the Indians — including his Cy Young season — the Cleveland manager was Eric Wedge, who tonight sat in the Mariners dugout and watched his former ace dismantle his current lineup.

“That was about as good of stuff as I’ve seen him have,” Wedge said. “He had a better fastball than we’ve seen him have a times. He’s always had a good fastball, but at times, but he was really consistent with it tonight. His secondary stuff was as good as we’ve seen it too.”

“He was so sharp before the rain delay, and I thought his slider got a little bit bigger after the rain delay,” Girardi said. “I didn’t think he was quite as sharp, and we’ll never know, but golly, for that (six) and a third he was brilliant… It’s one of those nights, he’s rolling along so well, it’s just like, please don’t stop this game. But you can’t stop mother nature.”

Francisco Cervelli: “The whole game, I had in my mind, no-hitter… The first inning, the way he was throwing the ball in my glove, sliders in the dirt, I thought we had a chance to do it. They’re professional hitters, but CC was really good today.”

Mark Teixeira: “He was so dominant. You always figure someone’s going to bloop one in or you’re going to make a mistake, someone’s going to get a hit. But the fourth or fifth inning, he was dominant, and we figured, alright, if he can keep this up, I think he’s going to get it… You never know. No rain, he might have had a perfect game.”

Eric Chavez: “There was no doubt in my mind he was going to throw a no-hitter.”

CC Sabathia: “You know you haven’t pitched out of the stretch the whole game. Some guys say they don’t know, but I know from the first pitch until I get out of the stretch that I’m in the situation I’m in.”

 Girardi said the first delay could have gone quite a while without Sabathia needing to come out of the game. His pitch count was low enough, that the Yankees could have let Sabathia throw simulated innings every 15 minutes or so and just counted that against his game pitches. Sabathia said it didn’t matter. There was no chance Girardi was taking him out. “I was going back out,” he said.

 Sabathia guessed that he’s shaken off Cervelli two or three times since Cervelli became his regular catcher. As soon as he started his postgame press conference, Sabathia gave a ton of credit to his catcher. Cervelli, of course, deflected the praise right back to his pitcher. “He’s a liar,” Cervelli said. “He’s got the ball, so he throws what he wants. I just try to be on the same page.”

The single by Brendan Ryan was a 2-0 fastball. It extended Ryan’s hitting streak to 10 games.  When you get behind in the count things can happen and he was sitting on the fastball and hit a single.

 The Yankees had a total of 18 strikeouts tonight, their highest nine-inning total since Ron Guidry’s 18-strikeout game in 1978… This was the first time the Yankees held their opponent to one hit since September of last year when Sabathia beat the Athletics… This was the first time the Yankees held the Mariners to one hit since 2002 when Freddy Garcia was opposing starter for Seattle.

 Curtis Granderson momentarily took sole possession of the team lead in home runs tonight, but just a few innings after he hit his 28th, Teixeira responded with his own 28th homer in the eighth inning. “It’s a lot of fun,” Teixeira said. “We don’t like sitting on whatever number we’re at, so we enjoy going back and forth.”

 Dave Robertson has been amazing, he is the unsung hero of this game and probably the team. That was still a three-run game when he came out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth. He allowed one run on a routine grounder to third, but got two quick outs to limit the damage. “He does it every time, doesn’t he?” Teixeira said.

 By the way, Girardi said he’s still not sure whether Rafael Soriano will be activated tomorrow or Friday. He also refused to say whether Soriano will take back the eighth inning. “The first thing is, let me get him back, and then we’ll make decisions as the game goes on,” Girardi said. “We need to get him pitching well, that’s the bottom line, and get him comfortable. He had four outings, which is not a ton of outings. It’s somewhat of a short spring training, but we feel that we need him and then I’ll make those decisions.”  I don't think you can throw him right back in the 8th inning the way Robertson has pitched but I can see Girardi doing that, he is loyal to his guys almost to a fault at times.

Chavez said everything felt fine in his return from the disabled list. He was tested a little bit — and made some nice plays at third — but he came out of the game with no pain, having gone 1-for-3 with an RBI single.

 Here is one last thing about Robertson, When he struck out the first batter he faced in the eighth, it was his 10th consecutive strikeout with the bases loaded. No pitcher since at least 1965 had a bases-loaded strikeout streak that long in a single season. Robertson has faced 12 batters with the bases loaded this season: 10 strikeouts, one ground ball out and one double.

All is quiet in Yankee Land

There was no real news out of the off day today. It looks like Matsui will still DH tommorrow with Molina catching but Girardi could DH Posada which I would do especially to protect A-rod. The other news of today is that the Yankees it appears will meet with international free agent Aroldis Chapman. If you don't know about him he is a 21 year old lefty pitcher who defected from Cuba during a tournament over the summer. It is believed he will want 40-60 million dollars. He throws 100 mph and is regarded as the best international player. It will be interesting to see what happens as all the big teams, Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, Yankees are all interested. I have seen video of the kid and he looks good but you never know with these international free agents, they get the big money and then a lot of times don't do much of anything in the big leagues. A.J. Burnett did say today that a game like tomorrow is why he signed with the Yankees, it will be interesting to see how he reacts, as there isn't much pressure on him and maybe he will just come out and dominate but with him you just never know. I wonder also if the Yankees bats have awoken now and may do some more damage tomorrow night. The key to the game for the Yankees will be to get an early lead and take the crowd out of it and get the Angels to start pressing.

Yanks win a laugher

The New York Yankees defeated the Chicago White Sox this afternoon by the score of 10-0. Sergio Mitre got the start and pitched brilliantly giving up 1 hit and no runs in 6 1/3 innings. He left the game with one out in the 7th after getting hit in the forearm, there was swelling and him and Joe Girardi are not sure if he will make his next start but they will see what happens in the next couple of days. Chad Gaudin came on to pitch 2 2/3 hitless and scoreless innings. The Yankees made a couple of really nice plays defensively to help Sergio Mitre also. The offense saw Derek Jeter get 3 hits as he is just on fire and Alex Rodriguez had 2 hits and 2 rbi's. One of his hits was a solo homerun. Johnny Damon had a hit and 2 rbi's, Hideki Matsui had 2 hits and a rbi. Nick Swisher had 2 hits and a rbi and Robinson Cano had 3 hits and 2 rbi's. Jerry Hairston had a hit and 2 rbi's. Jerry Hairston started in center field and then moved to shortstop late in the game. It is great to have a guy on the team that can play every position in the field other then pitcher and catcher although he has been the emergency catcher for the last couple of days. Jorge Posada is good to go for tomorrow according to Joe Girardi in the postgame. Joba Chamberlain will start tomorrow and go I guess 5 innings at most. Alfredo Aceves will be the caddy along with Dave Robertson. The Yankees will try and sweep the White Sox making up for losing 3 out of 4 to them in Chicago earlier in the year.

Yanks lose series

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Texas Rangers today by the score of 7-2. A.J. Burnett got the start and was pretty dominating striking out 12 in 6 innings, he only gave up 2 hits but one was a 3 run homer. The real story though was the Yankees not being able to score with runners in scoring position. The Yankees were 2 -12 today with RISP and left 12 runners stranded on base today. Phil Coke came on in relief of Burnett and gave up a 3 run homerun after a single and a bunt that he screwed up. Phil Coke went to field it when clearly A-rod was right there to get it and throw the guy out at first and then bam the 3 run homerun. I think that at times Joe Girardi likes Phil Coke too much and he really should only be used sparingly as a 1 or 2 batter guy against lefties. He gives up way too many homeruns. Dave Robertson gave up a solo homerun in 1 1/3 innings of work, he also struck out two. Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless inning with 1 strikeout. The offense was led by Mark Teixeira who had both rbi's. Johnny Damon had 2 hits and 2 walks. A-rod and Melky Cabrera had a hit and a walk a piece. The Yankees just couldn't manage to get the big hit when they had the pitcher on the ropes and although the final score looks worse then it was they really could of had a big lead early on and that would of changed the game. The Yankees start a 3 game series with the White Sox tomorrow night and will try to get back on the winning track.

Yankees take game with late heroics

The New York Yankees won a tough game tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5. Joba Chamberlain got the start and went 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Brian Bruney pitched a scorless seventh with a strikeout and Phil Coke got 2 outs in the 8th and then David Robertson got the last out before Mariano Rivera converted his 29th straight save. Joba wasn't great but he wasn't terrible either he just has to get more consistant and that is part of learning to be a pitcher, he is still 23 years old and everyone has to remember that. The offense started off with a bang and then looked flat for a few innings before striking in the 8th to score 3 runs, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit back to back solo homeruns and then Johnny Damon added a rbi single and so did Melky Cabrera. Damon had 2 other hits and Derek Jeter went 3 for 5 also. Mark Teixeira had a hit, walk and rbi, A-rod had a walk and Jorge Posada also had another hit and rbi other then the homerun. Robinson Cano had 2 hits and Eric Hinske and Melky Cabrera had 1 and Melky had 2 rbi's. The Yankees will try and take the series tomorrow in a matinee game with A.J. Burnett taking on Ricky Romero before they head out to Seattle for 4 games.

Yankees News

The Yankees aquired Jason Hirsch from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later. I know people may freak out and say this is the move they make, this is just a AAA filler move as there bullpen has been getting worn out. I still think they may get Jarrod Washburn although the Mariners look like they may not sell now and apparantly the Yankees are talking to the Pirates about Zach Duke also. Cliff Lee got traded today to the Phillies along with Ben Francisco for 4 prospects none of them being Kyle Drabeck. They gave up Lou Marson, Carlos Carassco, Jason Knapp and Jason Donald. This move clearly makes Philly the favorites in the National League. My question is this how does this affect Roy Halladay, it looks like the Red Sox have been more aggressive lately and then we know the Yankees will get involved to try and block them, I personally think now that he will stay put but the Yankees and Red Sox really have to think about this because if one of them got him they would be the favorites in the AL. I don't think the Jays want to deal him to the competition and deal with the backlash from the fans who already aren't big fans of GM J.P. Ricciardi. I am sure this will be interesting to watch, but other then a starting pitcher for the Yankees the Sox and Yanks really don't need to do much as they are great teams.