MLB commissioner still focusing on pace of play

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says more rule changes are needed to improve the pace of play, and one proposal under consideration is a limitation on relief pitching changes in an inning or a game.

The majors shaved several minutes off the average game time last season, but games have been slightly longer in 2016.

“We’ve slipped back a little bit this year, and pace of play is one of those issues where we’re going to continually need to evaluate the rules we have,” Manfred said. “And we’re going to need to continually work with our players to stay focused on the issue.”

Manfred has said he’s in favor of a limitation on relief pitchers but didn’t lobby for it Wednesday.

“We look at all aspects of the game all the time,” he said. “I don’t want to put particular emphasis on that one.”

Manfred spoke at the Phillies’ game at Marlins Park, where he helped unveil the logo for the 2017 All-Star NOTES Game. It will be played next July 11, with the Marlins hosting the game in their 25th season.

“Miami is going to be a great venue,” Manfred said. “We had a wonderful experience in San Diego, and I know Miami is going to top that.”

The game in San Diego two weeks ago included a record-breaking effort by the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton to win the Home Run Derby.

“It was a truly awesome performance,” Manfred said. “I was actually there for BP, and for those who didn’t get there early, they missed a good part of the show.”

Manfred also praised the Marlins’ Ichiro Suzuki, who began Wednesday three hits shy of 3,000.

“For Ichiro to be able to have 3,000 hits in major league baseball after the fantastic and long career he had in Japan is just a tremendous, historic accomplishment,” Manfred said.

NATIONALS — Washington placed infielder Stephen Drew on the 15-day disabled list with vertigo-like symptoms.

The move is retroactive to July 24. Drew has played just once in the past week, sitting out several days with dizziness.

The 33-year-old Drew, who signed with the Nationals as a free agent in January, is hitting .262 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 51 games this season. He is 6-for-20 (.300) with a triple, three homers and six RBIs as a pinch hitter.

The Nationals also recalled infielder Wilmer Difo from Double-A Harrisburg for his first major league assignment of the season.

DODGERS — Major League Baseball has threatened to fine Los Angeles right fielder Yasiel Puig if he wears customized cleats again.

Puig received a letter from Joe Garagiola Jr., MLB’s senior vice president of standards and on-field operations, stating that the outfielder will be subject to a fine if he wears the customized Nike shoes on the field again, according to the Orange County Register. The fine could be as much as $5,000 for a violation.

Puig first wore shoes with an American flag theme on the Fourth of July and later wore shoes, designed by a local artist, with a Cuban flag theme, according to ESPN.com.

GIANTS — San Francisco second baseman Ramiro Pena was a late scratch from Bruce Bochy’s original starting lineup after reporting continuing soreness from the testicular contusion he suffered in Tuesday’s game.

BREWERS — Trade talks are heating up surrounding one of the biggest fish left in the trade market, Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy, according to a report from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick on Wednesday.

Crasnick reports that the offers the Brewers are fielding are getting more serious, and momentum is “building toward a trade” before Monday’s Deadline. According to Crasnick’s report, the Rangers, Indians, Astros, Mets and Red Sox have all been mentioned as “in the mix” to land Lucroy.