MLB: Play faster and we’ll scrap pitch clock

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball has offered to ditch its proposal for a pitch clock this year and also would go without one in 2019 if the average time of a nine-inning game drops to at least 2 hours, 55 minutes this season.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday owners authorized him to implement management’s proposal from last offseason, which calls for a 20-second pitch clock this year, if an agreement cannot be reached with the players’ association. Management has proposed a deal that would phase in new rules over the next three seasons

“We remain 100 percent committed to the idea that we need to make changes to address pace of game and that the best way to address pace of game for us, for the players and most importantly for our fans is to get an agreement with the players,” Manfred said at a quarterly meeting of owners. “There is a strong sentiment among ownership that we need to do something about pace of play this year.”

Manfred thought he was close to a deal during the offseason but union head Tony Clark told him players rejected the proposal and said “he didn’t think he was in a position to make any agreement on the topic.”

The average time of a nine-inning game was a record 3:05 last year and has not been at 2:55 or below since 2011 and at 2:50 or under since 2006.

The union acknowledges pace of play is an issue but has resisted a pitch clock, which has been used at Triple-a and Double-a for three seasons. In other news:

All big league teams agreed to extend protective netting to at least the far ends of both dugouts this season to protect fans from foul balls. “All 30 of our clubs got to the right place,” Manfred said.

There will be no change in the 10-day disabled list after Manfred expressed concern last season that teams were manipulating it, especially around the All-star break.

Manfred said management will have to determine its position on a salary floor ahead of negotiations in 2021 for the next labor contract.