The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Manfred defends new limits on mound visits
All 30 teams to wear Stoneman Douglas High hats this week.
Managers or coaches must make a pitching change if they head to the mound for the seventh time in a game under baseball’s new pace of play rules.
Commissioner Rob Manfred and executive Joe Torre explained some of the parameters Tuesday, one day after MLB imposed stricter limits on mound visits in an effort to speed up games.
“I don’t see pace of games issues as harsh or not harsh,” Manfred said. “I see them as a fan-friendly issue.”
MLB has the right to institute rules changes absent an agreement with one year of notice and made proposals during the 2016-17 offseason for a pitch clock and more restrictions on mound visits.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon joked of having a coach keep track of the mound visit similar to the way an assistant basketball coach tracks timeouts, saying “maybe there’s going to be seven on the scoreboard like the number of timeouts in a game.”
“You’re just going to have to have an awareness. You’re going to have to deal with it,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of the new rule. “A month or two from now maybe it’s a nonissue at some point. There’s no sense in fighting it.”
Parkland shooting: MLB players will honor victims of last week’s shooting in Parkland, Fla., by wearing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hats at spring training games this week. Manfred said all 30 teams will wear the hats during pregame warmups for exhibition openers. Players, managers, coaches and umpires will have the option of wearing the caps during those first games. The hats might later be signed and auctioned to support those affected by the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of 17 students and faculty.
Nationals: Joaquin Benoit and the Nationals agreed in principle to a major league contract that will pay the 40-year-old reliever $1 million for 2018, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Benoit played last season with the Phillies and Pirates and went 1-6 with a 4.65 ERA across 50⅓ innings in 52 appearances.
Padres: Now that San Diego’s first base position is in Eric Hosmer’s $144 million hands, it seems as if there are 144 million candidates for the one remaining starting spot in the Padres’ outfield. Wil Myers will move to one of the corner spots after playing first base the previous two seasons, manager Andy Green said, and Manuel Margot remains a fixture in center field. That leaves the other seven holdovers who made at least 20 starts in the Padres’ outfield last year — including power bat and 2013 first-round draft pick Hunter Renfroe — in the mix for final starting position and the reserve roles.
Twins: Minnesota finalized a low-risk contract with right-hander Anibal Sanchez, securing another experienced candidate for their rotation. He agreed to terms last week for $2.5 million this season, according to multiple reports, if he makes the major league roster out of spring training.
Diamondbacks: Outfielder Jarrod Dyson agreed to a $7.5 million, two-year contract. Dyson batted .251 and stole 28 bases for Seattle last season, with five homers and 30 RBIs in 111 games.
Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia said Shohei Ohtani will throw a bullpen session Thursday and a decision will be made after that on when the Japanese pitcher/hitter will make his first spring training appearance.
Cepeda hospitalized: The Giants said Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, 80, was taken to a hospital in the Bay Area on Monday. The team had no further details. Cepeda was a first baseman during his 17 big league seasons, beginning with the Giants.