Black sees a lot of tough decisions with MLB’s new three-batter rule
Rockies manager Bud Black, who revels in the chess game of hitters vs. pitchers, predicts that a major new rule change is going to be challenging, to say the least.
Beginning this season, all pitchers — both starters and relievers — must now face at least three batters (or pitch until the inning is over) before they come out of a game. An exception is made when an injury or illness prevents the pitcher from being able to finish the required three batters.
“You can still bring in a guy to get that final out of the inning, but you better hope that they get that one out,” Black said. “Gone are the days when you know you can take the (pitcher) out after one hitter, regardless of the result. It’s just not going to happen. Even if your guy throws a great pitch, but there is a broken-bat hit, you have to leave him in.”
The new rule will require more decisions, Black said.
“If a guy threw the night before, say 30 pitches, in the old days you could go to him, at two in the afternoon,” Black said. “He could say, ‘Hey Buddy, I can give you one guy tonight.’ That’s great, but what if you don’t get that one guy? Then you have to face another batter. It gets tricky.
“So then that second hitter hits 15 foul balls, and then he bloops one in. Then (the pitcher’s) got to face another guy. Suddenly his pitch count is up to 30 and he’s already pitched five out of the last eight days! You can’t go rescue him. This is the new strategy we have to work through when we talk about who’s available and who’s not.”
The three-batter rule goes into effect in spring training on March 12.