New rules a ‘measured’ effort to speed up MLB play

PHOENIX (AP) — Commissioner Rob Manfred says new rules intended to speed up the pace of games are aimed at luring younger fans to baseball.

Manfred, speaking publicly on the changes for the first time since they were announced last Friday, says the rules are a ``measured’’ approach worked out with the MLB Players Association. The new commissioner, who took over when Bud Selig retired in January, says he has four children in their 20s, and that the attention span for that generation ``seems to be shorter than the rest of ours.’’

This season, batters will be required to have one foot in the batter’s box and pitchers and batters will be required to be ready to go at the conclusion of television commercials.