PLAY BALL—FASTER

opening day for major league Baseball—march 30 in 2023—is the eternal spring ritual of renewal, harking back to a simpler time, when Americans looked forward to gathering around the ol’ Crosley in the living room and listening to another four-hour pitcher’s duel. Well, not anymore. In another of its ongoing attempts to join the 21st century and catch and hold the attention of anybody under 60, MLB this year will roll out three rule changes intended to make games shorter, faster and higher scoring. They are:

The pitch clock. Pitchers will no longer be allowed to take an eternity between throws to psych out hitters, adjust their caps or whatever else they do up there. From now on, they’ve got 20 seconds to throw with men on base and 15 without, or the pitcher will be charged with an automatic ball.

The shift has been outlawed. No more lining up all fielders on whichever side of the outfield the hitter is statistically most likely to go to.

Bigger bases. To make them easier for fans to see and stealers to get hold of, bases will be 18 inches square vs. 15 inches. Home plate is unchanged.

And coming eventually (maybe as soon as 2024): robo-umpires, which are already in use in the minor leagues—another “innovation” that makes the game go faster. Don’t expect baseball traditionalists like George Will to like any of it.