SHOULD PLAYERS HAVE HAD INPUT?

Union head Tony Clark claims Major League Baseball’s rules changes would have gone more smoothly during spring training if player thoughts had been incorporated.

MLB implemented its first pitch clock, limited defensive shifts and pickoff attempts and installed larger bases as part of the biggest alteration in playing rules since the mound was lowered for the

1969 season.

“My hope despite the fact that nearly all of the things that we have seen that would other- wise be characterized as challenges could have been avoided with the input that the players offered when these rules were being constructed,” Clark said Saturday before the United States played Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.

“My hope is that moving forward that the league continues to take the input of players to heart, such that each of the adjustments that we’ve seen that have been implemented this year are of benefit in the long run,” Clark said.

The average time of spring training games has dropped to 2 hours, 36 minutes, from 3:00 last year. The changes have had almost no impact on offense, with runs per game rising to 10.7 from 10.6 and batting average to .260 from .259.

Stolen bases have gone up to 1.8 per game from 1.1.

“Spring training is spring training,” Clark said. “I appreciate everyone focusing on spring training game times have been shortened by ‘X’ number of minutes. I appreciate everyone’s focus on it. But when the lights come on and these count, count for the managers, count for the organizations, count for the players, we’ll see how all of these moving pieces come together.”

After the Mets’ Max Scherzer timed the pitch clock to throw a quick pitch to Washington’s Riley Adams on March 3, MLB reminded teams that a pitcher must wait until a hitter is reasonably set in the batter’s box to deliver a pitch.

Notable

Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has a strained knee and ankle and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, General Manager Billy Eppler told reporters on Saturday.

Nimmo was trying to break up a double play at second base on Friday but slid awkwardly into the bag. He stayed down for a few moments before limping off the field with medical personnel.

It’s been a tough injury week for the Mets. Closer

Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon and is expected to miss the entire season after hurting his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

• Sergio Romo will retire as a member of the Giants after helping the franchise win three World Series titles.

The 2013 All-star was an integral part of the team’s bullpen from 2008 to 2016; the Giants won titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. He also pitched for the Twins, Athletics, Rays, Dodgers, Mariners, Marlins and Blue Jays.

Romo signed a minor league deal with an invite to big-league spring training. He’ll officially retire during San Francisco’s final exhibition game on March 27 when the Giants host the A’s at Oracle Park.

“The relationship that Giants fans have with their players is unique — few exemplify that bond more than Sergio,” Giants President of Baseball Operations

Farhan Zaidi said in a statement.

“After all that he accomplished as a Giant from 2008 to 2016, including his huge contributions to the championship teams, it’s a thrill to have him back in a San Francisco uniform.”

Tony Clark