MLB proposal puts players on the clock
Major League Baseball has offered to ditch its proposal for a pitch clock this year and also would go without one in 2019 if the average time of a nine-inning game drops to at most 2 hours, 55 minutes this season.
Speaking after a quarterly owners meeting ended Thursday in Los Angeles, Commissioner Rob Manfred said owners authorized him to implement management’s proposal from last offseason, which calls for a 20-second pitch clock this year, if an agreement cannot be reached with the players’ association. Management has proposed a deal that would phase in new rules over the next three seasons
“We remain 100 percent committed to the idea that we need to make changes to address pace of game and the best way to address pace of game for us, the players and, most importantly, for our fans is to get an agreement with the players,” Manfred said. “There is a strong sentiment among ownership that we need to do something about pace of play this season.”
At a Jan. 23 meeting in New York attended by Manfred, deputy commissioner Dan Halem and union head Tony Clark, MLB said its latest proposal was for an 18-second pitch clock with no runners on base in 2019 if the average time of a nine-inning game is higher than 2:55 this year.
MLB proposed that if the average time of a nine-inning game in 2019 is 2:50 or higher, a 20-second pitch clock with runners on base would be added for 2020.
The average time of a nineinning game was a record 3:05 last year and has not been at or below 2:55 since 2011 or 2:50 since 2006.
In other news:
Manfred said MLB’s latest pace-of-game proposal to put a runner on second base at the start of every inning after the 10th in the All-Star Game, and in extra innings of spring training games, is “a limitedpurpose tool” and wouldn’t be used in regular-season games. He said it could be used in the World Baseball Classic.
There will be no change in the 10-day disabled list after Manfred expressed concern last season that teams were manipulating it, especially around the All-Star break.
All 30 MLB clubs have agreed to extend protective netting to at least the far ends of both dugouts this season to
Appel, ’13 top pick, is leaving game
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft has walked away from baseball without ever throwing a pitch in the major leagues.
Mark Appel, a hard-throwing right-hander from Stanford taken by the Houston Astros with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, has announced his intention to leave the game. He was released by Philadelphia in November ahead of the winter meeting draft.
Appel, who had a 5.06 ERA over five minor-league seasons, told Bleacher Report he was at peace with his decision.
“If you want to call me the biggest draft bust, you can call it that,” Appel said. “If I never get to the big leagues, will it be a disappointment? Yes and no. That was a goal and a dream I had at one point, but that’s with stipulations that I’m healthy, I’m happy and doing something I love. If I get to the big leagues, what’s so great about the big leagues if you’re in an isolated place, you’re hurt and you’re emotionally unhappy? How much is that worth to you?”
Appel, 26, grew up an Astros fan in Houston and received a $6.35 million signing bonus from the Astros coming out of Stanford. Kris Bryant, taken by the Chicago Cubs with the second pick, was voted 2016 NL MVP after helping the Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
Appel would become the third No. 1 overall pick to not make the major leagues after right-hander Steve Chilcott, (Mets, 1966) and left-hander Brien Taylor (Yankees, 1991).
protect fans from foul balls. Arbitration: Pitcher Shelby Miller has won his salaryarbitration case against Arizona after missing most of last season because of a torn elbow ligament, a decision that gave players a 2-0 record this year.
Miller, 27, was awarded a $200,000 raise to $4.9 million.
Briefly: Cleveland utilityman Michael Martinez will be sidelined at least six months following Achilles tendon surgery, and his career could be in jeopardy. Martinez, 35, tore his left Achilles during a workout in the Dominican Republic last week and had surgery Wednesday at the Cleveland Clinic . ... Catcher Miguel Montero agreed to a minor-league deal with the Nationals with an invitation to major-league spring training. He is expected to compete with Pedro Severino for a backup job behind Matt Wieters.