MLB teams testing electronic pitch-calling
GLENDALE, ARIZ. » Imagine Clayton Kershaw on the mound in Game 7 of the World Series, peering in at his catcher at a big moment. And his catcher flashes ... no sign at all.
That day could be coming very soon.
Major League Baseball is stepping up its experimentation with an electronic communication channel for pitchers and catchers. After trying out the Pitchcom system at Low-a West in the second half of last season, big league clubs are tinkering with the technology during spring training.
If the development is met with widespread acclaim, the system could be used in the majors this year. But the current plan is to work it in at the Double-a level this summer.
“Very much in favor. I think it speeds the game up,” said Tony La Russa, the 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager of the Chicago White Sox. “Wondering, hoping they make it official. But our experience has been a good one.”
With the Pitchcom system, the catcher wears a wristband with nine buttons for calling the pitch and location. There is a receiver in the pitcher’s cap, and another one in the catcher’s helmet. Multiple languages are available for the encrypted channel.
No need for traditional signs — forget the wiggling fingers.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone even tried a little experiment with the experiment. An hour before Saturday’s game against Atlanta, he told starting pitcher Luis Severino they would try the system with catcher Kyle Higashioka.
“We sprung it on Sevie at 12:15 before he was going out. He was game for it but we sprung it on him, no hiccups. No problems, and that’s our first game doing it, so that’s good thing. Hopefully it’s something that we can get better at doing,” Boone said.
Severino seemed fine, too, pitching four innings of one-hit ball.
As far as using it someday in the regular season, “I want to keep flushing that out the best we can. But my first impression of it, I feel like we’re on to something. I thought it was really good,” Boone said.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Bruce Zimmermann concurred.
“It was not as awkward as I thought it was going to be, and actually I think it’s really nice because you can speed up the game at your own will,” Zimmermann said.
“I don’t think it will be too much
of a learning curve for a lot of the guys. I was initially against it until I actually used it,” he said.
Orioles catcher Anthony Bemboom also offered a positive report, with a few concerns.
“It’s just a little bit bulky on your wristband. It didn’t happen the other day, but the ball could hit the wristband on a block. It could bounce one way or the other,” he said.
Padres acquire LHP Manaea in trade with A’s. PEORIA, ARIZ. » The San Diego Padres bolstered their rotation on Sunday, acquiring left-hander Sean Manaea in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.
San Diego got the 30-year-old Manaea and minor league righthander Aaron Holiday from Oakland for pitching prospect Adrian Martinez and minor league infielder Euribiel Angeles.
Manaea joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell and Mike Clevinger.
Hours after the trade was announced, Manaea made his first start for the Padres — against the A’s. He had been scheduled to pitch Sunday, so he put on a new Padres uniform and took on the Athletics, giving up one run and six hits in 3 M innings.
Still wearing a green glove, Manaea smiled as he faced his former teammates, and visited with them from outside the Oakland dugout.
The trade also reunited Manaea with manager Bob Melvin, who left the A’s after last season and took over the Padres.
Manaea went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts last year. He had two shutouts and struck out a career-high 194 batters, ranking eighth in the American League.
Yanks get RH Castro from Mets for LH Rodriguez. NEW YORK » New York’s baseball teams have swapped relievers, with the Mets sending right-hander Miguel Castro to the Yankees for left-hander Joely Rodriguez on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Castro had a 3.45 ERA over a career-best 69 appearances last season, going 3-4 with 77 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings. He’ll make $2.62 million this season after signing a deal this month to avoid arbitration.
Rodriguez gives the Mets a needed southpaw for the bullpen after Aaron Loup left for the Los Angeles Angels in free agency.
The 30-year-old Rodriguez was traded from Texas to the Yankees last season and combined to post a 4.66 ERA in 52 appearances. He was sharp for New York down the stretch, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games after the trade. He’s owed $2 million this season.
Mariners avoid arbitration with RF Haniger. PEORIA, ARIZ. » The Seattle Mariners avoided arbitration with right fielder Mitch Haniger, agreeing to terms on a $7.75 million contract for the 2022 season on Sunday.
Haniger is coming off arguably the best season of his career with a career-high 39 home runs and 100 RBIS. The 31-year-old was an All-star in 2018 before injuries derailed the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Haniger played in 157 games last season and batted .253 with an .805 OPS. The team did not announce his 2022 salary. He made $3.010 million last year and will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Backup backstop swap. GLENDALE, ARIZ. » The Chicago White Sox acquired Reese Mcguire from the Toronto Blue Jays for Zack Collins on Sunday in a trade of reserve catchers.
The 27-year-old Mcguire made his big league debut in 2018. He is a .248 hitter with nine homers and 26 RBIS in 141 career games, all with the Blue Jays. Collins, 27, set career highs with a .210 batting average, four homers and 26 RBIS in 78 games for the AL Central champions last year.
Astros’ Verlander to start Saturday. WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. » Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander pitched five solid innings in his final spring training tune-up Sunday and pronounced himself healthy and ready to start the season.
His next start is set to come in the third game of the year, next Saturday night on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.
“I’m happy to get through it healthy, but I still have some stuff to work on,” Verlander said. “I’m looking at it two different ways. Definitely pleased with the health part, though.”
The two-time Cy Young winner hasn’t pitched in the regular season since July 2020 — after making his first start in the pandemicdelayed year, he had Tommy John surgery.