Union chief: Players' input needed for rule changes

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 otherwise be characterized as challenges could have been avoided with the input that the players offered when these rules were being constructed,” Clark said Saturday.

“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. 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.”

METS' NIMMO OUT WITH KNEE, ANKLE STRAINS >> New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has a strained knee and ankle and will be re-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.

Nimmo and the Mets agreed to an eight-year, $162 million contract in December. He played in a career-high 151 games for New York last season, his seventh with the franchise, finishing with a .274 batting average, 16 home runs and 64 RBIs.

It's been a tough injury week for the Mets. Closer Edwin Díaz 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.

RANGERS' DEGROM SET FOR FIRST SPRING START >> The Texas Rangers are ready to unveil Jacob deGrom to the public.

Manager Bruce Bochy said that deGrom will face Seattle today at Surprise Stadium in Arizona in his first official start of the spring. DeGrom was behind the other pitchers after reporting some side soreness when he arrived in camp on Feb. 14. He most recently threw two innings in a Triple-A exhibition game Monday, allowing a home run in a 24-pitch outing.

DeGrom, who signed a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas after nine seasons with the Mets, is likely to be on a pitch count of about 45-50 pitches against the Mariners.

If DeGrom comes back on five days of rest after the Seattle outing, he'd also start the Arizona finale against San Diego on March 25. That would put him on track to start the season opener against Philadelphia on March 30.