Here's a copy+pasted summary of the rule changes:
I like the idea of keeping the game moving at a nice pace, so I suppose I'm in favour of a pitch clock of some sort, but... that also seems like a lot of stuff for the game crew to keep track of. I feel like we could be seeing quite a bit of confused pitchers and batters early on next year as they get used to this.
As for eliminating the shift: If that's the best way to get more balls in play and make games more exciting, then I suppose I'm in favour of that too. But I don't like that teams can challenge whether the other team complied with the shift rules. More challenges is not a good thing.
Pitch clock, stepping off the mound and other timing matters
• The catcher must be in the catcher's box with nine seconds left on the timer.
• The hitter must have both feet set in the batter's box and be "alert to the pitcher" — meaning he has his eyes on the pitcher, and can quickly take a hitting stance — within eight seconds.
• The timer starts when the pitcher has the ball, and the catcher and the batter are in the dirt near home plate and play is ready — meaning, runners have retreated if there was a foul ball, or exited the field after an out. (The pitch timer starts with the second pitch of the game.)
• In between batters, there is a 30-second clock, except for the final out of an inning. The timer for inning breaks and pitching changes is 2 minutes, 15 seconds.
• Pitchers who violate the clock are charged with an automatic ball. If a catcher violates the clock, an automatic ball is charged as well. Batters in violation receive an automatic strike. Umpires can also award a ball or strike if they detect a player circumventing the clocks, and the commissioner's office could issue discipline beyond that to teams whose players or staff violate rules, as well.
• Pitchers can step off the mound for a pickoff or any other reasons — a "disengagement" it's called — twice per plate appearance if there is a runner on base. But, if a runner advances during the same plate appearance, i.e., by stealing a base, the pitcher gets another two step-offs. Stepping off resets the clock to its full time (20 or 15 seconds depending on whether a runner is on).
• If a pitcher steps off a third time or more, the penalty depends on what happens. If the runners are safe, the pitchers are charged with a balk. If an out is recorded, like on a successful pickoff, no balk is charged. No balk is charged if a runner advances, either.
• If the defense requests time, a disengagement is assessed to the pitcher, with several exceptions, including mound meetings, an object on the field, injuries, or an appeal. Catchers giving signals to infielders doesn't count as a disengagement as long as the catcher is back by nine seconds.
• Pitcher requests for a new baseball with nine seconds or more remaining on the pitch timer do not count as a disengagement, but do if there are less than nine seconds.
• Mound visits have a 30-second clock starting when the manager or coach leaves the dugout, or whenever the defensive player leaves their position. If a manager joined a mound visit in progress, the timer resets if there are at least 20 seconds left on the timer. The umpire has discretion to grant additional time if a manager or coach is dealing with a physical ailment. There is no timer if a trainer goes out with the manager or coach for "a bona fide medical issue."
• Teams can newly get an additional mound visit in the ninth inning only (it is not carried over if unused to extra innings) if it has used up its allotment of mound visits previously.
• Batters can ask for and be granted time once per plate appearance, and have to ask for time orally. That resets the pitch clock. A batter who requests time a second time or more in the same plate appearance is to be charged with a strike — unless the batter stays in the batter's box, then the umpire has discretion as to whether to charge a strike.
• The length of batter walk-up music cannot exceed 10 seconds. Music between pitches is to be limited so hitters aren't encouraged to leave the box.
• "Extended inning events," like the playing of "God Bless America," or anything that stops all action in the ballpark, requires approval from the commissioner's office, and advance notice of those approved events has to go to the MLBPA.
• The pitch timer cannot be reviewed on replay.
• Umpires have sole discretion to direct the start, stop or reset of the timer if the clock operator makes a mistake or a special circumstance applies, such as a catcher not having enough time to put on equipment after running the bases or a medical concern. (They would reset the clock to 20 or 15 seconds).
Restriction on the shift
• When the pitcher releases the ball, a minimum of four players (besides the pitcher and catcher) must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the dirt, and two fielders have to be entirely on either side of second base.
• Every team has to designate two infielders on each side of second base who may not switch sides during the game, except if there's a substitution for one of those infielders.
• The penalty for a violation is a ball and the ball is dead — unless a hitter reaches on a hit, an error, a walk, or hit batsmen or otherwise, in which case the play stands. If any other play occurs, like a sacrifice fly, or a sacrifice bunt, the manager of the hitting team can tell the umpire whether he wants to accept the play.
• Umpires have discretion to penalize the fielding team with a ball if the umpire detects players attempting to circumvent the rules.
• Teams can challenge whether a team complied with the shift.
Bases
• The bases will now be 18 inches square, rather than the present 15 inches.
• The catcher must be in the catcher's box with nine seconds left on the timer.
• The hitter must have both feet set in the batter's box and be "alert to the pitcher" — meaning he has his eyes on the pitcher, and can quickly take a hitting stance — within eight seconds.
• The timer starts when the pitcher has the ball, and the catcher and the batter are in the dirt near home plate and play is ready — meaning, runners have retreated if there was a foul ball, or exited the field after an out. (The pitch timer starts with the second pitch of the game.)
• In between batters, there is a 30-second clock, except for the final out of an inning. The timer for inning breaks and pitching changes is 2 minutes, 15 seconds.
• Pitchers who violate the clock are charged with an automatic ball. If a catcher violates the clock, an automatic ball is charged as well. Batters in violation receive an automatic strike. Umpires can also award a ball or strike if they detect a player circumventing the clocks, and the commissioner's office could issue discipline beyond that to teams whose players or staff violate rules, as well.
• Pitchers can step off the mound for a pickoff or any other reasons — a "disengagement" it's called — twice per plate appearance if there is a runner on base. But, if a runner advances during the same plate appearance, i.e., by stealing a base, the pitcher gets another two step-offs. Stepping off resets the clock to its full time (20 or 15 seconds depending on whether a runner is on).
• If a pitcher steps off a third time or more, the penalty depends on what happens. If the runners are safe, the pitchers are charged with a balk. If an out is recorded, like on a successful pickoff, no balk is charged. No balk is charged if a runner advances, either.
• If the defense requests time, a disengagement is assessed to the pitcher, with several exceptions, including mound meetings, an object on the field, injuries, or an appeal. Catchers giving signals to infielders doesn't count as a disengagement as long as the catcher is back by nine seconds.
• Pitcher requests for a new baseball with nine seconds or more remaining on the pitch timer do not count as a disengagement, but do if there are less than nine seconds.
• Mound visits have a 30-second clock starting when the manager or coach leaves the dugout, or whenever the defensive player leaves their position. If a manager joined a mound visit in progress, the timer resets if there are at least 20 seconds left on the timer. The umpire has discretion to grant additional time if a manager or coach is dealing with a physical ailment. There is no timer if a trainer goes out with the manager or coach for "a bona fide medical issue."
• Teams can newly get an additional mound visit in the ninth inning only (it is not carried over if unused to extra innings) if it has used up its allotment of mound visits previously.
• Batters can ask for and be granted time once per plate appearance, and have to ask for time orally. That resets the pitch clock. A batter who requests time a second time or more in the same plate appearance is to be charged with a strike — unless the batter stays in the batter's box, then the umpire has discretion as to whether to charge a strike.
• The length of batter walk-up music cannot exceed 10 seconds. Music between pitches is to be limited so hitters aren't encouraged to leave the box.
• "Extended inning events," like the playing of "God Bless America," or anything that stops all action in the ballpark, requires approval from the commissioner's office, and advance notice of those approved events has to go to the MLBPA.
• The pitch timer cannot be reviewed on replay.
• Umpires have sole discretion to direct the start, stop or reset of the timer if the clock operator makes a mistake or a special circumstance applies, such as a catcher not having enough time to put on equipment after running the bases or a medical concern. (They would reset the clock to 20 or 15 seconds).
Restriction on the shift
• When the pitcher releases the ball, a minimum of four players (besides the pitcher and catcher) must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the dirt, and two fielders have to be entirely on either side of second base.
• Every team has to designate two infielders on each side of second base who may not switch sides during the game, except if there's a substitution for one of those infielders.
• The penalty for a violation is a ball and the ball is dead — unless a hitter reaches on a hit, an error, a walk, or hit batsmen or otherwise, in which case the play stands. If any other play occurs, like a sacrifice fly, or a sacrifice bunt, the manager of the hitting team can tell the umpire whether he wants to accept the play.
• Umpires have discretion to penalize the fielding team with a ball if the umpire detects players attempting to circumvent the rules.
• Teams can challenge whether a team complied with the shift.
Bases
• The bases will now be 18 inches square, rather than the present 15 inches.
I like the idea of keeping the game moving at a nice pace, so I suppose I'm in favour of a pitch clock of some sort, but... that also seems like a lot of stuff for the game crew to keep track of. I feel like we could be seeing quite a bit of confused pitchers and batters early on next year as they get used to this.
As for eliminating the shift: If that's the best way to get more balls in play and make games more exciting, then I suppose I'm in favour of that too. But I don't like that teams can challenge whether the other team complied with the shift rules. More challenges is not a good thing.
