Winter is a trying time for some because it is synonymous with long periods of darkness, snow, and spent indoors isolated from others. However, when the calendar flips to March, spring is an awakening, a time of bloom, and the hope of a bright start gives us perspective. In the sports world, March means the return of Major League Baseball to the national landscape. It is a time when each team feels that this year might be their year, and fans dream of a parade in their city. This baseball season has the making of being one of the best in recent memory due to changes in the sport during the off-season. In this article, we break down the changes and make winners predictions for what to expect from a remarkable 2023 season.
1. Speeding Games Up- Baseball has been criticized over the years by the younger generation because of the slow pace of its games with some 9-inning games lasting nearly 4 hours. In the off-season, MLB sought to address the matter by introducing new rules for the pitcher and hitter. The rule states that the pitcher has 15 seconds to throw each pitch when the bases are empty and 20 seconds to throw each pitch when there are baserunners. If a pitcher fails to throw a pitch in the allotted time, the batter will be awarded a ball. On the other hand, the hitter usually stalls the game by stepping out of the box and even fiddling with his equipment. Now, the hitter will need to be in the batter’s box before the pitch clock ticks down to the eight-second mark, or they will incur a strike. Another aspect that stalled proceedings is the pitcher making several throws to first base to check on the runner and a tactic to slow down proceedings at times. The new rule requires the pitcher to limit themselves to two disengagements per plate appearance.
2. Basestealing is back- an exciting part of baseball that has waned over the years is base stealing. MLB decided to tackle the issue by introducing new rules. Starting in the 2023 season, the first, second, and third base will be increased in size from 15 inches to 18 inches per side. The measure will increase stolen base attempts because it reduces the distance between first to second base and second to third base by 4½ inches. It may not sound like much, but it does matter when the outcome of being safe or out is a mere millisecond. The change could possibly lead to a reduction in collisions because it gives players some more inches to operate.
3. No more shifts on defense-the strategy of employing a shift has become a popular strategy over the years. A shift involves moving fielders out of position to stifle a hitter’s tendency to hit balls to a certain part of the field. The strategy has been successful in lower league-wide averages and has been overused based on every batter in the lineup. The new rules require teams to keep all their infielders in the infield, with two on each side of second base. Also, any defensive alignment that breaks the rules will get flagged, and the hitting team will get the option of choosing to either accept the outcome of the play or take the penalty and award the batter with a ball.
4. AL Predictions
AL East-New York Yankees
AL Central-Minnesota Twins
AL West-Houston Astros
AL Wild Cards: Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
Cleveland Guardians
AL MVP-Shohei Ohtani AL Cy Young- Jacob deGrom
5. NL Predictions
NL East-New York Mets
NL Central-Milwaukee Brewers
NL West-San Diego Padres
NL Wild Card: Los Angeles Dodgers
Philadelphia Phillies
St Louis Cardinals
NL MVP- Juan Soto
NL Cy Young- Justin Verlander
6. ALCS- Seattle Mariners beat Houston Astros
NLCS- New York Mets beat San Diego Padres
World Series-New York Mets beat Seattle Mariners