WOODROFFE AVE– Moments ago, the NCBL’s 2023 Spring Meeting was adjourned over at the Nepean Sportsplex, and I’ve already heard from multiple sources that in an effort to create a quicker pace of play, the NCBL General Managers voted to implement MLB’s new “pitch clock” rule beginning this season.
For the most part, the NCBL pitch timer will work the same as it does in MLB: with a 30-second timer between batters, a 14-second time when the bases are empty, and a 20-second timer when runners are on base.
There are of course a few NCBL-specific modifications:
- Until the league purchases enough pitch timers for every field, the umpires will be responsible for maintaining the pitch clock.
- The plate umpire will keep the time on their smart device (phone or watch), counting down every number out loud between every batter or pitch, loudly enough so both the batter and pitcher can hear.
- If and when they lose their voice, the base umpire will take over the counting out loud duties.
- If any umpire that doesn’t own a smart device (Bill Beelen) is assigned a game, then I suppose they will have to ask to borrow one from their grandkids.
- The umpires were offered extra money for these extra duties, but voted against it as a gesture of goodwill towards the league and the game of baseball, to which they officiate purely out of love.
- As a result of the guaranteed decrease in overall game time, the NCBL will be moving to a triple header format at each field every night. Instead of the usual 6:00pm and 8:30pm starts, games will now happen at 5:45pm, 7:30pm, and 9:14pm.
- As a result of the new triple header schedule, the league can schedule fewer games at the garbage fields like Southgate, McCarthy, and Brewer, and more games at the better fields like Kinsmen, Sportsplex, and Winchester.
- More details to follow as they become available.
I’m still waiting to hear from sources about what else happened at this morning’s Spring Meeting, so stay tuned. Until then, if you haven’t already, make sure you catch up on what happened at last month’s Winter Meeting:
Final NCBL Pitch Clock Notes/Thoughts:
- The pitch clock proposal was moved by the Irish, seconded by the Rockets, and received near unanimous support.
- The Braves and Braumeisters have already filed an official protest, arguing that due to their frail and aging bodies, they are physically unable to conform to this new quicker pace.
- An entry level pitch timer retails for approximately $1,469 USD (plus taxes, shipping, handling, finders fee, and gratuity), so you can expect team fees will be increased significantly this year (initial purchases), and in future years (replacements). Treasurer Cornell is still crunching the numbers.
Yours,
I, Shaun Keay