MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is continuing his quest to speed up his game. Concerned that the average major league contest in 2017 lasted three hours, five minutes (3:07 for Orioles games) and three hours, 29 minutes in the post-season, Manfred is expected to press for changes at this week’s quarterly owners meetings.
The most talked-about rule change is the addition of a 20-second pitch clock, which according to Ken Rosenthal, Manfred will indeed institute this season – no matter what the players say. Manfred and the players’ union have made little progress to date on agreeing on any new rules, and the commissioner has the right to unilaterally implement his earlier proposals, like the 20-second pitch clock and a time limit between batters.