TAMPA — Before Masahiro Tanaka even throws a pitch in a spring training game, he isn’t fan of the pitch clock.
MLB is using spring training to introduce a 20-second pitch clock that hasn’t been approved for regular-season games. The Players Association and MLB need to agree on the clock, but commissioner Robert Manfred can implement it without the union’s consent.
“As players we have to certainly go by the rules. That said, for me personally, I am not in favor of the 20-second rule,’’ Tanaka said after his start against the Phillies on Tuesday at GMS Field was rained out.