BRADENTON, Fla. — Major League Baseball announced rule changes Monday intended to increase the pace of play, including a limit on mound visits, but the changes did not include a pitch clock.
The rules resulted from negotiations between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association, meaning commissioner Rob Manfred did not unilaterally impose them, as is his right under the collective bargaining agreement. Concerned with television viewing habits as dead time in the game increases, Manfred is attempting to reduce the periods during which nothing is happening and counteract the lengthening time of game, which grew to an average of 3:05 last season.