2018 – Ignoring resistance from the Players Association, Commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally announces two measures to speed up the pace of play: the introduction of a 20-second pitch clock with no runners on base, and a change to the definition of mound visits to include those made by the catcher or by an infielder. Previously, only visits by a manager or coach would count, with the second resulting in the automatic replacement of the pitcher by a reliever. The players’ reluctance is seen as a reaction to the slow free agent market this off-season that has resulted in a number of top-notch players still being unsigned a month before the opening of spring training. On February 19th, the Commissioner will come to an agreement with the MLBPA not to introduce the clock, but to go ahead with other measures to speed up the pace of play.

ByTom

2018 – Ignoring resistance from the Players Association, Commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally announces two measures to speed up the pace of play: the introduction of a 20-second pitch clock with no runners on base, and a change to the definition of mound visits to include those made by the catcher or by an infielder. Previously, only visits by a manager or coach would count, with the second resulting in the automatic replacement of the pitcher by a reliever. The players’ reluctance is seen as a reaction to the slow free agent market this off-season that has resulted in a number of top-notch players still being unsigned a month before the opening of spring training. On February 19th, the Commissioner will come to an agreement with the MLBPA not to introduce the clock, but to go ahead with other measures to speed up the pace of play.

2018 – For the second time this off-season, the Giants acquire an aging franchise player in the hope of extending the team’s window of contention. After 3B Evan Longoria, acquired from the Rays a month ago, it is now OF Andrew McCutchen who moves to the West Coast. The Giants send P Kyle Crick, OF Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international bonus allocation to the Pirates, who for their part have traded a second star player in three days, after ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.

ByTom

2018 – For the second time this off-season, the Giants acquire an aging franchise player in the hope of extending the team’s window of contention. After 3B Evan Longoria, acquired from the Rays a month ago, it is now OF Andrew McCutchen who moves to the West Coast. The Giants send P Kyle Crick, OF Bryan Reynolds and $500,000 in international bonus allocation to the Pirates, who for their part have traded a second star player in three days, after ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.

2018 – For anyone who likes high-scoring games, the Sydney Blue Sox and Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League lock up in a 22- 19 slugfest that features 12 homers. As a point of comparison, the highest scoring game of the most recent major league season featured just 32 runs, and the most homers hit in a game was 10.

ByTom

2018 – For anyone who likes high-scoring games, the Sydney Blue Sox and Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League lock up in a 22- 19 slugfest that features 12 homers. As a point of comparison, the highest scoring game of the most recent major league season featured just 32 runs, and the most homers hit in a game was 10.