Chicago Cubs: Minor League pace-of-play changes loom large

In a never-ending pursuit to radically alter the game, changes are coming to Minor League Baseball, courtesy of the Commissioner’s Office. How soon will they impact the Chicago Cubs?

Earlier this offseason, we heard about a plethora of potential pace-of-play initiatives Major League Baseball considered. Ranging from a runner on second to start extra innings to allowing a manager to choose who hits in said frames, we heard it all. And, at least at the Minor League level, the Chicago Cubs – and the other 29 organizations – will be getting a hefty helping of change in 2018.

Minor League Baseball issued a statement on Wednesday morning, detailing several major changes coming to ballparks this season. These include a 15-second pitch clock, a runner at second to start extra innings and limiting teams to six mound visits in a nine-inning game.

These changes are likely to incite, let’s just call them emotional, reactions from fans. Baseball traditionalists are lining up to kick in Rob Manfred’s door and with tensions between the league and the union at their highest point since the ’94 strike, this could add fuel to the fire in a big way.

The league is playing with fire here

Okay, so you’re worried about game times. Making sure (or at least lessening) the odds of 15-inning contests is a logical place to start. But that’s not enough. In comes the pitch clock.

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The MLBPA has fought tooth-and-nail on most pace-of-play proposals in the last year – especially the pitch clock.

But since Minor League players aren’t part of the union, the league dropped this new pitch clock on these guys instead.

15-second limits for no one on base and 20-second clocks with men on. Most guys already adhere to these standards, but, I just don’t see it making a drastic enough difference to matter to most fans.

If my three-hour game now winds up at 2:48, I couldn’t care less. If a guy takes longer on the mound as part of his delivery, but gets my team results, so be it. Far be it from me to change his delivery or routine that’s gotten him to this point.

Really, I think this is going to have minimal impact – to the point I ask why even bother rubbing players the wrong way by implementing it.

Okay, this one really makes sense – kind of

If you’re going to limit Major League teams to six mound visits, there’s no reason you don’t carry over that guideline to Minor League clubs, as well. That doesn’t mean I think it makes sense – in fact, I think the opposite. But a uniform approach is logical.

In my line of thinking, I want catchers, pitchers and managers on the same page. Why? Because I think it leads to a higher quality product on the field. Now, there is no reason Willson Contreras needs multiple mound visits in one batter to get on the same page with guys. You’ve got me there. But I still think the communication piece is key here.

Could we see technology more integrated into the game to allow communication between dugouts and the catcher? We’ve heard so much about an automated strike zone already that I wouldn’t rule it out. Of course, replay has grown exponentially in recent years, which leads me to think the league is at least open to these types of ideas. But who knows.

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All told, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. But, above all else, these moves seem guaranteed to do one thing: irritate the ever-loving h*ll out of the union. As if this winter’s free agency hadn’t already done that enough.