The Red Sox-Braves’ spring training game on Saturday ended with an automatic third shot that claimed Atlanta hitter Cal Conley for failing to pit before the pitch clock struck eight seconds. Here’s what you need to know:
- With two outs, loaded bases, and a 6-6 tie in the ninth inning, Conley had made a 3-2 count and was called out for a pitch clock violation, triggering an automatic strike. Atlanta had scored three runs in the inning to tie the game.
- Under the new rules introduced this season, pitchers have 15 seconds to start their pitch when there are no runners on base and 20 seconds when there are runners on base. Batters receive a ball if the clock runs out and a strike if they are not in the box and alert the pitcher when the clock reaches eight seconds.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Snitker on the strange ending
Brave’s manager Brian Snitker was as surprised as anyone, including Conley, the hitter called for a strike three to end the game when home plate umpire John Libka ruled he wasn’t ready and paying attention at the eight-second mark the pitcher was. Conley had noticed that catcher Elih Marrero was still standing looking at notes on his bracelet when the umpire pointed to Conley, who took off to first base because he thought the pitcher had committed an injury and he had a walk-off Walk full of bases (the count had been full).
Instead, he shut out Conley because while Marrero wasn’t in position behind the plate, pitcher Robert Kwiatkowski was on the mound, ready to deliver a pitch. — O’Brien
Could that become a strategy?
In fact, Marrero Conley intentionally or not intentionally decreed.
“You gotta forget that (what the catcher is doing), you better watch the pitcher like the rule says,” Snitker said. “And that’s distracting. That’s something damn we could try. I mean it worked right there. I don’t think they tried to do it on purpose, but it worked.” Snitker added, “I don’t think that[rule]was intended for a game to end like this. … It’s good that we’re starting (with the new rules in spring training) because you never know what can happen. This case kind of shows you what could happen.”
He laughed and added, “It’s going to be all about SportsCenter and all that stuff that’s happened. And I’m sure Major League Baseball will respond to that.” — O’Brien
GO DEEPER
Clock-Off Confusion: MLB game ends with a pitch-clock violation. Really
What else do they say?
“Actually, I thought it was against us, to be honest,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “I said, ‘We’re running late.’ But we weren’t, I guess.”
“The umpire said I’m looking down,” Conley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I looked down at the catcher as he stood up. Not really sure if the pitcher was ready to go, the catcher definitely wasn’t. I was just trying to go with her rhythm, kind of not looking at the clock. Next time I should have taken my time in this situation I guess the referee said. I guess learn from it and move on.”
The pitch clock is already wreaking havoc
It’s day two of spring training and we’ve already seen the pitch clock wreaking its predictable havoc. We’ve seen hitters called to strikes without a pitch being thrown. We’ve seen thugs attempt to call time to stop the clock and have their requests denied. And now we’ve actually seen a game end on a timeout. It was all a little crazy. But here’s the thing to remember: That’s what Major League Baseball wanted to happen this spring. It’s better to learn the Shock Rating lessons now than have this stuff flare up in Game 7 of the World Series. – Strong
backstory
A number of new rules for this season went into effect on the first day of spring practice, including the elimination of the shift and the use of larger bases in addition to the pitch clock rules. Friday’s Mariners-Padres game was the first of the preseason.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that the rules are being implemented to “produce a crisp and exciting game.” He added that they are “not about changing the game,” but about “making sure we bring the very best form of baseball to the field.”
On Friday, Padres star Manny Machado committed the first pitch clock breach of this year’s spring practice, starting with a 0-1 at-bat.
required reading
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)