MLB Playing Rules Committee 2008 Modifications

[Jim Porter]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releas...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[MadCityRef]

"Among this year's changes are experimental rules to be used in the two Minor Leagues at the Short-Season A classification, the New York-Penn League and the Northwest League, for the 2008 season:

"New language inserted into Rule 8.04 to increase the time within which a pitcher must pitch (from 12 to 15 seconds), but the timing will begin when the pitcher receives the ball, without regard for whether the batter is ready for the pitch.
If the batter has had a reasonable opportunity to get ready and is not ready, he would be at risk for having the pitcher pitch or, if the batter is out of the batter's box, for having an automatic strike called, as set forth in Rules 6.02(c) and (d).

Who's counting? Will there be a pitch clock?

In addition, another experimental rule will regulate visits to the mound, limiting the number of visits to the mound by managers, coaches and infielders.
Among the provisions of the rule is that any combination of three or more manager/coach visits to the mound in a game without removing the pitcher will result in the automatic removal of the pitcher from the game on a fourth visit, regardless of whether prior visits were to the same or different pitcher(s), and that no more than one infielder at a time is permitted to visit the mound, including during any visit by a manager or coach.
The limitation on the number of mound visits is similar to the rules used in international and NCAA play, and the restriction on infielder visits to the mound is similar to the international rule.

Wow! A NFHS modification! What will all those umpires who say they work "real baseball" do?

An added comment to Rule 4.05 requires that a coach, until being passed by a batted ball, must position himself no closer to home plate than the front edge of the coach's box and no closer to fair territory than the edge of the coach's box closest to the field.

This is what the NF should have done.

Hey Tim C! Are you crossing the river or the 45th Parallel to see these enforced?

[bossman72]

Jim,

Do they have the detailed rule changes in .pdf format like they did last year?