Quicker pace: Speed-up rules working with minor adjustments

For six weeks, baseball's new pick-up-the-pace rules have been in place, and while the average time of game has been cut by nine minutes, the real question is this: Has anyone really noticed the quicker pace?

"We don't want our players thinking about it,'' Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "But, there haven't been any issues.''

Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista agreed: "There's been no adjustments.''

And Orioles manager Buck Showalter wondered if a family of four who attends a couple of games a year cares if the game lasts 2:45 or 2:55.

That's a fair question.

But, Rob Manfred, the new commissioner, like his predecessor Bud Selig, believes that baseball needs to attract younger fans, and one way to do that is to make the games quicker without changing the natural rhythms.

So far, it has worked.

The average time of game has been cut from 3:02 in 2014 to 2:53 this season, according to MLB.

The three major components of the new rules include: Batters must keep one foot in the box, although there are times when they are allowed to step out; there is a time of 2:25 between innings for locally-televised games and 2:45 for nationally-televised games; and managers will be allowed to call for a replay review without leaving the dugout.

A new stadium clock will keep the time between innings. A batter will be announced with 40 seconds to go, and a pitcher will have to throw his final warm-up pitch before the 30-second mark.

MLB said that it was going to warn teams and players through April, and start issuing fines for violations starting May 1. But, MLB spokesman Michael Teevan said Wednesday that players have been so cooperative with the new rules, MLB is going to hold off on fines.

Apparently, the pace issue isn't as controversial as most thought when essentially a "shot clock'' was introduced to the old ballgame.

As far as the Orioles are concerned, the players say they understand the purpose of the rules and that they are making adjustments.

Still, it is a tad strange.

"The biggest adjustment is the one foot in the batter's box," Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said. "If you swing and miss, you want to step back and gather yourself. You just have to learn to stay in the box.''

Steve Pearce, the Orioles' second baseman, said that he received a warning letter for stepping out of the box during the opening series against Tampa Bay.

Staying in the box "is becoming a habit," Pearce said.

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph keeps an eye on the new clock. He says he understands the need to pick up the pace and that the rule is in intended to keep batters from walking halfway to the dugout between pitches.

"Why do I have to think about not stepping out of the box after a swing?" Caleb asked.

Orioles pitchers are ready in plenty of time before the 30-second deadline. Chris Tillman says he takes his eight warm-up tosses and waits for the commercial break to end.

Closer Zach Britton says there is enough to time to run to the mound and get the warmup pitches in most ballparks. But, given the extra distance from bullpen to mound in Detroit's Comerica Park and Minnesota's Target Field, that could mean he's going to have to speed up his routine.

Ubaldo Jimenez has no issues getting ready, but he did get a warning letter about taking too much time between pitches when he having difficulties in a game at Toronto.

"I walked off the mound, I was walking around and slowing the game down," Jimenez said. "I can't remember if it was during an at-bat or between batters, but I needed time to take a deep breath.''

MLB sent Jimenez a warning letter, as well as a video link to the violation, so he could see what he'd done.

Did he call up the link?

"No need to," Jimenez said. "I knew exactly what they were talking about."