Paul Sullivan: PECOTA disses, relievers as 'openers' and the free-agency waiting game: Welcome to baseball's new normal
Changes in Major League Baseball are coming at us like a Noah Syndergaard fastball, leaving fans breathless as we attempt to process what is happening to the grand old game.
Defensive shifting is commonplace. Relievers are starting games and leaving after one inning. The launch-angle revolution is increasing both fly balls and strikeouts, with strikeouts exceeding hits in 2018 for the first time.
For better or worse, baseball in the 21st century bears little resemblance to the game you grew up with, and more changes are in store if Commissioner Rob Manfred has his way.
Pitch clocks were instituted in spring training as an experiment, and MLB is proposing a rule stating no reliever can be brought in unless the previous pitcher has faced three batters or an inning ends.
"There are two distinct trends we watch very carefully," Manfred said. "One is pace of play, and the second is the amount of action in the game.
"We are
