Now there is a clock in baseball. The pitch clock is coming to MLB in 2023, and a shift ban is coming with it. MLB has been experimenting with these rules in the minors, and they were officially voted in on Friday. The pitch clock will eliminate tons of dead time between pitches where nothing happens and is likely to be a smashing success when all is said and done, despite not necessarily pleasing everyone initially.
The ban on shifts will also have big consequences. There must be at least two fielders on either side of second base, and all must have both feet on the dirt. This will be a huge boon to left-handed hitters in particular, who have been victims of aggressive shifts that have taken away hits in shallow right field for many years now.
The San Francisco Giants got swept in their doubleheader yesterday, but the big takeaway from the game was Sean Hjelle's strong five innings of work. The Giants right-handed pitcher was pumping mid-90s sinkers in the zone, racking up strikeouts and ground balls. The rest of the season should be about watching guys like Hjelle, and seeing whether they can be key pieces on next year's team.
Outfielder Austin Dean was added to the 40-man and MLB rosters prior to Friday's game, and reliever Cole Waites is on the taxi squad. Dom Leone was placed on the IL with an elbow impingement. Yermín Mercedes was DFA'd and outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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