Pitch Timer: While this has been experienced with in the Minor League levels, this year will mark the first year in the Majors with a pitch timer. With the pitch timer, pitchers will have 15 seconds with the bases empty, to throw a pitch. If there any runners on base, they will have 20 seconds to deliver a pitch. If a pitcher has not started his motion to deliver the pitch before the time is expired, then it will result in an automatic ball. If a batter delays getting into the batter box, then it will result in a strike. A batter can call time out once per an at-bat which will reset the timer. When watching a game on TV, you'll likely see a little timer in the same box where you see the score. When watching a game in person, the timer will usually be located in a few different areas of the ballpark. Some people refer to this as a "pitch clock" but MLB says it is officially called the "pitch timer."
The overall reasoning behind the pitch timer is to speed up games and from early results in spring training, it seems to be doing just that. For beer drinkers attending games, this means the 7th inning will come a little quicker and you'll have less time to drink. Also, this means vendors will have less time to sell concessions too. However, I think the implementation of the pitch timer is more for people who are watching games on TV at home than those attending games at the ballpark. I'm sure you've heard friends say "baseball is slow" before. This is for them.
This is another rule that they hope will increase action on the base paths. With this rule, I don't see why a pitcher will ever make more than 1 pickoff move to a base to try and get a runner out. Basically, if they make 2 moves and are unsuccessful then they are giving the runner the green light to run. When this rule was tested in the Minor League, stolen base attempts skyrocketed.
(* - denotes Wild Card team)
Anthony Rendon |
Houston Astros (94-68)
Seattle Mariners (88-74)*
Los Angeles Angels (85-77)
Texas Rangers (84-78)
Oakland Athletics (63-99)
The reigning World Series Champion Houston Astros should find themselves atop the division again in 2023. Although they lost CY Young winner, Justin Verlander, to free agency, they still have a stacked pitching rotation. Kyle Tucker continues to get better and better in their impressive lineup. Former MVP, Jose Abreu, will take over at first base for the Astros in 2023 and add even more power to the lineup. The Seattle Mariners ended a long playoff drought last season by capturing a Wild Card spot. They will likely be battling for a Wild Card spot again this season. They will get a full season from last year's trade acquisition, Luis Castillo, who will anchor the starting rotation. They lost Mitch Haniger to free agency, but acquired outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. Rookie of Year winner, Julio Rodriguez, will look to improve even more in his sophmore season. A big question mark for the Los Angeles Angels will be if Anthony Rendon can stay healthy for the entire season. Since joining the Angels in 2020, Rendon has been limited by injuries in both 2021 and 2022. Two-way player, Shohei Ohtani, and Mike Trout, are both amazing, but they need help if the Angels are going to make the playoffs. The Angels did sign starting pitcher, Tyler Anderson, to a three year deal, in hopes he'll help the rotation. Beyond him and Ohtani though, the rotation seems pretty bleak. The Texas Rangers are not afraid to spend money to lure in big free agents. They proved this once again when they signed starting pitcher, Jacob deGrom, to a 5 year, 185 million dollar deal. Jacob deGrom is a great pitcher, without question, but is health is a question. He didn't pitch a full season in 2021 and 2022 due to injuries. Martin Perez was a nice success story for the Rangers pitching rotation last year and he'll try to prove it wasn't a fluke. Offensively, the Rangers shouldn't have a problem scoring runs with guys like Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Adolis Garcia. As an Oakland Athletics fan myself, I am being optimistic by predicting they'll lose 99 games this season, after losing 102 in 2022. Unless you follow the team closely, you likely won't recognize many names on their roster. In the last couple years, they have traded away many of their bigger players for prospects. Their lone All-Star from last season, starting pitcher, Paul Blackburn, is still with the team, but will start the year on the injured list. Ramon Laureano will look to rebound after a subpar 2022 and could find himself traded midseason if he does. The Athletics did sign Japanese pitcher, Shintaro Fujinami, to a one year, 3 million dollar deal (That's a lot of money for their cheap owner). He has had some control problems in the spring but has also shown some flashes of dominance.
Carlos Correa |
Cleveland Guardians (91-71)
Minnesota Twins (85-77)
Chicago White Sox (79-83)
Detroit Tigers (71-91)
Kansas City Royals (70-92)
Chris Bassitt |
Toronto Blue Jays (95-67)
Tampa Bay Rays (90-72)*
New York Yankees (86-76)*
Baltimore Orioles (84-78)
Boston Red Sox (79-83)
Fernando Tatis Jr. |
San Diego Padres (101-61)
Los Angeles Dodgers (99-63)*
San Francisco Giants (82-80)
Arizona Diamondbacks (76-86)
Colorado Rockies (72-90)
Willson Contreras |
Milwaukee Brewers (90-72)
St. Louis Cardinals (88-74)*
Chicago Cubs (79-83)
Pittsburgh Pirates (78-84)
Cincinnati Reds (61-101)
The National League Central once again looks like it might be one of the weaker divisions, but that doesn't make it lack excitement. The Milwaukee Brewers are counting on 2021 NY Cy Young Award winner, Corbin Burnes, to lead their rotation once again. Outfielder, Christian Yelich, will look to rediscover himself and return to the All-Star production he made in 2018 and 2019. Shortstop, Willy Adames, will look to add to the 31 home runs he hit last season. The Brewers have some intriguing younger players as well that should make a big impact including outfielder, Garrett Mitchell. The St. Louis Cardinals shouldn't be too far behind Milwaukee in the standings. Starting pitcher, Adam Wainwright, returns once again for his 18th season with the team. He'll start out the season on the injured list but shouldn't be sidelined too long. The Cardinals added catcher, Willson Contreras, when they signed him to a 5 year deal. This will be the first time the Cardinals have a main catcher that isn't Yadier Molina (who retired) since 2004. The Cardinals have one of the best, if not the best, corner infields in the Majors, with Nolan Arenado at third base and Paul Goldschmidt at first base. The Cardinals question marks are in the pitching department. Starting pitcher, Jack Flaherty, hasn't played a complete season since 2019. The Chicago Cubs are an interesting team right now. It wasn't long ago that they traded away all their stars. They look like they're back to trying to compete again sooner rather than later. They're biggest offseason signing was that of shortstop, Dansby Swanson. They also took a flyer on outfielder, Cody Bellinger, in hopes he'll re-find the form that made him the 2019 NL MVP. Japanese star, Seiya Suzuki, had a bit of a disappointing first season in the Majors, so the Cubs hope he can develop into the All-Star they were hoping they were getting. Kyle Hendriks missed all of spring training as he recovers from an injury, so Marcus Stroman gets the opening day start for the Cubs this year. The Pittsburgh Pirates are slowly but surely getting better. They still have a ways to go before making the playoffs again though. Perhaps the move that Pirates fans are most excited about during the offseason was bringing back outfielder, Andrew McCutchen, who had started his career with the Pirates and was with them through 2017. Now 36, McCutchen is back on a 1 year deal but has stated he has no intentions to retire after this season. Oneil Cruz turned heads with the Pirates at shortstop with his cannon arm. There is no reason to believe he won't continue to impress. The number one question lingering around the Pirates will be how much more time outfielder, Bryan Reynolds, remains with them. The Pirates have stated they would like to extend but it is unseen if they'll be able to reach a deal or not. There isn't much to be excited about as far as the Pirates starting rotation goes, although they did pick up a dinosaur in Rich Hill. I'll be absolutely shocked if the Cincinnati Reds don't find themselves in last place this year. The youngster, Hunter Greene, will be the opening day starter for the Reds. He has an electric fastball but learned last season that he can't rely on just that pitch alone. Could this be the last season for Joey Votto with the Reds? He is a free agent following 2023 and it is possible he'd want to be traded to a contender. He'll start the 2023 season on the injured list though. Alexis Diaz appears to be the closer for the Reds again but who knows how many save opportunities he'll actually end up having. My guess is not a lot.