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A16 sports
Tuesday 28 February 2023
Mets’ Scherzer loves ‘cat-and-mouse’ game of MLB’s new rules

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) Cardinals manager Oliver
— New York Mets right- Marmol said MLB is provid-
hander Max Scherzer de- ing updates — nearly in real
scribed pitching under Ma- time — on the rules chang-
jor League Baseball’s new es package that is making
rules as a “cat-and-mouse” this spring training unique.
game. The two major changes are
Contrary to previous years, a pitch clock and a limit on
Scherzer feels the pitcher extreme infield shifts.
finally has control of the “They did a really nice job
tempo because of the new of sending out a memo this
pitch clock. morning with all the things
In his first start of the Grape- that took place yesterday
fruit League schedule, and questions that play-
Scherzer allowed a run ers and managers that just
in the second inning but had to be addressed in or-
struck out five while work- der that you can cover it
ing the first two innings with your staff and club as
of the Mets’ 6-3 win over you feel appropriate,” Mar-
Washington. mol said. “So we did that
“Really, the power the with our staff and brought
pitcher has now — I can two different points with our
totally dictate pace,” players because they’ve
the three-time Cy Young New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws during the second inning of a spring training done a really good job of
Award winner said. “The baseball game against the Washington Nationals Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. communication.”
Associated Press
rule change of the hitter There were more hiccups
having only one timeout ing to play around with the quick. And I can work ex- were 69 pitch-timer viola- on Sunday throughout the
changes the complete pitch clock. tremely slow,” Scherzer tions through the first 35 Cactus and Grapefruit
dynamic of the hitter-and- Washington’s Michael said. “There’s another layer spring training games over League games, but most
pitcher dynamic. Yeah, I Chavis, the second hitter in here to be able to mess the weekend — including took the changes in stride.
love it.” the second inning, stepped with the hitter’s timing. 35 violations in 16 games Rockies reliever Daniel Bard
The pitch clock is among out of the box when he felt “I can come set even be- Sunday. was called for a ball after
a series of new rules for this Scherzer was taking too fore the hitter’s in the box. I While Scherzer thinks the throwing a warmup pitch
season — including limits long. That was fine with can’t pitch until eight (sec- timer is working in pitchers’ after the 30-second dead-
on infield shifts and larger Scherzer. onds left on the clock). But favor, hitters aren’t com- line heading into an inning.
bases — that MLB hopes The right-hander held the as soon as his eyes are up, plaining, either. The 30-second mark before
will improve pace of play ball for more than 10 sec- I can go. If his eyes are up “I like it,” Yankees star Aaron innings was also a source of
and introduce more action onds before delivering the with 12 seconds to go, I can Judge said. “I think you can confusion during the Car-
into the game. next pitch as Chavis had to fire. kind of play around with it dinals-Marlins game. Two
The average game time remain in the batter’s box, “I had the conversation with a little bit. I think it definitely Cardinals pitchers were
through three days of locked eyes with Scherzer. the umpire (David Rackley) speeds up the game. Any- called for balls before the
spring training is 2 hours, The veteran pitcher felt he to make sure that’s legal. thing that kind of keeps the start of innings before, ac-
39 minutes, down from an had imposed his will, even And that is (legal). I’m just pitcher moving and on the cording to Marmol, the
average of 3:01 for all of though Chavis ultimately getting used to how this is go, and hopefully keep him umpires gathered and real-
spring training last year. singled to right. going to be in 2023.” out of breath, I’m looking ized they were interpreting
Scherzer says he is learn- “I can work extremely According to MLB, there forward to it.” the rule incorrectly.q

MLB average salary rose 14.8% to

record $4.22M last season

year after the end of the Last year’s average sal- million of the 2015 Los An-
lockout, boosted by big ary was calculated by the geles Dodgers.
deals for Max Scherzer, union at $4,222,193, up Some owners are argu-
Francisco Lindor, Marcus from $3,679,335 in 2021. ing for significant change
Semien and Corey Seager. MLB, which uses a slightly to lessen payroll dispar-
The rate of increase was different method, cal- ity when the current labor
the highest since a 17.7% culated the average at contract expires after the
increase in 2000 to $1.61 $4,117,472, up 15% from 2026 season, and MLB this
million, according to final $3,579,341 in 2021. month established anoth-
calculations by the play- Payrolls, a more complete er committee to examine
ers’ association. reflection on spending, economics.
Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) beats the tag by Texas The average had dropped rose 12.6% to $4.56 billion “History would suggest that
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager to steal first base during the in each of the previous from $4.05 billion. an economic committee
first inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, Feb. 24, four seasons before 2022, Salaries have escalated ... is really hyperfocused
2024, in Surprise, Ariz.
Associated Press sparking player anger higher this past offseason. on a salary cap — or get-
that was expressed by The Mets have boosted ting to a salary cap when
By RONALD BLUM League Baseball’s aver- the union during a 99-day their payroll to a projected we next sit down to nego-
AP Baseball Writer age salary rose 14.8% to lockout that ended last $370 million, well past the tiate,” union head Tony
NEW YORK (AP) — Major a record $4.22 million last March. previous record of $297.9 Clark said Saturday.q