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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 23 February 2017
MLB players’ union agrees

to pitchless intentional walks

many of MLB's proposed Joe Girardi said. "For the one year advance notice,
innovations, such as rais- most part, it's not chang- in which case it can uni-
ing the bottom of the strike ing the strategy, it's just kind laterally make alterations.
zone, installing pitch clocks of speeding things up. I'm Baseball Commissioner Rob
and limiting trips to the good with it." Manfred expressed hope
mound, players are willing There were 932 intentional Tuesday that ongoing talks
to accept the intentional walks last year, including would lead to an agree-
walk change. 600 in the National League, ment on other changes
"As part of a broader dis- where batters are walked but also said clubs would
cussion with other moving to bring the pitcher's slot to reserve the right to act uni-
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred answers pieces, the answer is yes," the plate. laterally, consistent with the
questions at a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Phoe- union head Tony Clark "You don't want to get your rule-change provision of
nix. wrote Wednesday in an pitcher out of a rhythm, the sport's labor contract.
Associated Press email to The Associated and when you do the in- Some changes with video
Press. "There are details, tentional walk, I think you review can be made uni-
NEW YORK (AP) — There pitches this year. as part of that discussion, can take a pitcher out of laterally, such as shortening
won't be any wild pitches "It doesn't seem like that that are still being worked his rhythm," Girardi said. the time to make a chal-
on intentional walks this big of a deal. I know they're through, however." "I've often wondered why lenge. "I know they were
season. trying to cut out some of The union's decision was you don't bring in your thinking about putting in a
The players' association has the fat. I'm OK with that," first reported by ESPN . shortstop and the pitcher 30-second (limit) for man-
agreed to Major League Cleveland manager Terry "I'm OK with it. You signal. stand at short. Let the short- agers to make a decision,"
Baseball's proposal to have Francona said. I don't think that's a big stop walk him. They're used Francona said. "I actually
intentional walks without While the union has resisted deal," Yankees manager to playing catch more like wish they would. I think it
that than a pitcher is." would hustle it up and if
Agreement with the union we can't tell in 30 seconds,
is required for playing rules maybe we shouldn't be do-
changes unless MLB gives ing it anyway."q
Baseball’s Hall of Fame to honor

‘The Simpsons’ on May 27

COOPERSTOWN, New York (AP) — Baseball’s Hall of Fame
will honor “The Simpsons” on May 27 to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of the show’s “Homer at the Bat” episode.
First televised on Feb. 20, 1992, “Homer at the Bat” fea-
tured future Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr.
and Ozzie Smith among the ringers on Homer Simpson’s
Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team. Voices of
actual players were used in the episode, which also in-
cluded Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly,
Steve Sax, Mike Scioscia and Darryl Strawberry.
Boggs and Smith are scheduled to appear at a round-
table discussion on May 27. The Hall’s legends game is
slated for that afternoon at Doubleday Field.q