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SPORTS Saturday 16 March 2019
Real change in baseball is yet to come

By TIM DAHLBERG have been in the past is
AP Sports Columnist part of its charm and a big
Five seconds hardly seems part of the reason it has
worth talking about, and been around and is still rel-
in a way it's not. Trimming evant after more than a
the time between innings century and a half.
might save a minute or two And, really, were you ex-
over the length of a game, pecting more?
but the real heavy lifting Maybe next year when
toward solving baseball's Manfred is free to intro-
many issues is still to come. duce rules requiring reliev-
Eliminating one mound ers face at least three bat-
visit for the upcoming sea- ters. Maybe a few years
son isn't going to suddenly from now after issues like
make baseball America's the shift and the declining
Pastime once again, ei- number of balls put in play
ther. America has moved are finally tackled.
on, even as a dedicated Hopefully never when it
core of fans keeps base- comes to the DH, which
ball propped up and keeps has no place in the Nation-
profits flowing to owners. al League despite the best
Actually, the changes an- efforts of the union to get it Arizona Diamondbacks' Steven Souza Jr. (28) and Eduardo Escobar (5) lead players out of the
nounced Thursday in an implemented. dugout before a spring training baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, March
agreement between Ma- The agreement an- 14, 2019, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
jor League Baseball and nounced Thursday was Associated Press
the players unions don't do unprecedented if only
much of anything to make because both manage- gaining agreement expires. or that there will be labor face at least three batters
the game better in 2019. If ment and the union found That's important for play- peace in 2021. But it does or end an inning next year,
anything, they are merely enough common ground ers because they took their mean both sides can be- while owners agreed not to
Rob Manfred's way to show to make a deal. That it got eye off the ball in the last gin exchanging ideas that try and implement a pitch-
that he's trying to do some- made was groundbreaking negotiations. While they might lead toward a longer ing clock until 2022 at the
thing — anything, really in a way because the two asked for things like more agreement. earliest.
— to keep baseball from sides rarely agree on any- days off and private chefs "How things manifest them- Again, baby steps. But
growing too stale. thing, but the reason it got in every clubhouse, own- selves moving forward re- baseball fans should cheer
Still, it's a start in a sport made was largely because ers got increases in the mains to be seen," union the fact the two sides are
that in normal times resists neither side was forced to luxury tax that prompted chief Tony Clark said. at least talking so baseball
changes like no other. And give up much more teams to cut veter- Under the agreement, doesn't get sucked into the
it's a signal that there is a The owners got superficial ans who cost them money breaks between innings labor disputes that ruined
might just be a new willing- changes that will make it and chilled the free agent will be five seconds shorter the sport for many fans in
ness among owners and look like they're trying to market. this season and teams will the 1990s. What comes
players to make the game speed up the game. The Beginning contract talks be allowed only five visits next will determine just how
great once again. union got a chance to not even halfway through to the mound each game serious players and owners
Baby steps at best, but reopen contract nego- the current agreement instead of six. The union are in making desperately
that's what baseball is. tiations, three years before doesn't mean players will agreed not to fight new needed changes to the
Keeping things like they the current collective bar- get the changes they want rules that make a reliever game itself.q

Phillies star Harper hit by

pitch, exits with bruised foot

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) viously we want to go in- for a few moments.
— New Phillies star Bryce side and take a look first." Harper was checked by
Harper sustained a bruised "Certainly extra scary given a trainer, limped toward
right foot when he was hit where we are in camp," he the dugout with assistance
by a pitch during a spring said. "We're confident and and soon hobbled toward
training game Friday, but we understand we have a the clubhouse.
manager Gabe Kapler good club on the field and Recently signed to a re-
said the team wasn't overly we're confident that Bryce cord $330 million, 13-year
worried about the injury. is going to be all right." contract, Harper was play-
Initial X-rays were nega- Many in the crowd at Spec- ing his fourth exhibition. He
tive, the club said. Harper trum Field gasped when is 0 for 5 in 10 plate appear- Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper rolls on the dirt holding his
then left the ballpark for Harper was struck by a 96 ances. leg after getting hit by a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays
during the sixth inning in a spring training baseball game, Fri-
more detailed X-rays. mph fastball from Toronto Harper had hoped to play day, March 15, 2019, in Clearwater, Fla.
"Bryce has a right foot con- rookie Trent Thornton in the three straight games start- Associated Press
tusion," Kapler said after a sixth inning. The slugging ing Friday.
3-2 win over Toronto. "Right outfielder went down to "I think it's a little premature Kapler said. "First and fore- our medical team and dis-
now we don't have reason the dirt, clutched his ankle to speculate on lost at- most, we probably have to cuss it. But again, not over-
for major concern, but ob- and stayed on the ground bats or anything like that," get inside and meet with ly concerned right now."q