Pitch Clock Impact on D-backs in Regular and Postseason Games

Major League Baseball instituted a pitch clock for the 2023 season to improve the pace of play and shorten the time of games. This was after years of gradual creep in which the time of game increased from approximately 2:40 minutes in the early to mid 1980's until 2022 when the average time had ballooned all the way up to 3:07

According to Morgan Sword, Executive Vice President of MLB Operations, when fans are polled and asked what is the ideal game time, the answer consistently comes back at around 2:30. With regular season games taking over three hours, and postseason games sometimes running as long as four hours, something had to be done.

After experimenting in the minor leagues for over half a decade, MLB finally rolled out the new pitch timer rules, along with several others, and not without some controversy. Many traditionalists decried the use of any kind of clock in baseball. Other fans that had never experienced the game prior to the 2000's when games had already become so long simply didn't see the need for it. If MLB polling and market research is to be believed however, the more vocal opponents were in the minority.

There was a lot of noise in spring training and over the first month or two of the season, from both players and fans. Much like the clock itself however those complaints faded from view as the season went forward. Everyone adapted to the "new normal". The results can only be considered a success. The average time of game across MLB in 2023 dropped 28 minutes to 2:39 per game. Perhaps more important than the actual time of game, the pace of play was much improved.

The average time between batted ball events dropped almost 40 seconds from three minutes and fifty two seconds to just three minutes and thirteen seconds. Other rule changes such as shift bans and disengagement rules all contributed to this better, faster paced game. All the rules changes helped turn back the clock, both literally and figuratively. There was something for everyone. Traditionalists were able to enjoy a game that more closely resembled the game they grew up with 40-50 years ago. Younger fans used to a faster pace of entertainment were no longer bored by a constant three and half to four hour slogs.

There are still tweaks to be made according to Sword. There was a gradual creep month by month. In April the time of game was just 2:36, and increased gradually until September when it had reached 2:44. So while the season long averages was 2:39, there are still some adjustments to be made to keep the gains that have been gotten and stay closer to the goal of 2:30 minute games.

As for the Diamondbacks, their season long average was slightly higher than the league average, coming in at 2:43, and for September it was almost 2:45. So far in six postseason games their average time of game is back up to 3:03. The between innings in the postseason is 30 seconds longer than the regular season, so nearly half the increase is due to that factor. Other than that the first Wild Card round game with Milwaukee took 3:36 due to both teams using seven pitchers. That drove up the average somewhat. .

The D-backs opponents in the NLCS, the Philadelphia Phillies have seen similar numbers. Their season average was 2:44, September was 2:48, and so far in the postseason the average is 2:57. In their case all of the increase since September can be attributed to additional break time.

Nobody minds a three hour playoff game. The pitch timer doesn't detract at all from the experience for fans. There is still plenty of time to cheer and chant and be enthralled by the exploits of these wonderful athletes displaying their skills on the field.

For those interested in seeing the over all impacts of the new rule changes you can see that information at Baseball Reference , where they did a great job of breaking it all out.

How Will New Pitch Timer Rules Impact the Game?