Dodgers Third Base Coach Shares LA's Plan to Be Ready for New MLB Rules
There are a handful of new rules coming to Major League Baseball, which means in addition to all the usual spring training stuff, the Cactus League this year for the Dodgers will include getting used to everything new. Among the new rules are a pitch clock, limits on pickoff throws, larger bases, and the banning of the shift.
Third-base coach Dino Ebel was on local radio this week and talked about the preparation the team will go through this spring to be ready for the changes by the time meaningful games start.
"We're going to start in spring training. We'll get the clocks out there and every umpire I talked to last year at third base, they all are getting great reports on the times of the games and how pitchers can speed up. Now there's going to be so many pick plays you can pick over there. But I'm hearing from umpires that came up and down from Triple-A, they haven't heard too many complaints. Is there going to be an adjustment for both sides in the batter's box and on the pitcher's mound? Absolutely. But that starts day one in spring training and we're already starting up meetings talking about getting our guys ready when the season starts. I think it's going to be good for the game by speeding it up. ...
"There's also going to be bigger bases. That's probably going to be a little bit strange at first. We'll see what it does in spring training and we'll have them out there and players will start getting used to playing baseball with bigger bags."
The individual changes will mean different things for different players. The shift is obviously going to be a big change for all of the infielders, and pitchers who work a little more slowly like Alex Vesia will need time to adjust to the pitch clock. As Ebel says, it's hard to say what adjustments (if any) will be needed for the bigger bases, but that's what spring training is for.
This is all a good example of why it was crazy that MLB implemented their sticky stuff ban in the middle of the season in 2021, but I digress.
LA's coaches pride themselves on helping players prepare for the games, and this complicates that process but also gives them a chance to shine. Dino seems to be embracing the challenge.
