Jim Joyce says MLB Umpires are overjoyed with pitch clock
When the implication of the pitch clock was first announced, opinions were split. Some thought it was great for the game and others hated it and believed it would lead to more injuries. Even now, the pitch clock is still a controversial topic. Well for everyone except the umpires, who as Jim Joyce explains love the new pitch clock.
“The thing that I really am excited about and I really enjoy – I’ve talked to a few guys that are working that still know my name and the one thing that they are overjoyed about is the pitch clock,” he said. “I know when I talk to my brother back in Ohio, his friends and my friends here actually enjoy that part of how the games have been speeded up.”
Quote via WEEI
Can’t say I really blame the umpires for enjoying this new rule change. MLB pays its umpires on a game-by-game basis. So Whether it’s two hours or four, MLB is paying them the same no matter what.
So for obvious reasons, umpires are going to enjoy games being much quicker, which is what I think the fan’s reaction should be. There are still the people who hold out and say they hate it but I think more and more people are becoming fond of it as they see just how much more watchable it makes baseball.
Joyce also cited how the new pitch clock may even be saving umpires’ careers.
“I actually talked to one of the guys right after spring training and he had been talking about how he was looking forward to retirement and stuff like that, and he told me that with this pitch clock, he might not retire,” Joyce said. “He said ‘This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to baseball. It’s saving our bodies. It’s saving our knees.”
Quote Via Jim Joyce
It’s quite literally saving the careers of umpires and allowing them to work longer, so overall it just seems like a win-win. The fans for the most part love it, the umpires love it, and players are coming around to it.
Pitchers are complaining saying it’s leading to more injuries. (Check out this article I wrote explaining why that is total B.S.) I think it’s just going to take some time for players — (especially pitchers) — to adjust.
They are having to seed their game up and play at a pace they haven’t had before. It’s going to lead to growing pains for some pitchers and we’ve seen just that. Many have struggled so far and it’s clear they are still adjusting to the new pitch clock.
The rule will be changed and altered in the coming years, but I think at this point it’s safe to say that it’s here to stay. Before long players will stop complaining and we will forget about having the debate to keep it at all.
The game is changing and I for one am here for it. Accept the pitch clock, it’s not going anywhere. Fans always initially hate rule changes. But over time they usually realize it’s not as big of a deal as they were making it out to be. The pitch clock will be no different in that regard.
So stop complaining about it. You just sound like an old head who is content with baseball dying. The pitch clock is actually working, it would be very stupid to get rid of it now.
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