Source 1: Brand, A. (2023, March 30). How the MLB pitch clock became a batter’s problem. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/us/mlb-pitch-clock-batters-dg/index.html

Background: This article goes in depth about batters and their experiences with the pitch clock. It takes multiple players old batting routines and shows how with the new rules in the game now, these batters would get violations. The article talks about how the batters get less time in an at bat then the pitcher. The pitcher controls the at batand gets anywhere from 15-20 seconds whereas the batter has to be ready by eight seconds in the box. Pat Morrow anticipates more engagement from fans during regular season games because of this rule.

How I used it: I used this source in my definition argument. I used this article to explain how batters who had longer routines may be struggling because they don’t get the full time to do their routines anymore. The batters have to get in the box and be ready quickly which means their routines have to be cut to shorter lengths.

Source 2:ESPN Internet Ventures. (n.d.). Blake Snell – San Francisco Giants starting pitcher. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33748 

Background: ESPN’s stats show how a player is doing in the season and if the player may be doing good or bad. This specific source shows Blake Snell’s stats. This includes Snell’s ERA as well as the amount of wins he has in each season he’s played along with a lot of other stats.

How I used it: I used this source in my rebuttal argument. I used this source to show how Blake Snell went from a few bad years in a row from 2021 to 2022 and how he got a whole number’s ERA better once the pitch clock got added. I also used it to show how Blake won CY Young during the new rule change.

Source 3:FOX Sports. (n.d.). How are MLB’s slowest pitchers handling the pitch clock? FOX Sports. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/how-are-mlbs-slowest-pitchers-handling-the-pitch-clock

Background: This article details how the slowest pitchers in the MLB are handling the pitch clock. It talks about how the pitchers are adjusting to the rules. It also shows which teams in the league are getting hurt the most by these rules. The article has a lengthy piece with reliever Alex Vesia. Vesia uses multiple strategies before the new rule was implemented to help calm himself down that has now been altered because of the pitch clock. The pitch clock seems to be getting in his head as he thinks he has to pitch very quickly now in order to not get a violation.

How I used it: I used this article in my definition argument. I used this article to show how relievers are feeling about the pitch clock. Relievers are struggling more then starting pitchers and getting a solid important relievers words helps to show how some of the mlb’s best are feeling. If one reliever feels this way, others are also most likely feeling the same pressure. I used this to show how the relievers aren’t liking this rule but are willing to adapt to it.

Source 4:Is MLB’s pitch clock leading to better defense? some players and coaches think so. (n.d.). https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2023-07-06/is-mlbs-pitch-clock-leading-to-better-defense-some-players-and-coaches-think-so

Background: This article talks about how players may not like the pitch clock when stepping into the box as a batter but they are a fan of it when they get in the field for defense. This takes multiples players comments on the pitch clock and how they feel when playing defense with it implemented. Players like Christian Walker and manager Craig Counsell said they feel like players are more locked in and how the think it might actually be easier to play defense now. The article also uses stats to show the difference between defense last year and in 2023. Owen Miller commented that the game flows better now.

How I used it: I used this article to show how even though fans might think defense is getting worse, it may not be the case. Multiple players are saying that defense feels better and that it flows more smoothly then ever before. The players saying that it is better shows defense isn’t getting worse, players would not praise a rule if they thought their defense was getting worse.

Source 5:ESPN Internet Ventures. (n.d.). What players think of MLB’s new rules. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36387464/mlb-players-react-2023-pitch-clock-rules

Background: This article details in depth what multiple batters and pitchers think about the pitch clock rules. They are asked multiple questions including some of the highest stars in baseball. Players like Blake Snell and Ian Happ were asked their favorite thing about the pitch clock, what one thing is they would change, and even what is the biggest on field impact of the rules along with more questions.

How I used it: I used the article to show how even though some of the players didn’t like the rules, they ended up performing better then most of the league at their position. The specific player I used was Blake Snell. He said he didn’t have a favorite part of the rules and he actually despised most of the rules. I used this to show even though he didn’t like the rules he still ended up having a career year and won Cy Young. If a pitcher who didn’t like the rules ended up doing great, that proves pitchers are not getting worse especially when winning Cy Young.

Source 6:Lindbergh, B. (2023b, May 1). Baseball’s pitch clock has transformed game length-and not just in the obvious way. The Ringer. https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2023/5/1/23706488/pitch-clock-2023-shorter-games-uniform-duration

Background: This article details how the pitch clock has changed the game of baseball in multiple ways. The article first talks about how one minute, three games were still being played, and within six minutes all three were done. The article talks about how in 2022 games were lasting an average of three and a half hours and in 2023 with the pitch clock the average was down to two and a half hours. The article says the pitch clock making games quicker isn’t really talked about a lot even though it is widely known the games are quicker. The article used graphs to show the deviation in games in different years. The article also says that even though the MLB is risking losing time on National TV, they needed to lower game time to try and get more fans and improve the game.

How I used it: I used the article to show how quickly the pitch clock is making the game go by. The pitch clock is what is causing games to go quicker. Players are being forced to play quicker and wrap up games in shorter amounts of times then ever before. I used the article to also show if the pitch clock wasn’t in play, games would still be lasting long amounts of times and not promote the game to more fans like the Commissioner wants.

Source 7:Wiles, D. (2024, March 1). Breaking down the pitch clock: An analysis of baseball’s big rule change. M. https://msabr.com/2024/03/01/breaking-down-the-pitch-clock-an-analysis-of-baseballs-big-rule-change/

Background: This article goes in depth about the pitch clock. It talks about the rules of the pitch clock. it has a pitching tempo analysis. The article uses multiple pitcher’s stats to analyze the pitch clock’s effects on their tempos and how their pitching has changed. It uses some of the best pitchers in the game of baseball to show just how much the pitch clock is effecting these pitchers.

How I used it: I used this article to show the tempo changes as a result of the pitch clock. I used it to show how some of the best pitchers were actually able to decrease how long it took them to pitch and how the pitchers were able to decrease the average of how long it took to pitch with no runners on base.

Source 8:Writer, H. M. – C. (n.d.). Ask Hal: So who benefits most from MLB pitch clock?. dayton. https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/ask-hal-so-who-benefits-most-from-mlb-pitch-clock/YI2NYCIC5ZBALNY3B2NXIJDMII/

Background: This article talks is mostly a back and forth question and answer. Hal Mccoy is asked multiple questions about the pitch clock. Questions like are the players in favor of robot umpires, what is Hal’s opinion of teams using multiple pitchers along with other questions. The biggest question asked is who benefits most from the pitch clock. Hal says in the article fans benefit most from the pitch clock. he says player wise, the pitchers seem to have the slight advantage.

How I used it: I used this article and specific question to show how pitchers have the slight edge when it comes to an at bat. I used this to have an example of batters struggling. Hal says how the pitch clock is making the batters routines get disrupted and make them approach the plate in a quicker time.

Source 9:Yahoo! (n.d.). Pitchers are adamant: MLB’s pitch clock will give them an edge over hitters. will spring training games prove it? Yahoo! Sports. https://sports.yahoo.com/pitchers-are-adamant-mlbs-pitch-clock-will-give-them-an-edge-over-hitters-will-spring-training-games-prove-it-175136106.html

Background: This article talks about how the pitch clock effects in early spring training. The article uses multiple picthers and batters and has them comment their thoughts on the new rule and how they feel about it going forward. Players like Chris Bassit and Aaron Judge comment in this article their opinions on the rule. The article also has the players comment on some strategies some of them may use once they are used to the pitch clock. It also talks about the other rules in place with the pitch clock and different players reactions to those rules.

How I used it: I used this article to talk about how starting pitchers seem to be doing better and how they are adjusting well to the new rule. I also used this article to show how sluggers like Aaron Judge are struggling with the rules and how they are having a harder time then starting pitchers adapting and adjusting to the new rules. This article helped me to show how pitchers are actually the ones seeming to get better, not the batters.

Source 10:Szymborski, D. (2023, June 13). The pitch clock and its effects on pitching performance and injuries. FanGraphs Baseball. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-pitch-clock-and-its-effects-on-pitching-performance-and-injuries/

Background: This article goes into great depths on the stats involved with the pitch clock and how the game has changed or maybe even not change too much at all. The article talks about how the pitch clock has maybe been causing multiple injuries to pitchers because they are on a shortened time limit. It talks about the pace of play changes using stats, and the FIP miss that goes along with it. The article also compares the pace with ERA miss. The article shows how increase in pace is actually increasing the chance of injury.

How I used it: Although this source provided lots of stats, it failed to deliver good useful information for me to use in my paper. The title was very intriguing but did not give the answers I was looking for. The stats used weren’t the most popular but instead stats that aren’t talked about much and are looked over by most fans.

Source 11:Follow Matthew Trueblood on Twitter: MATrueblood, 489, P. C., 559, S., 1, J. F. S., 887, C., 610, D. S., 25, brewerralph, & 2, B. B. (2023a, November 26). Why shortening the pitch clock is the right choice. Brewer Fanatic.

Background: This article talked about some new rules may be added to the pitch clock. The article mainly talks about how changing the pitch clock to be shorter may be better for the game and make for more dynamic at bats. The article also talks about consequences that may come with shortening the clock including increasing runners getting stolen bases. The article also says injuries may potentially increase. The article details how Rob Manfred wanted the game to change. It says he wanted a change in pace of play and more viewers to watch the game.

How I used it: Although the article had some seriously interesting information, none of it was serviceable to put in the article. The title failed to deliver. There are no actual points of how the game would get better if the pitch clock was shortened. It was simply just someone’s opinion and why they think shortening the pitch clock would help the game. The article was not good enough to be included in any of my arguments but allowed me to think of other ideas for articles to use.