MLB Submits Formal Proposal to Players’ Union to Speed Up Pace of the Game

Pitchers and catchers report next week, meaning Spring Training and the new baseball season are near and pitchers might need to use this time to make some adjustments for the upcoming season.

FOX’s Chris Hoenig reports:

Major League Baseball has submitted a formal proposal to the players’ union that includes declaring intentional walks without actually throwing any pitches and raising the lower edge of the strike zone to the top of a batter’s knees.

Right now, the strike zone bottoms out at the hollow of the batter’s kneecaps.

The proposals, first reported by ESPN, are part of a larger movement to try to move games along, something that Commissioner Rob Manfred said after owners meetings last week will require a series of changes:

(Manfred) “It’s gonna be an ongoing effort to make sure that our game moves along in the way that is most attractive to our fans.”

Games have taken steadily longer over the past 5-to-10 years, clocking in at an average of more than three hours last year.

Chris Hoenig, FOX News.

Follow Chris Hoenig on Twitter: @Chris_Hoenig