(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Adjustments to speed up games introduced during MLB-exhibition game
Nederlands
 CLEARWATER, Florida (USA) -
During the first exhibition game of Major League Spring Training on Sunday (March 1), the 'pace of play clock' was introduced.
It is one of three major initiatives Major League Baseball has announced for this season involving the tempo of games.
The new adjustments were introduced during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the University of Tampa at Brick House Field, the Spring Training-site of the Phils in Clearwater.
The clock is situated to the left of the batter's eyer in centerfield (to be viewed by the home plate umpire) with a smaller one being placed behind home plate (to be viewed by the pitcher).
The clock starts counting down from two minutes and 25 seconds (2:45 for nationally televised games) immediately after the third out is made.
With 40 seconds remaining, the next batter will be announced and (when used) his walk-on music begins.
With 30 seconds remaining, the pitcher throws his final warm-up pitch.
With 25 seconds remaining, the walk-on music ends and the batter is required to be in the batter's box and the pitcher must be ready to deliver between five and 20 seconds.
The goal is to deliver the first pitch before the clock runs out.
Another adjustment is that batters must, under most circumstances, keep one foot in the box between pitches.
The third adjustment is that managers no longer come onto the field to issue challenges.
The clock and the 'one-foot-in-box' rules are already used internationally for several years in softball and it works.
The 'foot'-rule is also being used in the Dutch regular softball-seasons.
So, it will be a matter of time for these rules to be introduced in international as well as national baseball-competitions.
As was the tie-break rule some years ago.
By the way, the Phillies lost the exhibition game against the University of Tampa, which is the number 1 Division II team in the country, with a 6-2 score.
In the game, the Phillies used some young players and non-roster invitees, while the big name players didn't play.
The Phillies open the Grapefruit League-season on Tuesday against the New York Yankees.
Trailing 2-1, the Tampa Spartans took the lead in the top of the seventh inning.
First, they scored the tying run when Andrew Amaro walked with the bases loaded.
Amaro is the nephew of Ruben Amaro, Jr., the General Manager of the Phillies.
After the Spartans had tied the score, Hector Neris was brought in relief Nefi Ogando, but he then gave up a grand slam homerun to Giovanny Alfonzo, which lifted the lead to 6-2.
(March 1)
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