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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Pitch Clocks Addition, Possible Expansion Among Other Issues Addressed By MLB Brass

MLB wants to "add a pitch clock to games" in the coming years as the next step in its pace-of-play initiative, but MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark's "concern ... was clear," according to La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The league last year experimented with a pitch clock during Arizona Fall League games and is "trying it out in Double-A and Triple-A" this season. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday sounded as if implementing the pitch clock in MLB "is a logical next step." He said, "We are really encouraged by the results of that experiment in terms of how it moves the game along. It will be a product of conversations with the MLBPA. We remain positive about the 20-second clock as something that could be useful to the game at the big-league level." Clark praised the players for "making adjustments to the guidelines presented by the league" earlier this year regarding pace of play. But he said of an MLB pitch clock, "The game is fundamentally different. The game is fundamentally faster. There are more considerations that have to be made on the major-league level than the Single-A level, Double-A level or the Triple-A level" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/15). Clark said that it "could actually be 'dangerous' to introduce a change that could have a dramatic effect on the playing of the game on the field." He added that the union "has spoken with players who played minor league games this season, in Double-A and Triple-A, about how the clocks have worked" and that those players "were not 'bending over backward' to push for bringing those clocks to the big leagues" (ESPN.com, 7/14).

EXPANSION ON THE HORIZON? Manfred expressed support for potential MLB expansion, which has not occurred since ’98, but he did not identify a timetable. "I’m open to the idea. I think we’re a growth business," he said. Montreal, which lost the Expos after the ’04 season, is actively trying to get a new team, and has hosted exhibition games the last two seasons. But Manfred said, "It’s a long way from two exhibition games to 81 home games in a facility with major league standards" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). Manfred acknowledged that MLB "has compiled a list of cities that might be viable options through expansion or possible relocation from existing markets." He said the league intends to "examine their viability, think about what we can do to make them more viable, so that we have business alternatives that are available to us." ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick noted Montreal, Charlotte, San Antonio, Portland, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, northern New Jersey, Mexico City or Monterrey, Mexico, are "among the markets that could eventually land on baseball's radar as potential locations for new or relocated franchises" (ESPN.com, 7/14). In N.Y., Tyler Kepner notes Manfred "did not cite any cities on the list" and that "nothing is said to be imminent now." The 17 years since the Rays and D-backs were added marks the longest period in the expansion era "without the addition of new franchises" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/15).

FANTASY FOCUS: Manfred and Clark diverged somewhat on the issue of MLB’s official relationship with daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings, particularly in light of continued questions surrounding daily fantasy and perceived similarities to gambling. Manfred expressed confidence in the clear line of legal demarcation that classifies daily fantasy as a game of skill, particularly following a lengthy internal review of the company before signing a contract extension with DraftKings, and added that all players and team and league personnel are prohibited from taking part in daily fantasy. But Clark struck a more cautious tone. "We are watching this very closely, as you might expect considering where we’ve been and where we’re at," Clark said. "We are walking a very delicate, very sensitive line that could get muddied very quickly depending on what words you use" (Fisher).

CARD COUNTING: Manfred said that MLB "does not expect a swift conclusion to the investigation into the Cardinals front office and the hacking allegations" involving the Astros. Manfred: "The investigation is ongoing, and I’m not going to say more than that." He added that the league "has been kept apprised of the FBI’s timetable." In St. Louis, Derrick Goold notes the Cardinals "are running an internal investigation into the allegations." The league "does not have one going, but once the FBI’s inquiry is concluded it will start one to determine what penalties the commissioner’s office could exact" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/15). Manfred said, "Both owners have been really fantastic ... in terms of cooperation. Nobody in this game is interested in this type of activity. There is no issue between the two clubs." In Houston, Drellich & Ortiz wrote the Astros "do take the matter very seriously, and the Commissioner has the power to grant damages to the Astros and/or punish the Cardinals." Sources said that there will be "no movement in that direction until the federal investigation closes and the scope of the Cardinals’ actions are fully ascertained" (CHRON.com, 7/14).

THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE: CSN Bay Area's Ray Ratto said the next big challenge facing MLB is figuring out a way "to stop what has been their fan base getting older." Ratto said, "There are young fans all across America, but they’re not growing them in the kind of numbers that they can monetize. That’s why I think in some ways you saw a little hint of what we’re headed for Monday night with the Home Run Derby, where they put it to a clock.” Ratto: “That was Rob Manfred saying, ‘We’ve talked about pace of game, now we’re going to talk about pace of entertainment’” ("Yahoo Sports Talk Live,” CSN Bay Area, 7/14).

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