MLB today announced a "major rule change the league hopes will speed up the pace of a baseball game." Mound visits -- either by a manager, coach, catcher or infielder -- will now be "limited to six for each team for every nine innings." If a game "goes to extra innings, each team will be allowed one more mound visit." The league and Commissioner Rob Manfred have "toyed with the idea of a pitch clock, something the players have objected to." The new rules "skirted that idea," as MLB was "adamant about finding other avenues" (DENVERPOST.com, 2/19).

TNT and TBS combined to average 7.65 million viewers for the NBA All-Star Game last night, well above the figure from four years ago, when it last had primetime Olympic competition. TNT alone four years ago averaged 7.51 million viewers up against the Sochi Games on NBC. When the Olympics were live in primetime in '10, the NBA ASG averaged 6.85 million viewers. Last year, the ASG, which aired up against the midseason premiere of "The Walking Dead," averaged 7.75 million viewers. With the same competition in '16, the ASG averaged 7.61 million viewers. Last night's game peaked at 8.2 million viewers from 9:15-9:30pm ET. This year's game also saw upticks across all key demos, including a spike of 10% among males 18-34.

Braves Senior VP/Corporate & Premium Partnerships Jim Allen today announced some planned changes to SunTrust Park, with six rows of seats to be "removed from two prime lower-level sections and replaced with 16 "four-person tables." That will result in a "net loss of 56 seats." Also, the ballpark's "largest hospitality club will be expanded by 2,000 square feet." The Delta Sky360 Club "will grow from 18,500 square feet to 20,500," with the additional dining space gained "mostly by eliminating a media interview room." Work is underway, and Allen said that the Braves will "pay the cost of the changes" (AJC.com, 2/19).

NASCAR

NASCAR Racing Experience operator Driving 101 today announced that it will be the primary sponsor for Richard Petty Motorsport's No. 43 Chevy driven by Bubba Wallace in next Sunday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Under the deal, the NASCAR Racing Experience badge and racing graphics will be featured on the hood and body of the car. Wallace finished second in Sunday's Daytona 500. Driving 101 also operates the Richard Driving Experience and Mario Andretti Racing Experience (NASCAR).

Fox Sports told THE DAILY that the tethered drone it debuted at yesterday's Daytona 500 was knocked out of the sky at one point by a flying piece of debris from one of the several wrecks during the race. Fox worked with NASCAR and ISC to approve the use of the drone on the track's backstretch for the first time. It was tethered down to allow it to fly longer but went down after one of the wings was clipped by a flying car part. The drone was quickly replaced with a backup and sent back up without issue or on-air announcement.

DirecTV is "raising prices on its NFL Sunday Ticket package" to an "all-time high" of $293.94 in '18, with the package that includes Red Zone Channel increasing to $395.95 (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/19). This marks an increase of 4.2%. Last season, the cost for viewers who "subscribed before the 2017 season" was $281.94. Since '16, the cost of Sunday Ticket has increased by 14%. DirecTV "confirmed the increase on its website" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 2/19).

Dodge has signed on as title sponsor of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event at Bandimere Speedway in Denver (NHRA).

The Univ. of Denver has hired Maine AD Karlton Creech as its new AD, effective May 1. Creech will "succeeds Peg Bradley-Doppes, who is retiring after 13 years" (AP, 2/19).

Our sister publication, the Esports Observer, publishes a Monday Morning Briefing every week. Check out today's edition for the top stories of the week that was in esports (THE DAILY).

"In so many articles, it’s always ‘gay Olympian Adam Rippon,’ and I wear that title really proudly, but I’m not a gay Olympian. I’m just an Olympian. And now I’m an Olympic medalist. And I also happen to be gay. That’s part of who I am" -- U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon, on his media coverage throughout the Pyeongchang Games (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/19).

“He just said, ‘Good luck and have a good race today.’ It was just five seconds. He knew we were pressed for time” -- Bubba Wallace, on Hank Aaron calling him before his second-place finish in his first Daytona 500 yesterday (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 2/19).

The #WinterOlympics really are missing #NHL players. Not the same without the world's best. US v Russia was a personal highlight in Sochi. As was watching the great 🇨🇦win #gold

— Robert Lusetich (@RobertLusetich) February 19, 2018

Wait a minute..so MLB is restricting mound visits to six, but is NOT penalizing for seventh visit?..umpires are just going to wag their fingers and order offenders off the mound?...how will all those confrontations effect pace of play?

— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) February 19, 2018

Last night’s All-Star game wasn’t perfect, but it was much better. That’s the key. The new format worked - now it will only improve.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 19, 2018

Way to take things out of context. There’s no place for people yelling and making noise in the middle of swings, you think that’s good for the game? We LOVE the crowds and fans and them being loud, but not necessary to distract mid swing... cmon now https://t.co/dXCanaOz5Z

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) February 19, 2018

The steel keeps going up in the Carol Soffer indoor practice facility here in beautiful Coral Gables Florida! A.k.a. paradise! U Family! pic.twitter.com/zjdR8GbnmZ

— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) February 19, 2018

The Heat's social media sweepstakes for a custom "Miami Vice"-themed pair of Air Jordan 1s ends at 5:00pm ET.

Overtime Sports holds a 5:00pm ET press conference to announce a new fundraising effort benefiting high schools across Mississippi.

Whistle Sports profiles Guy Dupuy, one of the first athletes ever to become a full-time pro dunker.

$344,927 -- Amount that a family version of the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI championship ring with “BRADY” on it sold for yesterday, a “record for a football ring.” The sale was completed via Goldin Auctions (ESPN.com, 2/18).