Baseball may have been around for centuries, but it has undergone various changes ever since its conception. Today’s social media-addled brains have short attention spans and the current rules clearly don’t suit everyone. As baseball is losing its fan base, MLB has taken steps to make the game easier to watch. But these new rules will take some getting used to, and LA Angels player Shohei Ohtani recently weighed in on them.

Notably, there has been some harsh criticism from fans and baseball pundits about the new changes. But the question remains, will these new changes be successful in pulling more audience? Well, only time will tell! But let’s hear from Shohei Ohtani about what he thinks of the same.

Shohei Ohtani is mentally and physically preparing himself for the pitch clock

In an effort to shorten the games, MLB has introduced timers between innings as well as at-bat switches. Among one of the biggest modifications is the introduction of a pitch clock. 15 seconds at an empty base and 20 seconds with a runner on. An eight-second mark for the batters to be ready and alert to the pitcher, or risk a strike. Safe to say, some players have already made mistakes in spring training as they get used to it.

Speaking about the pitch clock, Ohtani commented, “I have to be quick-witted in a sense, that and if I’m (able) reading the pitch distribution, I have to switch fast. I think it’s more about the way you think and not lagging behind.” Truer words were never spoken. If a player wants to succeed, they will have to have their wits about them.

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What mistakes regarding the new rules have been made so far?

Manny Machado of the Padres was the first one to violate the pitch clock rule. In a game against the Mariners in spring training, Machado was not ready by the time eight seconds were over in the batter’s box. And just like that, strike. “You’re going to have players pissed off at the umpires who are just following the rules. We’re going to be seeing some crazy [expletive] for sure,” Machado told Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.

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Another violation came from Cal Conley of the Brewers, who accidentally cost his team a win against the Mets. The game ended at a draw 6-6, and Conley expressed frustration afterward.

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Certainly, change never comes with easy acceptance but fortunately, there’s spring training for the players to hone their skills before the upcoming season.