Major League Baseball is changing up the rules this season and it may take a while to get used to. From pitch clocks to smaller innings, players are adjusting to the new-age baseball as spring training is underway. The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues each saw some games in the last few days. And players in each game made mistakes regarding the pitch clock, proving things aren’t as easy as they seem.

In the last few decades, baseball has lost steam as America’s favorite pastime. Attention spans are becoming shorter while innings are looking longer. So, MLB decided to shake things up to make the games shorter and crisper by introducing time stamps during the game. But that doesn’t mean everyone will play perfectly just yet.

Cal Conley costs the Braves a win because of a pitch clock violation

It was the Atlanta Braves vs Boston Red Sox on Saturday and unfortunately for both teams; the game ended at a 6-6 draw. The reason? Cal Conley digging bases and not paying attention to the pitcher, according to the umpire. Per Justin Toscano, Conley said, “The umpire said I was looking down. I was looking down at the catcher as he was standing up. Not really sure if the pitcher was ready to go, catcher definitely wasn?t.”

The batter must be in the batter’s box, alert to the pitcher, all within the eight-second timer mark or risk a strike. And Conley did strike out. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one as Manny Machado made the same error in a Padres vs Mariners game in the Cactus League.

What did the fans have to say about the grave error?

If the players are still adjusting to the clock, what must be the state of the watching audience? While it may be disheartening to lose a game, fans can rest assured that this is still spring training. The whole point is to help the players adapt and ease into a new season smoothly. But that doesn’t mean Braves fans were happy about what could have easily been a win.

Conley seemed confused at the time the umpire called a strike, but he dutifully went off-field. However, he did question the ruling later on.

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He and Machado have become a cautionary tale to the rest of the teams because, needless to say, the new rules will need some getting used to.

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