MLB already sends 'formal warning' to team about new rules
The season is only a few days old and there’s already been a violation of the MLB’s new pace of play rules.
In the third inning of the Braves 15-2 rout of the Phillies Saturday, the Phillies were issued a warning by the league for taking too long to make a pitching change, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
After Atlanta went up 5-2 in the bottom of the third, Phillies rookie manager Gabe Kapler made a pitching change, calling on Hoby Milner to replace starter Vince Velasquez. But Milner wasn’t ready to go, so Kapler apparently stalled for time on the mound before giving Velasquez the hook.
Seeing this, Braves manager Brian Snitker got upset for what he saw as a violation of the new pace of play rules.
Brian Snitker ejected for second time in three games https://t.co/1Su2kyj8zX pic.twitter.com/Z7ysmUhmmh
— AJC Sports (@AJCsports) April 1, 2018
The new MLB rules say that during a pitching change, the reliever has two minutes and five seconds to enter from the bullpen, throw his warmup pitches, and be ready to face the next batter.
Due to Kapler’s apparent stalling, third base umpire Greg Gibson docked Milner three warmup pitches, so he threw five instead of eight.
Snitker voiced his displeasure, arguing that Milner shouldn’t have any warmup pitches due to the delay. But Gibson held his ground saying Milner could have five so as to not hurt his arm.
“For whatever reason, the pitcher wasn’t even getting ready,” Jerry Layne, the crew chief, said after the game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m not placing blame on anybody because I don’t know, he just wasn’t ready. Hadn’t thrown a pitch. (Third base umpire) Greg (Gibson) went out there and deducted three pitches from him.
“Last thing I want to do is get somebody hurt. It’s already a messed-up situation. He’s getting five (pitches) when he got onto the mound. And Brian thought he shouldn’t have any,” Layne said.
It took Milner 2 minutes and 45 seconds to get to the mound and complete his warmups, the newspaper reported.
“I think the time had expired and just felt like we should’ve been playing ball,” Snitker said after the game. “We do pace of play and everything. We should’ve been playing at that point.”
Snitker ended up being ejected for arguing the call, but the Braves went on to win 15-2.
Sources: MLB determines that umpire Jerry Layne handled Phillies' pitching change in the right way, given the circumstances; the Phillies will receive a formal warning letter from MLB.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 1, 2018
ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Sunday that MLB officials backed the umpire’s decision to give Milner the five pitches, even though it went over the allotted time. The new rules say umpires have the authority to extend the time limit if they feel a player is at risk of injury.
The league did find Kapler at fault for not having the pitcher ready and stalling for time. The league will issue a warning to Kapler and the Phillies, according to Olney.
“It’s a pretty good indication that I need to do a better job, and I will,” Kapler told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “One of the things I pride myself on is being an excellent communicator and I will continue to strive for excellence in that regard. Miscommunications are just simply unacceptable and no matter where they occur in our clubhouse or in our dugout or on our field, they are always my responsibility.”
That was not the only gaffe Kapler made in the game. He ran out of pitchers and had to use shortstop Pedro Florimon to throw the eighth. Florimon gave up a two-run homer to Lane Adams.
Florimon was the sixth pitcher the Phillies used in that game. The team used nine pitchers in Friday’s 5-4, 11-inning win.
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