How new MLB rules could affect the Blue Jays

MLB fans have been eagerly anticipating the 2023 season, as the league is set to introduce a slate of new rules that will change the game in various ways. Pitchers and hitters will no longer be allowed to drag the game to a crawl, base dimensions are changing, and the shift has been killed, restoring traditional infield defenses. These changes will impact all teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, who are expected to be contenders again in the AL East. With the race to October expected to be dangerously close, every game will count, and it's essential to examine how all three rule changes impact Toronto's roster and the club's style of play. Let's dive into each of these rule changes and explore how they will impact the Blue Jays. Starting this season, a 30-second timer between batters will be introduced, and the pitcher will have 15 seconds to deliver a pitch with no runners on base. With runners on, the pitcher gets 20 seconds to start his motion. If the pitcher doesn't start his delivery before the clock expires, he's charged with a ball, and if the batter isn't alert in the box by the eight-second mark, he is charged with a strike. No Blue Jays pitchers were egregiously slow in 2022, but they will have to adjust to the new pitch timer. Alek Manoah took the longest between pitches, averaging 20.7 seconds between tosses with no men on and 25.2 seconds with runners on. Yimi García was also slow, averaging 20.5 seconds with the bases empty and 24.4 seconds with guys on. Interestingly, Yusei Kikuchi was relatively quick with no men on (19.9 seconds), but that jumped to 24.4 with runners on – an indication he was labouring, overthinking, or both. Anecdotally, making a pitcher rush his rhythm will throw him off. Manoah, for example, now won't be able to flip the rosin bag, remove his glove, and rub the ball as he contemplates his next pitch. Instead, he'll get his back foot on the rubber and get ready to rip the next pitch. That said, top performers like Manoah will adjust quickly, and their performance might not be impacted much. The Pitch Timer is also accompanied by a limit on how often a pitcher disengages the rubber. After two disengagements, which include step-offs or pick-offs, the pitcher must get an out on the third attempt, or the runner advances one base. From this, it's expected that PitchCom devices will take over the league, as it'll be imperative for pitchers and catchers to communicate quickly. With a clock ticking away, there will be heat on the catchers to find that right pitch and get it firing towards the plate. Renowned communicators behind the plate, such as Danny Jansen, will be handy. The disengagement rule also greatly impacts the run game, and we'll address that in a moment. In 2023, each of the three bases will increase from 15 inches square to 18 inches square, creating a 4.5-inch reduction between first and second and between second and third. The goal is to encourage more stealing and reduce collisions around the bases. This modification is great for the Blue Jays offense, though not because Toronto is a blazing fast team. The advantage comes from manager John Schneider's new chaotic style of play. When Schneider took over last season, we saw a notable uptick in stolen base attempts and hit-and-runs. As George Springer put it, "it's hard to defend aggression."