It's literally a whole new ball game in 2023, and Major League Baseball is better for it.

Mostly.

This week brought the quarter mark of the season, which is basically an occasion to say "fare thee well" to small-sample-size territory and pivot to seriously taking stock of big-picture developments around the league.

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Like, for example, the effects of the new rules.

This is where there's good news and bad news on what the pitch timer, bigger bases and the shift ban hath wrought. Or, more accurately, two wins and what appears to be a big loss.

 

Win No. 1: The Changes Are Working

"It's really not about changing the game. It's about making sure that we put the very best form of baseball on the field."

That was how MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred rationalized the new rules in February, and it was only kinda-sorta disingenuous. The idea obviously was to change the game, but in a way that brought old trends back instead of introducing new ones. Namely, more balls in play, more hits, more stolen bases and, above all, less lollygagging.

Cut to now, and there is one area where the concept is not bearing fruit. We were promised more balls in play, yet balls in play are down from 2022. Treachery. Treachery and betrayal.