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MLB's Competition Committee Approves Pitch Clock And A Ban On Shifts For 2023; MLB (Surprise!) Ignores Players' Concerns And Suggestions About New Rules; Manfred Continues His Dismantling Of A Game That Was Fucking Fine For 130 Years

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred continues his unprecedented crusade to reshape (or destroy, as intelligent observers of the situation believe) the game of baseball. On Friday, an 11-person* committee voted in favour of instituting a pitch clock/timer, a ban on shifts and larger bases, among other changes. The changes will begin next season.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that MLB and Manfred hope this "sweeping set of rules . . . will fundamentally overhaul the game".

The committee's vote on larger bases (an increase from 15 inches square to 18 inches square) was unanimous, but all four members of the committee representing major league players voted against both a pitch timer and a ban on shifts.