Always looking to whittle away at game times, Major League Baseball next year might cut down or even do away entirely with one of the more under-the-radar but fascinating aspects of baseball: the mound visit.
Fans often don’t notice the interactions between the pitching coach and pitcher, or the catcher and pitcher, but there is an art to trotting out for a chat when the opponent is threatening. And most have some good stories about particularly bad visits or ones that went awry.
“You’re thinking, ‘This guy is all over the place, and I’ve got to make a trip because he’s not throwing strikes,’” A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson said.