Every MLB Fan Should Be Grateful for the Pitch Clock

Also in Traina Thoughts: NBA player pays tribute to Stone Cold, Tom Brady to get roasted; Aaron Rodgers has a message and more.

1. I actually can’t put into words how much I love MLB’s new pitch clock, but I will try.

The pitch clock is a game-changer, literally and figuratively, and will make the sport infinitely more watchable. There is no downside at all to the pitch clock. None. No excitement will be lost. No strategy will be lost.

While baseball does need to lure in a younger audience, the pitch clock benefits fans of every age. Nobody needs to wait forever for a pitch to be thrown. The antics of pitchers, circling around the mound and going for leisurely strolls, and batters, stepping out of the box to fiddle with all their equipment and clothing, was beyond out of control.

Nobody can defend it. Something had to be done. My only issue is that MLB should’ve addressed this problem a long time ago, but better late than never, I guess.

If you’re a baseball fan on Twitter, you most likely saw this video making the rounds a few days ago. This is all the proof you need that the pitch clock is necessary.

Entire half inning with pitch clock vs. one pitch without pitch clock pic.twitter.com/pdEcXExEbt

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 27, 2023

So far, in spring training, the pitch clock is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing.

The first 40 spring training games in 2022 ranged from 2:13 to 3:41. Games so far in 2023 have ranged from 2:07 to 3:06. That drop on the high end from 3:41 to 3:06 is significant and will only help the game if it continues in the regular season.

Despite its kinks, MLB's pitch clock is paying immediate dividends.

If applying the time savings of the first 40 nine-inning spring games compared to the first 40 last spring (21 minutes), MLB games will be played at their fastest rate since 1985:
https://t.co/ZB0ZSD1nbn pic.twitter.com/ptLXESaDTg

— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) February 28, 2023

I’ve seen some players say they like the pitch clock, and other players say they do not. The last people I want to hear from when it comes to the pitch clock are the players. They are the ones who caused this mess. They are the ones who hurt the game by dragging out every at bat with their nonsense.

Sports rarely take care of the fans. Leagues really couldn’t care less about us. They just want our money. This is the rare case where a move was made to benefit the fans, and we should all be thankful.

• Watch MLB 2023 season live with fuboTV: Opening day schedule here.

2. You'll recall that the last time the Grizzlies and Lakers met, there was an incident involving Memphis players and legendary tight end Shannon Sharpe. 

So after the Grizzlies beat the Lakers, 121–109, last night, Memphis’s social media team celebrated thusly:

big memphis dub. hold dat @Lakers pic.twitter.com/DVwTsu0OzT

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 1, 2023

3. Before the game, Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks showed up to the arena dressed as Stone Cold. The shorts needed to be a little shorter, though.

.@SHAQ: “If the Lakers don’t make the playoffs, I’ll wear that on the last show.” 🤣

The TNT crew reacts to Dillon Brooks’ arrival fit pic.twitter.com/jY1s3Ma57O

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 1, 2023

4.  According to TMZ, Tom Brady is in talks with Netflix about being the subject of a roast. The working title is reportedly “The Greatest Roast of All Time.” I have one suggestion for the producers: Please limit the Deflategate jokes. The subject is so played out.

Tom Brady is NOT pursuing a full-blown second career in stand-up comedy, but the recently retired NFL superstar might still be making people chuckle at his expense in the future, TMZ Sports has learned. https://t.co/A27Ou2Ji77

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) February 28, 2023

5. Aaron Rodgers did another interview in which he said he doesn’t care about what anyone thinks of him and his decisions while ripping people who criticize him and his decisions.

Aaron Rodgers has a message for people who think he's "being a diva" regarding his decision to keep playing 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/fOPoM4hqda

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 1, 2023

6. This week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with CBS Sports and Turner Sports play-by-play man Ian Eagle.

Eagle talks about succeeding Jim Nantz next year to call the NCAA tournament Final Four and why working with Bill Raftery is so special. Eagle also shares his thoughts on the Greg Olsen–Tom Brady situation and what it means for fellow play-by-player Kevin Burkhardt. Eagle, who calls Nets games locally, also discusses the team’s implosion this season and why it was difficult for him to call Kyrie Irving’s games after Irving promoted an antisemitic film.

Other topics discussed with Eagle include his favorite sports call of all time, where he was when the NBA shut down because of COVID-19, the pronunciation of his name, Aaron Rodgers’s darkness retreat and much more.

Following Eagle, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV joins Jimmy for their weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal discuss Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance, the NBA’s All-Star weekend, Major League Baseball’s new rules changes, the passing of Tim McCarver and more.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch the SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: On this date in 2004, The Rock had one of his most awesome surprise returns to the WWE.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.