Adding New York Mets ace Justin Verlander to the long list of MLB staffers still figuring out what's and isn't allowed under the new pitch-clock practices that are in place for this season.
"I found myself trying to remove some mud and fix the mound," Verlander said after his spring training tour with the Houston Astros on Friday, according to SNY's Tim Crowley. "The clock on the field is still running, so I don't know how to deal with that."
Fellow Mets initiator star Max Scherzer was somewhat of a struggle against the clock during last Friday's exhibition game against the Washington Nationals. Scherzer saw a doubles match cleared for a pitching meter violation and was also called in as a hindrance as he tried to capitalize on what he considers to be the rule and a "quick pitch" player.
Interestingly, Verlander revealed that referee CB Bucknor admitted he "didn't know" how to handle Friday's situation regarding the clock.
"They haven't solved that problem either," Verlander continued. "Common sense, he said let me know and you'll have the time you need. It's a good mound. You don't want to slip and injure yourself or give up and run home if it can be fixed. ."
Veteran Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rich Hill is among players who have backed the MLB to make what he calls a "correction" of the new rules, such as adding five seconds to the clock. Hill also explained his infraction of the pitching clock this spring was partly due to the umpire.
"The referee doesn't wear his mask down, so what we're experiencing is this reflective effect where we're so used to seeing the natural progression and flow of players into the box, The umpire pulls down his mask. "Okay, now we step onto the mound or vice versa," Hill said in the podcast "Baseball Isn't Boring," according to Audacy's Ryan Gilbert. "Now, you just have to be ready." ready. Whatever you see, it doesn't matter, who gets there first."
Verlander seems to agree with Hill that the players, umpires and MLB will soon work together at some point to allow for small changes to the rules that could ultimately bring benefits for all participants. Whether the federation was interested in such comments before Opening Day is unknown.
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