New York Mets’ Max Scherzer Voices Concern About Pitch Clock In Hot, Humid Summer Games

This writer has been telling anyone who would listen that potential trouble lies ahead this summer for Major League Baseball pitchers.

The reason? It is quite possible the stress and strain of adapting to the new MLB pitch clock will take its toll on pitchers.

Regardless the weather conditions, the pitch clock will keep on ticking.

To this writer, several pitchers already look exhausted on the mound. They are trying to play “beat the clock.” It is showing in their mound demeanor.

In particular, veteran pitchers are pretty set in their ways regarding pacing themselves through an inning, and through an outing. They know their bodies better than anyone.

To this old scout, it appears some veteran starters like Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, Rich Hill, and Corey Kluber, to name a few, have been negatively impacted a bit by having to pitch with a clock ticking between every pitch.

While this writer is a fan of the new rules, frankly, there are a number of pitchers who seem rushed. They are having some trouble adapting to the new pace of their delivery.

Now, not quite a month into the first season with the new pitch clock, pitchers have to make serious adjustments to former habits and nuances.

Pitchers are now facing both the opposing hitter and the 15 seconds with the bases empty, or the 20 seconds on the pitch clock with a runner on base.

The amount of stress and pressure on pitchers has increased with the added component of the pitch clock. Every phase of his delivery is strongly affected.

The Clock Is Ticking:

Pitchers certainly don’t have as much time to gain composure between pitches. The clock is ticking.

In any given pitch sequence, pitchers don’t have time now to work methodically through the next few pitches in their mind. The clock is ticking.

Pitchers don’t have much time to look ahead an plan for the next hitter. They have to give 100% effort to the guy standing in the box with a bat in his hand. The clock is ticking.

In a recent article at msn.com, New York Mets All Star Max Scherzer voiced concern about the pitch clock.

“I think we’re gonna see some problems potentially with pitchers once it gets hot,” Max Scherzer said. “You gotta pitch a hot day game somewhere, and you’re at this pace… that’s going to be a lot of pitches in a short amount of time. That’s really going to take a toll on somebody. For me… you gotta wonder if there’s going to be some pitcher injuries around that. And if there are, then we have to have a conversation about how this needs to move forward.”

It is one thing to pitch in the cooler weather in most northern cities, and it will be quite another to battle the heat and humidity of summer in most MLB games not played under a dome.

Scherzer was recently suspended ten games by MLB for using a “sticky” substance in his glove. It most likely didn’t have anything to do with the pitch clock.

Taxing Bullpens:

In recent seasons, we have seen managers summon their bullpens earlier in games.

Relief pitchers, like starters, have felt the impact of the pitch clock.

Cleveland Guardians reliever James Karinchak has traditionally been methodical on the mound, going through time consuming gyrations before making his delivery.

He, like others, now look rushed on the mound.

In many cases, managers don’t like the starter seeing the lineup for a third time. Now, we may have a new reason for early starting pitching exits. A manager may choose to lighten the load on his starting rotation by limiting the pitch counts and/or innings thrown in hot and humid weather. Reduced starter workloads could potentially tax overworked MLB bullpens even more.

Teams that have organizational pitching depth may be best suited to overcome any potential undo stress and increased pressure caused by meeting the timing needs of the pitch clocks.

Teams may be recalling minor league pitchers at a rapid rate.

Teams may be recalling minor league pitchers before the pitcher has completed his development in the eyes of the organization.

Summer months have had an impact upon pitchers for years.

It is not uncommon to see a pitcher sweat through several uniform jerseys in one game. Heat and humidity have adverse impact on pitchers. That impact is steeper for some pitchers than others.

When the thermometer soars and the humidity escalates, hitters have a tendency to inflict their greatest punishment of the season. Big bodied, muscular hitters loosen up in warm weather.

A past article from Popular Science indicated, “Baseballs themselves get a summer boost, too; it turns out they generally travel farther in warmer weather. A ball’s trajectory is affected by …atmospheric conditions, too, including humidity, altitude, barometric pressure, and wind speed.”

Popular Science went on to state…”As air becomes more humid, it holds more water molecules. That gaseous water vapor is really light, and it displaces heavier gases like nitrogen and oxygen.”

And so, Mr. Scherzer is quite correct to be concerned about how the impact taxing summer months may bring with the pitch clock.

Inside Hook reported this early this season: “It’s tough, this pitch clock,” said Marcus Stroman of the Chicago Cubs, after his Opening Day start, in which he was called for a pitch clock violation. “It’s a big adjustment. I don’t think people really realize it. It just adds a whole other layer of thinking.”

Pitching is difficult enough without the pitch clock. Pitching is even more challenging with the pitch clock in place.

Fan reaction to the pitch clock and new rules has been very positive.

Games are much quicker, crisper, more exciting, and contain more action than the past few seasons. New rules have resulted in increased stolen bases, and overall, more action.

One component of the new MLB rules, the pitch clock, could result in pitchers becoming more exhausted and more quickly spent during hot, humid summer months. The quickened pace of their delivery, the intensity of the ticking clock, and the pressure of delivering the right pitch at the right time all may take a toll under the hot sun of summer.

From all indications, and from the positive feedback the new rules have been receiving, the MLB pitch clock is here to stay.