5/4/2023 0 Comments Yankees wordmark![]() The excuses are many - bad play in clutch moments the most compelling - but at the end of the day, while they have what's needed to get to the Series, they simply haven't gotten it done. Though they are perennially in the postseason, they haven't played in a World Series since 2009. But 40 or more home runs seems well within reach if Judge can stay healthy, and hitting 50 would put him in rare company. It reignited the old-school national excitement over home run chases as people tuned into Yankees broadcasts hoping to catch the record-breaking dinger.Īs we look ahead to this season, let's be honest: He's not going to do it again (probably). What a joy it was to watch the phenomenal New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge close last season by chasing #62 and breaking the American League home run record. How will Aaron Judge follow up his historic home run season? That's one heckuva lineup, and it might be the ticket to finally deliver San Diego its first ever World Series title. His return will be a huge boost for the Padres, whose roster already featured big bats in Soto and Manny Machado before they added four-time All-Star Xander Bogaerts this off-season. "If it would've been go day tomorrow, I would've been ready.") "I feel like I'm ready right now," Tatís said this week. (Until then, you can catch him playing with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas. Now, Tatís is healthy and will be eligible to play for the Padres starting April 20. Tatís had led the National League with 42 home runs the year before replacing that was impossible, even with the mid-season blockbuster trade for the Nationals' young slugger Juan Soto. And, to San Diego's credit, they got pretty close: The Padres won 89 games and made the playoffs, where they topped the Mets and the Dodgers (extra delicious) en route to the NLCS before falling short to the Phillies.īut that felt like a heroic effort without their All-Star shortstop, Fernando Tatís Jr., who missed the entire 2022 season due to a broken wrist followed by an 80-game PED suspension that took effect in August. Last year was supposed to be the Padres' year. Similar results would likely be welcome in the major leagues, where the average length of a game has stretched to well over three hours. ![]() MLB officials say the clock helped reduce the duration of minor league games by 26 minutes and led to more steals. Still, the pitch clock will remain in place for the regular season. Bv5k2xJ06j- Jeff Passan February 25, 2023 Cal Conley didn't get set in the batter's box with 8 seconds left on the pitch clock. And yes, there was uproar.īottom of the ninth. Then, of course, that exact scenario played out in February during a spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox, leaving batter Cal Conley laughing in disbelief as the game abruptly ended in a tie. Imagine a pitch clock violation happening at the most dramatic moment possible, the critics said - tie game, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs, full count - think of the uproar over a game decided this way! Batters must be in the box with eight seconds remaining, or else get called for a strike the pitcher must begin his motion before the clock strikes 0, or else get called for a ball. This season, a timer will run on every pitch (20 seconds with runners on base, 15 if the bases are empty). The MLB has also banned the infield "shifts" in which infielders would pack one side of the bases against a batter who favored that side.īut the big one is the pitch clock. The bases will be 44% larger, which league officials say will reduce collisions and encourage steals. Last fall, league officials announced a handful of rule changes designed to shorten games and prevent injuries. ![]() Three major rule changes are designed to speed up the game Not sure what to watch for? Here's a quick guide to four storylines as you head to the ballpark this spring: Major League Baseball's 2023 season begins Thursday with quicker games, bigger bases and many of the game's biggest stars back in action after momentous 2022 seasons (the Yankees' Aaron Judge), exciting World Baseball Classic appearances (the Angels' Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout) and lengthy PED suspensions (the Padres' Fernando Tatís Jr., as of mid-April). Put on your ballcap, get out your mitt and grab some Cracker Jack: It's opening day!
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