The 2023 Major League Baseball season is upon us. Opening Day is Thursday, March 30, and with it comes our first glimpse of real game at action at the top level with some new rules that will surely seem drastic to many people. The big ones are the pitch clock, larger bases and limits on defensive shifting (full explainer here).
For its part, the MLB marketing department is diving in with a new marketing campaign. The overarching them is "Baseball is Something Else."
As for the new rules, here we go.
Pitch clock
Yankees starter Nestor Cortes wants to make sure his catcher Jose Trevino -- and the rest of us -- are ready to hurry up.
Nestor Cortes is making sure ALL of us are ready to pick up the pace. pic.twitter.com/KTt9BWiZCs
— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2023
Larger bases
Mets DH Daniel Vogelbach, who has zero career stolen bases, now wants to run more, much to the dismay of manager Buck Showalter.
With bigger bases, even Daniel Vogelbach is thinking about stealing a base - much to Buck Showalter’s surprise. 😂 pic.twitter.com/XOqz2IPFHT
— MLB (@MLB) March 23, 2023
Shift limits
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson cannot go to the other side of second base to help Padres starter Blake Snell get his hat (no, they aren't teammates so we have to suspend a bit more reality for this one).
Sorry, @Snellzilla4. @TimAnderson7 is VERY serious about the no shift rule. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/KOTtWf6fXr
— MLB (@MLB) March 24, 2023
Reds first baseman Joey Votto gets a hit through the right side.
The Big Finish
And of course, it's Bryan Cranston (you might know him as Walter White or a litany of others on screen) bringing it home:
“It’s the best game in the world. Now, it’s even better.” - @BryanCranston pic.twitter.com/1E1uNlL6Dv
— MLB (@MLB) March 23, 2023
It's a good sell job. Now it's time for the real games to show fans that the new rules will make the game more exciting.