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Down right here within the American Southwest, the place I now dwell, we’re presently within the coronary heart of the Cactus League season, that includes day by day spring coaching baseball video games for 15 Main League Baseball groups beneath the wonderful desert solar. This 12 months, there is a little more curiosity within the precise video games than regular, as Main League Baseball is implementing three vital rule modifications, and these “apply video games” are offering the gamers and groups with alternatives to adapt to the brand new guidelines earlier than the actual competitors begins in just a few weeks.
Two of the rule modifications are designed to hurry up the sport, whereas the third is meant to stability out the aggressive nature of the sport. For the primary time ever in baseball, there’s a pitch clock. With this clock, pitchers should ship their pitches inside 20 seconds of the tip of the earlier play. Moreover, batters have to be ready to bat in those self same 20 seconds. Gone are the times of pitchers endlessly shaking off indicators and batters obsessively adjusting their batting gloves.
On prime of the pitch clock, managers and coaches at the moment are restricted to 5 mound visits per recreation. Consequently, they have to be very strategic about after they select to speak to the pitcher and the way successfully they use these visits.
Lastly, within the one rule change that has angered traditionalists, large shifts within the subject, which had turn out to be trendy as of late, at the moment are prohibited. Groups should now at all times have two gamers on either side of second base in an try and make issues extra favorable for the hitters, who have a tendency to drag the ball the vast majority of the time.
In fact, the courtroom remains to be out on how these vital rule modifications will alter the sport long-term, however they’re definitely making for fascinating sideline discussions within the video games right here in Arizona this spring, they usually compelled me to conduct a thought experiment: What if we utilized three related rule modifications to long-distance path working? Hear me out:
1. An Help Station Clock
Just like the pitch clock, runners have solely a sure period of time, say two minutes, to be in anybody assist station. After the allotted interval is over, they need to vacate the help station or face a penalty, similar to a time penalty or penalty lap.
No clock wanted for Maggie Guterl, who refuels on her toes on the Raspberry assist station on the 2021 Excessive Lonesome 100 Mile. Photograph: Hilary Matheson/@thehilaryann
2. Restricted Crew Contact
Just like the mound-visit restrict, what if the variety of instances crews may go to with their runners was additionally restricted? I might say 3 times over the course of a 100 miler can be an applicable restrict.
Cody Lind being tended to by his crew earlier than the Rucky Chucky river crossing at mile 78 of the 2021 Western States 100. Photograph: iRunFar/Alex Potter
3. Widespread Gear Specification Limits
This could be the trickiest one, nevertheless it may very well be much like the obligatory gear necessities that many races implement. For some widespread gear objects — similar to watches, headlamps, or climbing poles — it may very well be that everybody has to remain throughout the identical specification vary. An instance may very well be that poles can’t be lighter than a given weight. We most likely couldn’t broaden this to footwear or packs, however limiting just a few widespread gear objects may definitely degree the enjoying subject.
Hannah Inexperienced utilizing climbing poles on the 2022 Hardrock 100. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Whereas I don’t think about any of those rule modifications will essentially occur, it’s fascinating to consider. In any case, if a sport as conventional and stodgy as baseball could make such vital modifications, then definitely path working and ultrarunning may as properly.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Tree Home Brewing Firm in Charlton, Massachusetts.
Celebrated as one in all America’s best craft breweries, Tree Home makes a unbelievable bitter Gose beer referred to as Focusing Phantasm. Brewed within the traditional bitter type and sweetened ever so barely, Focusing Phantasm is a well-balanced, extremely drinkable bitter that goes properly with meals or by itself.
Name for Feedback
What are some rule modifications you would possibly counsel for path working and ultrarunning?
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