Madison Bumgarner’s 2023 campaign will mark his 15th season in Major League Baseball. Meaning he’s seen every aspect and transition of the game.
Sunday was Bumgarner’s first exposure to the newly implemented pitch clock, and he didn’t have any issues with it.
Despite his old-school mentality, the Arizona Diamondbacks starter is embracing the new changes the league has introduced after much consideration.
“Out of all the rules changes [over my career], I probably like this one the most,” Bumgarner told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert.
This offseason, MLB announced it would introduce the pitch clock in which pitchers will have 15 seconds with bases empty, and 20 seconds with a runner on to begin their motion.
This is with the hope to create a quicker pace for the game, and more fan engagement.
Bumgarner threw just three innings on Sunday, but took a lot away from it.
“There’s a lot of new stuff, aside from it just being the first one. I was pretty happy with it,” Bumgarner added. “Happy to get the three ups, that was the main goal. Felt good with the pace. Using the PitchCom and all that stuff. Not bad for the first time.”
Overall, it appears most people are taking the changes with strides.
MadBum’s former battery mate, 12-year veteran and seven-time All-Star catcher Buster Posey, had an inkling some of the upcoming changes would take effect eventually.
Posey, who has since retired from baseball, talked about how strongly he felt about eliminating the defensive shift back in 2021. He liked the idea of shortstops (specifically Brandon Crawford) being able to make a diving catch, showing off his range and arm.
It’s refreshing to see veterans of the game, especially those who are traditionalists, embracing the changes in baseball.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.