Twins day at camp: Paul Molitor expects some rule changes to be 'a little tough'

SARASOTA, FLA. – Twins manager Paul Molitor is preparing for a bumpy transition to one of the rule changes announced by Major League Baseball on Thursday.

One of them will require managers to decide in 30 seconds to have a play reviewed. It's the latest attempt by the league to shave time off games.

What will make the new rule challenging is that managers usually wait for their video coordinator to look at replay first. And many times the coordinators are waiting for certain angles or slow-motion replay to become available before telling their manager what to do.

"I think it's going to be a little tough," Molitor said. "We all know that certain places, the feeds are slower. Day games, midweek when we are at home, we might have five cameras when someone else has 20. There's some inconsistencies there, but we will try to work around it."

Molitor suggested that a manager might go onto the field and converse with umpires to buy time while the video maven is making up his or her mind.

Once replays are activated, the league also would like decisions to be made in as close to two minutes as possible.

"We're getting into it a few years now and we're getting better in how we get those replay guys their feeds," Molitor said, "so if we can figure out a way to make it more efficient then maybe it won't be a factor.

"I've got a feeling it is going to come into play."

Another rule is aimed at keeping first and third base coaches in their coaching boxes during games. There is one big reason for that — some coaches like to creep toward the foul line and see if they can pick up signs from the other dugout.

"There's no need, with nobody on base, for your first base coach to be somewhere close to the paint," Molitor said.

Other rule changes include the implementation of the no-pitch intentional walk, a banning of markers in the field that fielders can use for reference points, and stopping pitchers from taking a second step while delivering a pitch.

Shortstop Jorge Polanco went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and four RBI, but his throwing error in the fifth allowed Johnny Giavotella to reach base.

That's three errors for Polanco — all on throws.

"He's trying to find ways to get it done and stay accurate," Molitor said. "It hasn't happened too much here early."

The Twins remain committed to using Polanco at short, but he needs to be more consistent with his throws.

Lefthander Glen Perkins threw 15 pitches on Thursday as he continues to work his way back from surgery last season to repair a torn labrum. The Twins have not hinted at when he will face hitters.

The Twins on Friday head to Clearwater to face the Phillies. Righthander Trevor May will start for the Twins while righthander Jeremy Hellickson will start for Philadelphia.

La Velle E. Neal III