Pitchless intentional walks could start in spring training games this week.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said the change, which the players' association has said it will agree to for 2017, is among the rule changes that have been distributed to teams. Planned modifications to video review rules for this season include a 30-second time limit for managers to request a review, and a two-minute limit for the review umpire in New York to make a decision — unless a supervisor in the replay room gives permission for the umpire to take longer.
Wanting to speed the pace of play, management also discussed raising the lower edge of the strike zone from just beneath the kneecap to its pre-1996 level the top of the kneecap, the installation of pitch clocks and limits on trips to the pitcher's mound.
The players' union said it will not agree those changes this year.
"The intentional walk with no pitches was a small change in a much larger package," Manfred said. "Every little change that makes the game faster I personally believe is a good thing for the game over the long haul."
Other changes planned for this year include revised language to stop quick pitches and to keep first- and third-base coaches in the coach's boxes.
New ballpark opens
Bryce Harper drove in the first run, the rain stayed away and a festive crowd saw a game-ending homer. All in all, a nice start on opening day for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla., with an announced crowd of 5,987.
The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, who will share the facility, met Tuesday in the first spring training game at the new $150 million complex. The Nationals won 4-3 on Michael Taylor's drive with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
