Episode 46 -- Joe Martinez

Minor league baseball is filled with new experimental rules: the strict enforcement of a Pitch Clock, a minimum of two pickoff attempts per at-bat, the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) in the Pacific Coast League, a challenge system of the ABS in the Florida State League, bigger bases, and a ban of the shift (in Low-A, High-A and Double-A).

To understand why these rules are being studied, we interviewed former Major League pitcher Joe Martinez, who is now a Senior Director of On-Field Operations for MLB, focusing on experimental rules and equipment changes.

We discussed the purpose of the new rules, what the data is showing on the effectiveness (or unintended consequences), what defines a successful new rule, and which rules are most likely to be used in the Major Leagues in the future.