Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Amateur Baseball Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 61, No. 13 Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 $4.00 New NCAA Fight Rule Hits Snag NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel puts approval on hold until NCAA Rules Committee can answer questions about player ejections. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Editor/Collegiate Baseball NDIANAPOLIS — A powerful addition to the Fight Rule by the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee has been put on Ihold by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. While the panel supports putting more teeth into the rule, members had questions about a recommendation that would have ejected any team personnel, other than coaches, who left their field positions, the dugouts or the bullpens at the time of an altercation. Those players or team personnel would be suspended from the team’s next game. Panel members would like to have more clarification about the proposal, particularly about players leaving their positions on the field. The proposed rule reads: “Any team personnel, other than coaches, who leave their positions, the dugouts or bullpens at the time of an altercation, will be ejected and suspended from the team’s next game.” Ben Brownlee, NCAA staff liaison to the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, was asked to define the word See NEW FIGHT RULE PACKS, Page 2 The new passage to NCAA Fight Rule requires players not to leave positions. PROP Shelves 20-Second Clock With Men On Base NCAA Speed-Up Rule Denied NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel rejects new proposal that would have cut down the time of games. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Editor/Collegiate Baseball NDIANAPOLIS — A proposal to use a 20- second play clock with men on base by the INCAA Baseball Rules Committee was denied by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP). This historic proposal, which was a first in the 109-year history of the NCAA, was brought to the table to speed up games and prevent delay tactics Because of the ruling, pitchers can take which are hurting the game with lengthy contests. as long as they want with men on base. It hasn’t been uncommon the last few years, game times took place the past two years. The especially during the NCAA playoffs, to see average game time for the 2018 CWS was 3:33 over pitching coaches wait over a minute between pitches 16 games, second highest in CWS history. before signaling in the pitch to “freeze” batters. It featured the longest game in ’Series’ history at It is a stall tactic that has caused many people 4 hours and 24 minutes between North Carolina and within college baseball, as well as fans and TV Oregon State. The game, won by North Carolina, executives, to be frustrated as games have dragged 8-6, included 10 pitching changes, 14 runs, 24 hits, on and on to the detriment of the sport. 3 errors, 8 walks and 339 combined pitches. Many people in the game feel the proposed 20- The 2017 College World Series saw an average HUGE LOSS TO BASEBALL — Ken Ravizza, the greatest second play clock with men on base would have game time of 3:25 over 16 games, third highest in sports psychologist in history, passed away during the summer. resulted in shorter games. history. Collegiate Baseball takes an in-depth look at what he meant In the 72-year-history of the College World to the sport of baseball and also features an article that looks Series, two of the top three longest CWS average See CLOCK COST BIG FACTOR, Page 3 inside his genius. Coverage starts on page 6. Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com Summer League Rundown Andy Baylock Defies Science USA Baseball Summer Teams CB takes in-depth look at college At the golden age of 80, he is Taking a look at how different summer teams that captured titles still throwing batting practice with national baseball teams did over along with top players/Page 12 over 2 million pitches/Page 4 the summer of 2018/Page 14 Page 2 Collegiate Baseball Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 New Fight Rule Packs Powerful Punch For Players Continued From Page 1 erupting. So if a player leaves his go by the precise wording of the position in this fashion, he will be proposal, if there is an altercation “altercation.” ejected and suspended from the at first base and the centerfielder Webster’s Dictionary defines an team’s next game if the proposal goes over to talk to the left fielder, altercation as a noisy, heated, angry is ultimately passed by the NCAA he technically has left his position dispute. But it also can be a fight. Playing Rules Oversight Panel.” during an altercation. “The NCAA Baseball Rules Brownlee said the NCAA “The centerfielder would be Committee defines an ‘altercation’ Playing Rules Oversight Panel subject to an ejection and a 1-game as players yelling at each other acknowledges the merit in players suspension. And he had nothing to in a vulgar manner, pushing and not leaving their position during an do with the altercation. This is the shoving and fighting as well,” said altercation. one proposal that could receive Brownlee. “They certainly understand that a revision for the NCAA Playing “The Rules Committee does not the goal is to keep personnel in the Rules Oversight Panel. want players leaving their position dugout and in the bullpen as well “There may be a change to the on the field, dugouts or bullpens as different field positions by the original proposal and would have to when an ‘altercation’ takes place defensive team,” said Brownlee. go through the two week comment to prevent multiple fights from “But they mentioned that if you period again and then come back to the Panel for review.” It is a distinct possibility that numerous players during a game could by ejected by this proposed rule by simply leaving their position even if no fight erupts. The current Fight Rule in the NCAA Baseball Rule book will still remain in Section 16. Under subsection C in Team Personnel Leaving Position, “All team personnel, including coaches, who leave their positions and participate in a fight shall be ejected and suspended for the team’s next four contests.” 65 Ejections For Fighting George Drouches, NCAA National Coordinator of Umpires, said that over the last two seasons, 65 cumulative fight ejections have taken place in NCAA Divisions I, II and III baseball games. In 2018, 35 took place while 30 occurred in 2017. The total number of ejections in NCAA baseball has gone up each of the past four years with 90 percent directly related to profanity, according to ejection reports Drouches has received. • 2018: 858 total ejections. • 2017: 708 total ejections. • 2016: 692 total ejections. • 2015: 658 total ejections. Incredibly, total ejections have gone up by 200 since 2015. The biggest 1-year jump was 2017-2018 with 150 more ejections. Surprisingly, coaches continue to Big League Chew was invented by Rob Nelson, a former Cornell be tossed at a record pace despite receiving a mandatory warning University lefthander who was pitching in Oregon in 1977 for the from umpires now. Popular causes for ejections fabled Portland Mavericks when he came up with the idea for a new included ball/strike, safe/out and type of bubble gum. fair/foul — with ball/strike as the main cause of being tossed. Randy Bruns, Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Baseball Rules Rob was literally sitting in the Portland bullpen, watching his team- Committee, was asked what action will be taken for a player who is mates chewing other less salubrious stuff, when he thought that in the vicinity of the altercation already, if the proposed rule is shredded bubble gum would be a much more fun option. ultimately approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. “Let’s say a situation erupts at second base, and the second Rob shared the idea with Mav teammate Jim Bouton who liked the baseman and shortstop are in the vicinity,” said Bruns. concept so much he spent the next two years searching for a gum “If the shortstop and a runner are yelling at each other and the second company to manufacture and distribute Big League Chew. He baseman pulls his teammate out of the way to make sure nothing succeeded, and BLC quickly became the must-have bubble gum for happens, obviously the second ballplayers in the littlest leagues to the Big Leagues. baseman would not be penalized. With that being said, there is no reason for someone to leave his position, period. Today, over 40 years later, Big League Chew is the #1-selling “That is not their job. If an umpire or coach is already there shredded bubble gum in the world — with over 800 million pouches to break it up, none of the players need to be in that area. A player’s sold. It is manufactured in the USA by Ford Gum of Akron, New York. job is not to leave the dugout, bullpen or position on the field to be a peacemaker. If someone does ™ ultimately participate in a fight, that is an automatic 4-game suspension BIG LEAGUE CHEW® AMERICA’S BUBBLE GUM which has always been in the NCAA Baseball Rule Book. That Coaches Discount now available at bigleaguechew.com will continue to be the case.” See SPECIAL, Page 3 Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 Collegiate Baseball Page 3 Collegiate Baseball Clock Cost Big Factor In Defeat Continued From Page 1 The Voice Of Amateur Baseball Heading into the 2018 CWS, 13 of the last 14 College World Series have seen an average game time Collegiate Baseball (ISSN 0530-9751) is published twice a month of 3:16.