Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Amateur Baseball Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 64, No. 13 Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 $4.00 Games Being Played At Faster Pace NCAA Division I games World Series was held on any level of college baseball, not enough games were average 2 hours and 57 played to find out if the rule cut significant minutes while 7-inning ball time off games. games average 2:21. Therefore, the 2021 season was the first to see how well the 20-Second Action rule worked to reduce the length of games. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Collegiate Baseball received an Excel Editor/Collegiate Baseball spreadsheet from NCAA Statistics that had the length of games for each contest during UCSON, Ariz. — The 20-Second the entire 2021 NCAA Div. I season. Action Rule in NCAA baseball is We were only interested in 9 and 7- Tallowing games to be played at a inning games. faster clip. So that is all we focused on for The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee consistency and not any weather-shortened approved the 20-Second Action rule games or extra-inning contests. starting with the 2020 baseball season. The average 9-inning length of games For the first time in college baseball for 2021 was 2:57 which featured 5,554 history, a 20-second time clock was entries in the spreadsheet. utilized in games with runners on base, as The average 7-inning length of games well as nobody on base. was 2:21 which included 1,081 entries. As part of the rule, each team was The NCAA has not tracked the average allowed three offensive and six defensive time of NCAA Div. I games throughout conferences per game, no more than three seasons until now. of which may include a coach. During the recent NCAA Div. I College Since the COVID-19 pandemic stopped much of the 2020 season, and no College See PACE OF PLAY, Page 2 1-Way Electronic Catcher Communication Approved More Tech Hits Baseball Jury out on how helpful this will be for college baseball with time-honored pitch calling systems just as effective. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Editor/Collegiate Baseball NDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee proposed the use of one- Iway electronic communication devices for the purpose of calling pitches and plays. It was then approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The rule goes into effect for the 2022 season. Examples of what could be implemented next season include teams utilizing electronic display boards from dugouts that show a numerical code to call pitches and offensive/defensive plays. Teams also are allowed to use a one-way, in-ear communication device that would be limited for use from a person in the dugout to the catcher. Several conferences, including the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Pac-12, Southeastern and Sun Belt, experimented with these devices in 2021. Experimentation with one-way wireless communication from a coach in the dugout to the catcher has been taking place since 2018 by Southeastern Conference teams. The coach tells the catcher what pitch to throw UNFORGETTABLE BASEBALL PLAYERS — Lou Pavlovich and what location. talks about four remarkable ball players who he will never forget. Arizona Pitching Coach Dave Lawn Above is Jason Haynie of South Carolina who was a fire eater See ELECTRONIC DEVICES, Page 3 demonstrates electronic 1-way device. and breather. To read the column, go to page 4. Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com Roundup Of Summer Champs Cutting More Time Off Games Interesting New H.S. Rule Santa Barbara wins NBC World Jim Schlossnagle of Texas A&M If pitcher doesn’t receive signs Series, Brewster captures Cape explains why extreme hustle can from catcher, he must simulate Cod League, plus more/Page 10 pay off with wins, more/Page 8 taking sign on rubber/Page 14 Page 2 Collegiate Baseball Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 Pace Of Play Helped With New Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of NCAA 20-Second Action Rule Amateur Baseball Continued From Page 1 start looking at it from a consumer standpoint whether watching on TV World Series, the average time or paying for a ticket to attend. Collegiate Baseball (ISSN 0530-9751) is published twice a month of 9-inning games was 3:11. This “We were concerned with the January-May and once in June, July, September and October factored in 15 games that were pace of the action in games as well. (14 total issues) by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Inc., 2515 9-innings. Another game went 12 We wanted to remove the dead N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705. Periodicals postage paid at innings which wasn’t included. pockets which stop the flow of Tucson, AZ. The 2021 event was one of only the game and manage times more four College World Series that efficiently in games as well. Postmaster: Send address changes to: averaged 3:11 or lower in the last “The one area we saw as Collegiate Baseball 14 years. problematic was defensive timeouts. P.O. Box 50566 It is interesting to note that six You saw infielders call time to talk Tucson, AZ 85703 games were played under three to pitchers or stall so a pitcher had hours. It is only the fourth time in a bit more time to warm up. We Overnight Mail: 2515 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 the last 13 College World Series discussed ways to reduce time that six or more games during a within the game to make games Past Publishers: Abe Chanin, Lou Pavlovich, Sr. $28 for 14 issues. Series were played under three shorter.” Single 1-Year Subscription Rate: Single 1-Year First Class U.S. Subscription: $45 hours. Rules To Stop Clock Single 1-Year Foreign Air Mail Subscription: $50 The shortest game time was A pitcher has five options for the Special Team Subscriptions: 11 papers each issue sent to one 2:28 in game six as N.C. State beat clock to stop within the 20-Second address — $110 (save $198 off the single subscription price), and Vanderbilt, 1-0. Action Rule in place: 21 papers each issue sent to one address — $189 (save $399). Game In Good Spot 1) Must begin his windup Other Multiple Subscription Offers: Please inquire with sub- scription department at (520) 623-4530. Head Coach Tim Corbin of motion. Vanderbilt, chairman of the 7- TIM CORBIN 2) Throw a pickoff to a base member Pace of Play Committee which has a runner. Directory by the American Baseball Coaches step off to get a new signal so he 3) Batter is granted time. Association which began in doesn’t cross up the catcher which 4) Step off the rubber. Area Code (520) December of 2016, feels college adds more time. 5) Call timeout to talk to a fielder Publisher: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530) baseball is moving in the right “Even when I was studying pace or coach. Editor: Lou Pavlovich, Jr. (Call 623-4530 to report stories) direction. of play, I never felt that decreasing On a first violation, the pitcher Advertising Director: Diane Pavlovich (Call 623-4530) “It is important that we don’t time when the game was moving will be issued a warning. A ball will Subscription Department: (Call 623-4530) tamper with the natural movements was a concern. It was more about be awarded to the batter for each Fax Machine: (Call 624-5501) and playing procedures of the dead periods of the game that could subsequent violation. E-Mail: [email protected] game,” said Corbin. be reduced.” If the hitter violates the 20- Web Site: www.baseballnews.com “Everyone is very aware of the It is interesting to note that The Second Action Rule, a strike will 20-second clock. Everyone wants Wall Street Journal did a study in be awarded in the count. the game to move with a faster 2013 to find out what the actual As part of the rule, each team 2021 Publication Schedule pace but without taking away from time of action in a game was. was allowed three offensive and January 8 March 12 May 7 September 3 the game. By their calculations, you will six defensive conferences per game, January 29 March 26 May 21 October 1 “As a whole, the game is a little see 17 minutes and 58 seconds of no more than three of which may February 12 April 9 June 18 February 26 April 23 July 16 faster. Taking away visits to the action over the course of a three- include a coach. mound by defensive players and hour game in pro baseball. “In other words, a coach may be coaches helps to some degree as In several early games during the involved in no more than three of the well as visits between coaches and 2021 College World Series, umpires six charged defensive conferences,” Moving? players on offense. did not enforce the 20-second clock said Randy Bruns, NCAA Baseball Make Sure CB Moves Along With You! consistently. “From a consumer’s perspective, Secretary-Rules Editor. To change your address, please write us 30 days in advance if if we can roll out games that are “The clock would hit zero “Note that a pitching change you can. Mail to: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper played between two and three without any repercussions. is not a charged conference. Parts Dept. Address Change hours, that is more advantageous “I noticed that as well,” said of the old rule remain, such as if P.O.