Cleveland Guardians fans react to pitch clock and influence on James Karinchak

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
10
Mar 30, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher James Karinchak (99, right) waits to be pulled from the game after surrendering a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park. Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez (0, left) and first baseman Josh Naylor join Karinchak on the mound. (Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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Cleveland Guardians pitcher James Karinchak made team history in becoming the first pitcher to violate the pitch clock rule in the season opener against the Seattle Mariners.

It’s not difficult to surmise that fans would have opinions about Major League Baseball’s effort to speed up the game. That was done in spectacular fashion – at least with this first outing.

Last year, the average MLB game lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes. The Guardians-Mariners opening effort clocked in at a breezy 2:14. Don’t expect that pace of play to last for the next 161 games, but the rule certainly had its intended effect.

And, yes, fans had opinions regarding the play clock, but as can be imagined some were related to the call against Karinchak:

And, yes, some of it was quite harsh:

So much for empathy. Sorry. Forget. Much like crying, there's no empathy in baseball.

Oh, wait. Here's a smidge of empathy:

It is, however, difficult to see the downside to the pitch clock rule - at least when the team is out West. Last night, by the end of the 11 p.m. news, the teams were in the sixth inning, roughly just 1:15 minutes later as the game remained scoreless:

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians fans see how pitch clock can affect pitchers