After a never-ending winter, baseball has finally arrived through the Grapefruit and Cactus League. However, spring training 2023 isn’t the same as before. With the piloted rise of technology, even MLB has implemented a few advancements that could potentially change the course of the sport. However, not everyone likes change. And even fewer like change due to technology. The only unanimous Hall of Famer with a 100% ballot, Mariano Rivera, is among them.

Spring training 2023 has been different due to the addition of the pitch clock. After being tried and tested in the minor leagues, the pitch clock has finally made its way to the big stage. And, barring the fact that players are still getting used to it, not everyone is happy about it either. Mariano Rivera, with 13 All-Star appearances and five World Championship rings alongside the Derek Jeter-led Core Four, strongly believes against this new inclusion in the sport.

Mariano Rivera doesn’t like change

The 53-year-old former Yankees legend speaks about how the addition of the pitch clock to fasten the game, and the eventual possible inclusion of an automated strike system is only going to hurt the game. He believes that it kills the process of learning as you grow, and also destroys creativity.

As reported by MLB insider Hector Gomez, Rivera said, “I’m against something that is changing the game or something that is not being played as it should be or people who have not thrown a ball or taken at-bat in their life come and tell me what I have to do.”

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Additionally, Rivera speaks about how this could hurt young players, and says, “We aren’t developing our young players, our young players are told: “you have to do this, you have to do this… and we don’t let them think, it is what all the technology is bringing today.”

Manny Machado was the first victim of the pitch clock

In his first Spring Training game, while facing the Mariners, Manny Machado started his plate appearance with one strike. Home plate umpire Ryan Blakney signaled a clock violation as Machado took too long to set up in the box. While talking about it, Machado said that he’s going to be in the record books.

While talking about the violation and the new rule, Machado added, “It’s definitely something we’re going to have to get used to. It kind of takes away your routine, being up there and zoning in before the pitch. The umpire gave me a little warning — ‘Hey, you got 2 seconds’ — but I was already late when I got in there.”

What do you think about the pitch clock? Harmful or beneficial in the long run for the sport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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