Giants' Legend Buster Posey: MLB Rule Changes Will Make Game 'Not So One-Dimensional'

MLB is set to implement new rule changes this season that will hopefully improve pace of play. Former San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey recently weighed in on the new additions to the game, saying he believes they will have a positive effect.

"I'll say it: I'm a big advocate of some of these rule changes and trying to get this game back to being not so one-dimensional, where you just try to throw a billion [miles per hour] and try to hit the ball out of the park," Posey told The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly. "I enjoy the subtleties and the game within the game."

Posey, who retired after the 2021 season after winning three World Series titles in his 12-year career in San Francisco, further explained that he believes players haven't been playing up to their full potential and the new adjustments can help change that:

"I'm afraid it's become a little too stagnant. I think young players believe, 'If I strike out 200 times, it doesn't matter if I hit 20 home runs.' We're starting to see some front offices start to say, 'Actually, it's not good to strike out.' So hmmm, OK. That's enlightening. But I do hope the game can get back to rewarding guys for doing the smaller things. I think baseball players are probably as talented as ever, right? But if the focus is only on power, it's a little stagnant to me. Some of these new rules will hopefully create some more action."

In September, MLB passed a slew of rule changes that included the establishment of a pitch clock and the banning of defensive shifts. There were also new amendments limiting pickoff moves and expanding the size of bases. However, ESPN's Jeff Passan noted that the vote was not unanimous, as player representatives in the competition committee "voted no on the shift and pitch-clock portions of changes."

As spring training for the 2023 season commenced this past weekend, we saw exactly how the new rules can drastically affect a game. The game between the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox ended with a called strike three on a pitch-clock violation after a batter wasn't set in the box prior to the clock reaching eight seconds, which is an automatic penalty.

Posey, a former seven-time All-Star catcher, said he expects players will be able to adjust eventually because he's heard good things so far.

"And I'm surprised I'm as excited as I am to see the pitch clock," he said. "Just from talking to guys who have been part of games with the pitch clock, I heard rave reviews."