The pitch clock has sped up major league games significantly this season (by an average of 26 minutes compared to last year!) but there are still things that can delay a game. Just ask the Giants and Padres.
Tuesday night’s game in San Francisco was zipping along at the typical pace of a 2023 contest as it headed into the bottom of the ninth tied at three. Nick Martinez was on the mound, ready to pitch. Mike Yastrzemski was at the plate, ready to hit. But the game was still on hold.
Why? San Diego only had eight players on the field. Juan Soto was nowhere to be found.
