The significant Major League Baseball rule changes for the 2023 season, largely aimed to speed up the game, have been broadly popular so far this year. The pitch clock is probably the most significant in shaving down dead time in the game, and for that, fans are usually quite thankful.
However, there are some moments that baseball should still let breathe. Cody Bellinger’s return to Dodger Stadium was certainly one of them. The former Dodgers star, now with the Cubs, got a pretty touching standing ovation from the L.A. faithful on Friday night … until the moment was abruptly soured by a pitch clock violation call, putting the count at 0–1 in favor of pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
In 99% of at-bats, the pitch clock works as intended and fans are usually grateful to have a game run closer to two hours than the occasional four that would take place prior to the rule. Still, some moments should be given some extra time, and fans and members of the baseball media are largely in agreement that Bellinger’s at-bat was one of them.
Cody Bellinger got a pitch clock violation after getting an ovation in his first game back at Dodger Stadium
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) April 15, 2023
What are we doing blue pic.twitter.com/Ts9RJDbB3S
Cody Bellinger stepped out of the batters box to briefly acknowledge cheers from the Dodger Stadium crowd in his first trip back to LA and was assessed a strike due to a pitch clock violation. Come ON @mlb https://t.co/P70SWJretu
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) April 15, 2023
Wow, Cody Bellinger was given auto strike to begin his first AB back at Dodger Stadium since he wasn't ready in box by 8 seconds left on clock ... because Dodgers fans were giving him extended cheer/ovation.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) April 15, 2023
There should be some discretion by the ump in moments like that, imo.
Bellinger comes back to Dodger Stadium .. gets a standing ovation .. and then gets a clock violation because of it.
— Michael Schlact (@michael_schlact) April 15, 2023
We’ve got to find some feel. pic.twitter.com/RzqAGIHoPT
I love the improved pace of play with the pitch clock. But what happened to @Cubs OF Cody Bellinger in LA Friday was wrong. He got a pitch clock violation for adoring a standing ovation from @Dodgers fans. Here's our @FastballFN story. @MLB #MLB #Cubs https://t.co/h56kOEQRrI
— Tom Brew (@tombrewsports) April 15, 2023
After the game, Chicago manager David Ross said the call “wasn’t [his] favorite thing of the night,” per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Bellinger addressed the moment himself after the Cubs’ 8–2 win:
“Really cool. I got super emotional during it. It brought back a lot of memories that I remembered, so it was a good ovation,” he said. “I was surprised [by the violation] but rules are rules, I guess, at the end of the day. So once I got dinged, I just locked it in and was competing from there.”
Cody Bellinger is back at Dodger Stadium! He talks about his first game back, the video tribute, the ovation from the crowd and that horrible pitch clock violation he received. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/1vZTixAiIR
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 15, 2023
