MLB news: Bryan Reynolds rumors, pitch clock hurts Astros, Aaron Judge position switch?

MLB news: MLB crackdown on balks, pitch clock could hurt Luis Garcia

As the Houston Astros try to repeat as World Series champions with a target on their back, they must deal with yet another adversary — rule changes.

MLB is cracking down on what they have deemed illegal pitches and pitch motions, while also implementing a pitch clock this season. It’s a major adjustment for some of the game’s greats, who have grown accustomed to windups that would now be deemed illegal. You can add Luis Garcia to that list.

Garcia famously ‘rocks the baby’ prior to every pitch, something that he may have to ditch before the start of the regular season.

Astros: Luis Garcia needs a different approach

“We’ve had pitchers over the last couple of seasons develop more complex windups where they rock back and forth and take multiple steps,” league executive Morgan Sword said, via The Athletic. “The rulebook doesn’t permit that. We’re going to be better about calling that so you’re only allowed one step backward before we call an illegal pitch.”

Perhaps this is a case of MLB going too far with rule changes. It wouldn’t be the first time. But for now, Garcia will need to adjust his windup so it fits within these slight alterations.

“We just encourage funky pitchers to be funky,” Sword continued, “within the rules.”

Garcia’s delivery is part of what makes baseball fun. While speeding up the game is necessary, surely taking away his quirky delivery entirely is a stretch.