Sports

MLB Implements New Rules for the 2023 Season: Pitch Clock and Shift Ban Among Major Changes 

By Anson Quan

Spring training is underway for all 30 MLB teams with some new rules. These rules being implemented are a big change for the sport of baseball and how the game will be played from now on. It will take time for many of the fans to adapt to the new rules as well. 

The first rule that was implemented was the new pitch clock. The pitch clock is used as a way to make the game go by at a faster pace. According to an article on mlb.com, “Pitch timer, shift restrictions among announced rule changes for '23”, by Anthony Castrovince, he explains, “In an effort to create a quicker pace of play, there will be a 30-second timer between batters. Between pitches, there will be a 15-second timer with the bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on base.” 

The pitch clock could have some good benefits for the sport. Before the rule was implemented, pitchers were able to try to pick off a player as many times as possible without any restrictions taking away pitching time, making the game slower. The pitch clock could also be a negative for batters because they have to be careful. If a batter violates the pitch clock, an automatic strike is called. An automatic strike is also called if a batter is not in the batter's box by the eight-second mark. 

Another important rule put in place was banning the shift.  A shift in baseball is a defensive strategy where players on the field shift from their traditional positions on the field to  one side of the field based on where they believe the batters will hit the ball.  This strategy is  used to prevent batters from pulling the ball hard through an open gap. Since the shift is banned, it could be very useful for batters. Some rules for this explain how the infielders cannot switch sides, and that if infielders are not aligned properly during the time of the pitch, it could result in an automatic “ ball” for the batter.  Some batters have had a hard time getting hits due to the shift being in play.  Struggling players can finally earn some hits and boost their average due to this change.  Left Fielder for the Minnesota Twins, Joey Gallo, in particular, did not like the shift because it was hurting his average and his ability to hit the ball.  He could potentially improve his game due to this change.

Finally, there are some other miscellaneous changes that the MLB has implemented.  One change is the size increase for the bases.  However, home plate would not be affected by this change.  The bases have changed from a 15 to an 18-inch difference.  The goal of this change is to allow players to be more creative and prevent any collisions while getting back on base.  

Another miscellaneous change made was the automatic runner on second base during extra innings.  This will only be effective in the regular season. This season could be a weird one to get used to, but it should be a big change in how the game is played.  Hopefully, this season will be a fun and exciting one, especially with the amazing plays and future games yet to come.   

The Dark Side of Soccer: Corruption and Bribery in FIFA and Major Clubs

By Ahmed Huossein

Globally, soccer is the most popular sport, with over 3 billion fans tuning in to watch tournaments such as the World Cup. Responsible for governing the sport and overseeing many of the major competitions since 1904 is The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, more commonly known as FIFA. In recent times, the darker side of soccer has been increasingly exposed, especially in the 21st century, with allegations of corruption being directed at FIFA and several other prominent soccer clubs.

Corruption in soccer can refer to any illegal activity that undermines the game's fairness. FIFA, for instance, has a history of being indicted for bribery and has been accused of ignoring human rights violations, nepotism, and failing to acknowledge racism and discrimination properly.

Perhaps the most notable case of FIFA's corruption is the 2015 FIFA corruption case. In this case, FIFA officials were accused of accepting bribes from sports marketing executives and countries in exchange for various favors such as broadcasting and hosting rights to major soccer tournaments, including the World Cup. According to former FBI Director, James Comey, in a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice titled "Nine FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted for Racketeering Conspiracy and Corruption", "The defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world. Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA."

Allegations of bribery and corruption related to Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup have been made as part of the 2015 FIFA corruption case, but no concrete evidence has been confirmed. However, even if such allegations are false, FIFA is still accused of ignoring human rights violations. Soccer fans have circulated claims of Qatar committing human rights violations by putting workers under harsh conditions in an effort to build the stadiums for the 2022 World Cup. According to an article by Human Rights Watch titled "World Cup in Qatar: Human Rights and Normalization", "FIFA should have recognized that because Qatar lacked the infrastructure for the World Cup, millions of migrant workers would be needed to build and service it. This included eight stadiums, an airport expansion, a new metro, multiple hotels, and other key infrastructure, at an estimated cost of $220 billion USD."

The accusations of soccer clubs engaging in bribery are potentially even more severe. According to Joseph Wilson, in an article for the Associated Press titled "Prosecutors accuse Barcelona of corruption in ref payments", "Prosecutors have formally accused Barcelona of corruption because of its payments of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to the vice president of Spain's football refereeing committee." Barcelona, one of the most successful and dominant teams in soccer history, faces severe consequences if found guilty of bribery, such as financial penalties, point deductions, and bans from competitions. Additionally, the integrity of the club, including its trophies won, would undoubtedly be questioned, and massive outrage from fans of rival teams would flare.

When asked their opinion on whether FIFA is corrupt and the implications of said possible corruption, Bayside High School junior, Tejas Modi, said, "I believe that the claims of FIFA being corrupt aren't completely baseless. However, they've done a relatively good job at managing tournaments thus far, and I think their accomplishments throughout history have given them a good reputation. The aftermath wouldn't be severe even if they were found guilty."

Contrastingly, Bayside High School junior, Kellie Lo, said, "FIFA is most definitely corrupt. Qatar bribed FIFA to be the selected country to host the World Cup. This is incredibly unfair to other countries who wanted to have the honor of hosting the World Cup. Qatari citizens have also suffered because of FIFA's actions from the numerous casualties that occurred due to the terrible working conditions when building the stadiums."

As of now, most of the claims against FIFA and major soccer clubs have yet to be confirmed due to the complex nature of the matter. However, the sheer number of accusations being made does suggest that there may be some validity to at least some fraction of them. It is important for fans to understand the implications of corruption in soccer and its impact on the sport as a whole.