MLB commissioner says fans 'routinely' talk to him, praise rule changes

Manfred also credited both the players and umpires for how they've adjusted quickly to the various alterations to the sport.

In an effort to speed up the game and add excitement to MLB contests, a host of new rules were instituted ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Among the more notable changes are the ban on the defensive shift, the introduction of the pitch clock and the increasing of the size of the bases.

During a February interview with Yardbarker, 2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame candidate Adrian Beltre said he wasn't a huge fan of the changes that were coming. New York Mets ace Max Scherzer has been a frequent critic of the pitch clock, and there have been others who disagree with the implementation of all of the rules.

There have been plenty of voices on and off the field to speak out in support of the new rules though, including Francisco Lindor (one of Scherzer's teammates) and actor Bryan Cranston.

During his pre-All-Star Game media session, Manfred also addressed the possibility of a change to the pitch clock for the playoffs. Though no decision has been made yet, discussions are apparently ongoing.

The All-Star Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The MLB postseason is slated to start on Oct. 3 with the wild card series, so Manfred and company have less than three months left to finalize plans for how October baseball will look.