Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Phillies informed MLB league offices that they were concerned about a fast pitch clock at Citizens Bank Park this season. 

Phillies players claim that the pitch clock at CBP is the fastest in Major League Baseball and issued a formal complaint over a month ago to league offices. MLB then reportedly told The Phillies that it did in fact detect some inconsistencies and that they would address them. The players however, are skeptical that anything was actually addressed. 

According to Matt Gelb from The Athletic, data appears to corroborate The Phillies’ claims with Citizens Bank Park averaging close to one clock violation per game. The next closest stadiums being the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot Park and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field at an average of 0.8 per game. 

Here’s a fancy graph retrieved by STATS Perform on The Athletic 

On Monday night, Aaron Nola carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers. Nola threw seven innings, allowing just a single hit while striking out 12 batters. Two of those strikeouts came courtesy of the pitch clock and Nola addressed the issue following the game. 

Aaron Nola Pitch Clock

That is what prompted Gelb to take a deep dive into the speed of the pitch clock. Here’s what Gelb said in his analysis regarding Nola. 

Nola revealed what has become a prevailing conspiracy theory within the Phillies clubhouse. It sounded a little wild. How would the pitch clock be quicker at Citizens Bank Park than anywhere else?

“It just seems a lot faster, you know?” righty Taijuan Walker said. “You just got the ball and you look up and there’s only 10 seconds left.”

“Our clock?” veteran utilityman Josh Harrison said. “The fastest.”

It is, but there are objective ways of measuring it. And the data, so far, supports their theories: There have been more timer violations per game at Citizens Bank Park this season than any other major-league ballpark, according to research by STATS Perform. The data was compiled through Wednesday’s games.

The number of violations here is such an outlier that the gap between Citizens Bank Park and the stadium with the second-most is the same as the difference between second and 10th place. The numbers could even out over time but, right now, it is statistically significant. via The Athletic

The starting rotation has been fantastic with each Phillies’ starter has pitched seven or more innings in the last four games (one on the road).

You think I’m upset about a fast pitch clock at Citizens Bank Park? 

Not a chance. If anything, I’m more upset that the Phillies organization and its players are trying to expose it. The Phillies are 17-10 at home and just swept the Detroit Tigers out of town.

Tonight, they’ll open up a weekend series with the Dodgers.

Ranger Suarez on the mound. Suarez is coming off his best start of the season on May 30th where he went 6.2 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out four against the New York Mets.

Michael Grove has started five games for the Dodgers this season and is 0-2 with a 8.14 ERA. 

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to win six straight. Ring it. 

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