Derek Johnson
Associate Head Coach, Vanderbilt University
I think that there is a lot that goes into this question.  On the one hand, the baseball purest in all of us would say that there is no time limit in baseball and therefore a pitch clock isn’t needed.  The many nuances of the game, such as visits from the middle infielder or catcher might be eliminated, and I’m not sure this is a good thing.  The other side of me, the one that repeatedly watches and participates in 4 hour games, tells me that such a thing is needed.  The hitter stands in with one foot after the head coach gives the sign to the third base coach who in turn relays it to the hitter, stares and breathes at his bat and then begins to ready himself to hit.  The catcher waits for the pitching coach to stop fumbling with his pitching chart to give a sign, the catcher then looks at his wrist band, and then gives the sign to the pitcher.  Hopefully the pitcher wants that sign or a whole new set of signs has to be given because the runner at second base is trying to steal pitches, and then the pitch is made.  Sadly, we have to sit through that for another 300 pitches until the game is decided. My biggest question is that what does a pitcher do with all of this down time in between pitches?  My guess is that one thought turns into four or five or more, and this is why we have a good number of underachieving  pitchers.  Let’s give the game back to the kids.  Let’s teach them how to pitch, how to call a game (catcher) and eliminate time (negative thoughts)….this is what makes me think a pitch clock isn’t such a bad idea.

Skylar Meade
Pitching Coach, Eastern Illinois University
I don’t feel that college baseball needs a pitch clock and here is why.  The game has been as popular as ever the past decade and the fact of the matter is that baseball is a game that is based on varying styles and tempos.  To make all pitchers work on the very same pace would be too drastic a change in my mind.  This would be like putting a serving clock on players at the Australian Open this week.  And lets be honest that would never happen.  The key person in all of this who can help keep the game moving at a good pace is the umpire.  It is his duty to get the pitcher to not delay the game too much.  It needs to be stressed to the umpires each year that this is a focus and if they know this then they can portray that to the players on the field.

Fred Corral
Associate Head Coach, University of Memphis
I am mixed on this..I like the idea of speeding up the game and keeping the flow going with a pitch clock. One plus  would be having pitchers and catchers calling the game for slow and indecisive coaches. Accountability is a very good thing, Conviction and commitment are very good things. Thinking the game is a good thing. Teaching how to pitch and incorporating a pitching plan for the previous stated plus would be a good thing. Taking away the big “Transfer of Blame” thing that is rampant with our young studs is a good thing.

I like the idea of a pitch clock. I am no longer mixed on it….that’s a good thing.

Chris Maliszewski
Pitching Coach, University of Iowa
I do not believe we need a pitch clock in baseball.  In my opinion, it is the coaches responsibility to teach his pitching staff to pitch with pace.  There are so many factors that can contribute to whether or not a pitch can be thrown within a certain time frame.  By stipulating that a pitch MUST be thrown in a certain time I think it punishes the defense for factors that, at times, is out of their control. 

Chris Berry
Pitching Coach, Sam Houston State University
I really don't think a pitch clock is needed.  The beauty of the came is the fact there is no clock.  You cant kneel down and run the game out.  the other thing we do is to get our guys to make a pitch within a certain amount of time anyway.  A hitter has about 8 seconds to make an adjustment from one pitch to the next so if we can be ready to make a pitch in that time frame we do.  However if a guy needs to clear his mind and refocus he should have the liberty to do so.

Tim Dixon
Pitching Coach, Southern Illinois University
Absolutely not! The beauty of baseball is the fact that there is no time limit. There are times in a game that a pitcher needs to take time to gather his thoughts and emotions. If we make him throw a pitch when he is not ready, we are setting our athletes up for failure. There are other avenues we can explore to cut down on the length of games. We can accomplish this with our sacrificing the athletes chance for success.