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Manfred expects pace of play changes in 2018 'one way or the other'

Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports

Rob Manfred is putting his foot down on pace-of-play issues.

After failing to introduce his desired pace-of-play initiatives last season due to resistance from the Major League Baseball Players Association, the commissioner announced Thursday he anticipates new rules relating to pace of play will be in place for the start of 2018, regardless of the union's stance.

"My preferred path is a negotiated agreement with the players, but if we can't get an agreement we are going to have rule changes in 2018 one way or the other," Manfred told reporters during Thursday's owners' meetings in Orlando, according to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press.

Speeding up the pace of play has long been a priority of Manfred's since he was elected as commissioner, and the issue may have reached its zenith this year. In 2017, the average length of a regular-season game was three hours, five minutes, and 11 seconds - not only a record for the sport, but a jump of more than four minutes from 2016. Playoff games took even longer, averaging more than 3.5 hours through the two League Championship Series.

Ideas that were proposed by the league last year - including pitch clocks and limiting the number of mound visits catchers can make - were dismissed by the MLBPA. The league does have the right to implement any of these changes without consulting the union.

Related: Manfred reiterates desire to implement pitch clocks

A 20-second pitch clock was debuted in the minor leagues in 2015, the same year MLB put clocks on mid-inning breaks and pitching changes inside all 30 big-league ballparks.

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