Written by Mark Bailey
MVR in baseball, or Mound Visits Remaining, is a term you may have heard but might not know the definition of. In this article, we will explore what MVR is and the role it plays in the game of baseball. We’ll also take a look at how the 5-visit policy came to be and its impact on the sport. So whether you’re a diehard fan or just enjoy watching from time to time, read on for a little bit of baseball history!
POINTS
- MVR is a baseball term that stands for Mound Visits Remaining, which are counted by the umpire since there is a limit to how many each team can have in one game.
- Mound visits can play an important part in the momentum of a game by helping settle down a pitcher’s nerves or proposing strategy to the defense.
- The purpose of the 5-visit policy is to prevent teams from intentionally changing the pace of the game and to attract more fans by speeding up play.
- What counts as a mound visit include any time when a player or coach stops play to walk to the mound; however, there are some exceptions such as immediately following substitutions on offensive side or if it happens after two visits in one inning by a coach (but not if initiated by player).
Mound visits remaining
MVR is a baseball term that stands for Mound Visits Remaining. Mound visits are when a coach walks out to the mound to talk to his pitcher. Each visit is counted by the umpire since there is a limit.
Mound visits can play an important part in the momentum of a game. They can help soothe a pitcher’s nerves in tight situations and help the coach propose a strategy for his defense.
What is a mound visit in baseball?
A mound visit is a strategic move that a coach initiates. There are multiple reasons behind a mound visit. A coach can use a mound visit to settle down his pitcher if he is having trouble finding the strike zone. He can also use a mound visit to give another pitcher time to warm up.
If a team is in a bad situation, the coach may choose to bring in a new pitcher. The new pitcher has to have time to warm up and get loose. A mound visit can help burn time and allow the pitcher to get ready.
A coach can also use the visit to bring his defense together and tell them how to approach the upcoming situation. On the other hand, players can initiate a mound visit. Catchers are usually the main ones to do this.
Why does this rule exist?
The MVR rule exists in the hopes of speeding up the game’s pace. Baseball has a long history of being slow and boring. Mound visits play a big part in slowing down the game.
The whole purpose of some mound visits is to specifically slow down the game. The rule states that each team is allowed five mound visits per game.
The amount can rise if the game goes to extra innings. Each pitcher is allowed one mound visit in an inning. Two mound visits in one inning mean the pitcher has to be taken out of the game. The rule exists to speed up the game.
What is the purpose of the five mound visits policy?
The purpose of this policy is to prevent teams from intentionally changing the pace of the game. Baseball is at its best when things are moving fast. When things slow down, people lose interest.
For this reason, baseball has lost much of its audience over the years. People enjoy fast-paced action in sports. Baseball was giving them the opposite until this policy was created. A mound visit can last upwards of 5 minutes if there is a pitching change. This policy was a great thing for baseball.
Why are mound visits limited?
Mound visits are limited to keep the pace of play consistent. The same can be said for other rules, such as the pitchers’ time clock. Up until recently, baseball has always been a slow game. The MLB has taken the initiative to speed up play which will attract more fans.
Another reason they are limited is that teams would be able to take advantage of this ability. When used correctly, mound visits can be effective. However, teams were beginning to abuse their power. All of the recent rule changes are to try and speed up the game.
What counts as a mound visit in baseball?
According to the MLB, any time a player or coach stops play to walk to the mound is considered a mound visit. There is no time limit to decide if it is regarded as a mound visit. It can last five seconds and will still be counted as a mound visit.
As stated earlier, a team gets five of these visits in one game. A coach should be careful about when he chooses to use these. If he uses them all up early on, he could find himself in a situation later on where he wishes he could have a mound visit. It is wise to save them until the latter part of a baseball game.
What are the exceptions?
In some cases, there are exceptions for visits to the mound. A coach has to remove a pitcher from the game after two visits in one inning.
However, a coach can initiate a mound visit in the same inning that a player does. This counts as two mound visits, but the coach only initiated one. Therefore, the pitcher does not have to be removed from the game.
There can also be a mound visit immediately following a substitution on the offensive side. For example, a mound visit will not be counted if it happens after a pinch hitter is put in the game.
The evolution of the MVR Rule
In 2019, the MLB passed the MVR rule of allowing each team to have five mound visits a game. In 2018, the first regulation of mound visits was put into place. Teams were abusing this power and using mound visits whenever they wanted. This led to immediate action from the league.
Before 2018, mound visits were only counted if a coach initiated the visit. As of 2018, the MLB granted six mound visits per team. In 2019, the limit was changed to five mound visits per game. The rule was not put into place until the 2020 season.
FAQ
What happens in extra innings?
Teams are granted an extra mound visit if a game goes to extra innings. Extra innings add one mound visit for each team. For example, a game in the 10th inning would give each team one additional mound visit. They can choose to use this mound visit immediately. They may also choose to hold out in hopes of needing it if the game goes deeper into extra innings.
Is there a penalty for too many mound visits?
There isn’t much penalty in place for too many mound visits. Umpires can deny a coach from walking onto the field to initiate a mound visit. However, a player can call time and walk over to the mound. This counts as a visit. If this is beyond the 5th visit, the umpire will order the player to return to his position. If the player doesn’t do so in time, he may be ejected from the game by the umpire. This is rare, as many teams know when they have reached the limit. Pitchers must also be removed if there are two mound visits in one inning by a coach.
How often can the catcher talk to the pitcher?
Before the rule changes in 2018 and 2019, catchers were not subject to a mound visit limit. The recent changes include catcher visits and mound visits. Since each team is credited with five per game, five visits from the catcher would reach the game limit for a team.
Can you change pitchers without a mound visit?
Yes, you can change pitchers without a mound visit. A coach can change pitchers between innings, eliminating the need for him to walk out onto the mound. Also, it is not considered a mound visit if a pitching change is made immediately. It is counted if a mound visit includes a conversation and the change occurs after the visit. Pitching changes can be a gray area of the rule but will not be counted if the change is rather immediate.
MVR and pace of play
Some see the mound visit rule as a great thing for the game of baseball. Some may be angry at the new changes. However, the pace of play has sped up since the rule changes.
The change is considered successful since the main goal was to speed up the pace of play. Mound visits can be a great thing for the strategic part of a game. However, they can also be terrible and boring thing.