The 2015 Major League Baseball season kicked off Sunday night and brought with it pace-of-play rules that drastically change the way the game is played. In an effort to shorten the amount of time baseball games occupy, the league has implemented timers counting down from 2:25 to urge players to take less time warming up in situations such as between innings and after a pitching change.

When word first spread of the MLB’s attempt to speed up baseball games by using the timers, fans and players alike had a mostly negative reaction.

“Stupid. I don’t like them. I don’t think anybody really likes them,” San Diego Padres all-star outfielder Matt Kemp said in response to the MLB’s implementation of pace-of-play rules.

However, as Spring Training passed with no major issues and the teams have a few regular season games under their belt, opinions have largely changed.

“I like the rules. I don’t like when hitters take too long,” former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields said. “I’m more of one those ‘get on the mound and go guys.”

As for the start of the regular season, the Chicago Cubs hosted the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on baseball’s Opening Night. The game did not turn out the way many Cubs fans wanted as their team lost 3-0, but the game was likely lower on the list of priorities for those attending the game. Wrigley Field’s massive renovation project, originally slated to be completed prior to the start of the season, has seen massive delays due to the harsh Chicago winter. Due to the construction at the stadium, many of the facility’s bathrooms were out of order, causing massive lines for fans wanting to do their business.

“The Cubs have a major bathroom issue. The men’s restroom line stretched four sections on both sides of the upper deck,” Cubs fan Jeremy Shermak told reporters after the game.

The MLB’s remaining games, played on Monday, went much more smoothly than Chicago’s rocky start. Impressive performances included a no-hit bid by Oakland pitcher Sonny Gray that carried into the eighth inning, a shutout performance by Detroit pitcher David Price, and a leadoff homerun by Angles outfielder Mike Trout.

For those who have long criticized the MLB for having games that are too long and too boring, the league has finally addressed it. It will be interesting to see how these rules pan out through the entire season and all the way into September and October.

 FSA Connection Questions

1) In the article, the author included the quote from a Cubs fan regarding the bathroom situation for what purpose?

2) In the piece, the word “implemented” means what?

3) What is the main idea of the article?

4) Find 2 sentences from the article that support your answer for #3

5) What is the connotation of the word “pan out” in the story?