MLB eyes 20-second pitch clock and other measures to speed up games

Commissioner Rob Manfred is considering radical changes to speed up the pace of play and infuse more offense into games, including limiting the number of pitching changes and defensive shifts, but if installing a 20-second pitch clock is one of them, it could be met with some resistance.

“I appreciate the fact they’re trying to speed up games, I get it, but it’s tough to implement something that could change the flow of the game,” Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker said.

“If you take 30-40 seconds between every pitch, that’s different. Most of the time, you’re pitching within 20 seconds, but for the one or two instances where it might take 21 seconds, I’m not a firm believer that you should get penalized for it.”

Any changes must be negotiated between Major League Baseball and the players’ union as part of a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement expires on Dec. 1.

Manfred told reporters in Houston this week that a pitch clock “has been effective” in the minor leagues, where pitchers are given 20 seconds from the time they receive the ball from the catcher to deliver the next pitch.

“It had no effect on me, whatsoever,” said Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who made seven triple-A starts this season before returning from shoulder and elbow injuries in July. “Honestly, I didn’t even notice it.”

Skaggs, however, said he thought there was a 30-second pitch clock at triple A. When told Manfred would like a 20-second pitch clock, Skaggs said, “I think that’s a little extreme.”

Morris departs

Hal Morris, the Angels’ professional scouting director for the last five seasons, is leaving the organization to work in athlete development for Fantex, a San Francisco-based financial services company that allows investors to trade securities tied to the cash flows of professional athletes.

Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney became the first of several baseball players to enter into an agreement with Fantex last September, taking a $3.34-million up-front payment in exchange for 10% of his future earnings.

“It was a tough decision,” Morris, who lives in Palo Alto, said in a text message. “The Angels have been great to me in my time there, and I really liked Billy” Eppler, Angels general manager.

Eppler, who is also interviewing candidates for the vacant scouting director job, said he will consider internal and external candidates to replace Morris, 50, a former 13-year big leaguer.

“I’m extremely excited for his opportunity, and it will allow him to stay put in Northern California and be around his family more,” Eppler said. “But we’ll miss him here, no doubt.”

Short hops

Third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game in the fourth inning Friday night after fouling a bunt attempt into his face. . . .Former Angels outfielder Garret Anderson, the franchise leader in games (2,013), runs (1,024), hits (2,368) and runs batted in (1,292), will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony before Saturday night’s game. . . . First baseman C.J. Cron, out since July 9 because of a broken bone in his left hand, rejoined the Angels on Friday after a six-game rehabilitation stint with triple-A Salt Lake and will be activated Saturday. . . . Albert Pujols is the first player in major league history with 95 RBIs or more in 15 of his first 16 seasons.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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