Stop rocking baby: New MLB rule means Astros pitcher Luis Garcia can’t use unique spin

HOUSTON. One of the most unusual pitchers in Major League Baseball belongs to Houston Astros pitcher Luis Garcia.

This season, Garcia’s “rock baby” moves followed by cha-cha steps will no longer comply with new rules designed to speed up baseball games. The new clock with a step timer will make the unique start illegal.

Pitchers will have 15 seconds to pitch their pitch when no one is on base and 20 seconds when there are no runners on base.

“The pitching timer is by far the biggest change that will happen this season,” MLB executive vice president Morgan Sword said Tuesday. “Honestly, this is probably the biggest change that has happened in baseball in our entire lives.”

The field clock was used during minor league games last season with impressive results. Games that used clocks were on average 25 minutes shorter than those that did not use them.

Sword said MLB research shows that fans prefer games that last around 2:30 rather than three hours in an average season.

According to Astros reporter Brian McTaggart, the Astros found out about the rule in December.

“We just needed to contact Louis and tell him it might not be allowed, so we need to practice something a little more traditional,” Houston pitching coach Josh Miller told McTaggart. “If he can no longer use it, in my opinion, it would be a shame. But like I said, I’m sure he will adapt and manage without him.”

Other teams whose pitchers have unique windups have also been warned.

“There are a number of bizarre deliveries that fall within the rules,” Sword said. “We encourage funky pitchers to be funky within the rules.”

Garcia’s “hilarious” serve was a hit with the fans. It inspired T-shirts, the song “Rock-a-by-baby” when he took the mound, and at least one Minor League imitator.

KHOU 11 Athletic Director Jason Bristol spoke to 9-year-old Charlie Spring about how he had a baby.

“Yeah, it’s funny, but it gets funny when you get the hang of it,” Charlie said.

The Astros even showed the comparison during the game and Charlie heard from Garcia, 3B Alex Bregman and SS Jeremy Peña.

On Wednesday, the Astros tweeted about the new rule, posting side by side videos of Garcia and Charlie with the caption “End of an era” and a crying emoji. This gave the wrong impression to some followers who thought they meant that Garcia was leaving the team.

Garcia went 15-8 with a 3.72 ERA in 28 regular season starts in 2022 but was moved to the bullpen in the postseason because the Astros had such great pitching depth.

Some fans are confident that he will still have good stuff even if the baby doesn’t turn on.