Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers told to speed up games

NEW YORK — Tweaking the postseason schedule. Eliminating the link between the All-Star Game and the World Series. Adding replay for fair-or-foul calls down the lines.

Oh, and a message to the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers: Hurry up!

Baseball is looking to make adjustments. Some soon, others later. Some significant, others subtle.

One change already is in effect. Pitchers now can touch their mouths or lips on the mound at any time to get a better grip. No need to step off or ask the umpire's permission, provided they're not standing on the rubber and then wipe their fingers.

The Official Playing Rules Committee made that shift in December, the same month commissioner Bud Selig convened a special 14-member panel to examine all facets of the game. He repeatedly said "there are no sacred cows."

The group will look at scheduling, pace of game, realignment, umpiring and other areas. Selig promises to seriously study the panel's suggestions.

Major League Baseball made one recommendation without waiting. It's directly calling the Yankees, the Dodgers and Boston slow pokes, and telling them to speed up.

The Yankees (3:08), Red Sox (3:04) and Dodgers (3:02) played the longest nine-inning games last year, STATS LLC said; the MLB average was 2 hours, 52 minutes. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon was fined $5,000 for slow play and the champion Yankees drew the ire of baseball for holding incessant mound meetings in the postseason.

There aren't any threats about what will happen if they don't comply. Will the prompts help?

"We told those three the same thing last year," said Bob Watson, MLB vice president of operations.

Notes

• In Tampa, Fla., Alex Rodriguez hit a long solo homer, CC Sabathia allowed two runs in 5-1/3 innings and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 6-2 in a split-squad game.

• In Port St. Lucie, Fla., New York Mets starter Johan Santana lasted 3-1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs against his former team, the Minnesota Twins, in a 7-3 defeat.

• In Jupiter, Fla., Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the spring for St. Louis, but right-hander Chris Carpenter was pounded for seven runs in a 7-6 loss to the Florida Marlins.

• In Viera, Fla., Stephen Strasburg allowed two solo homers and struck out eight in four innings as the Washington Nationals beat a Cardinals split squad 13-5.

• In Glendale, Ariz., Derrek Lee and Alfonso Soriano each hit two-run homers as the Cubs beat the White Sox 8-4.

• In Tucson, Ariz., native son Brian Anderson went 5 for 5 with seven runs batted in and hit for the cycle as the Kansas City Royals beat Arizona 24-9.

• Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, 82, was released from the hospital in Los Angeles after bumping his head.

• Durable left-hander J.P. Howell might not be ready to open the regular season with the Tampa Bay Rays because of a weak shoulder.

• Texas Rangers right-hander Tommy Hunter likely will miss opening day with a strained left rib-cage muscle.

• Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street received encouraging news when the MRI on his ailing right shoulder revealed no structural damage.