Baseball fans react to new MLB commercial featuring Bryan Cranston to promote new rule changes: "Walter White doing pitch clock propaganda"
MLB released a new commercial featuring Bryan Cranston a week before opening day that has baseball fans talking. The ad features Cranston – best known as Walter White on "Breaking Bad" – sitting in front of a large television screen showing highlights while he extolls the virtues of the three main rule changes the league instituted this season.
“It’s the best game in the world. Now, it’s even better.” - @BryanCranston https://t.co/1E1uNlL6Dv
As highlights flash past, Cranston says:
"You want the action to flow, the bat on the ball ... This is the game we all want to see. It's the best game in the world, now it's even better."
A number of fans – and even one MLB team: the Oakland Athletics – immediately played the Walter White card, even though Cranston looked much different in the commercial than he does in the famed television show.
@MLB @MLBNetwork @BryanCranston They got Walter White doing pitch clock propaganda
@MLB @BryanCranston If you don't know who this is, then maybe your best course would be to tread lightly. https://t.co/CAJ1DgoF2h
@MLB @BryanCranston https://t.co/0eq1t21I4k
The commercial wowed many fans, but left others disappointed. MLB has been rumored to be taking over the broadcast rights from regional sports providers – many of which are going, or have gone, bankrupt recently.
At first glance, many baseball watchers were hoping that the commercial was going to be announcing landmark changes in how the game is watched from home – namely the lifting of blackout rules that prevent fans from watching a local market game on MLB.tv.
@MLB @BryanCranston Finally the MLB is leaving the stone ages and are learning how to market the game.
@MLB @BryanCranston "This game, it's for you, the fans...
...but if you want to watch this game on tv, good luck"
@MLB @BryanCranston Was hoping this was going to be an announcement for a MLB streaming platform…disappointed
Baseball fans are still conflicted, and likely always will be, over whether the rule changes will help or hinder the game. Time will tell, but to hear Cranston say it, the rule changes – the most widespread and significant in decades – have been a long time coming.
@MLB @BlueJays @BryanCranston Want to make it better?
Get rid of the GHOST RUNNER and the Pitch clock!
@MLB @BryanCranston https://t.co/bVHh4aNOHD
@MLB Why are we getting less of the game that we love? It sounds like it's for a specific group of fans.
And again, yes, the majority of fan reactions were sheer glee about hearing Walter White's voice narrating an MLB commercial – the message itself be damned.
@MLB @BryanCranston MY TWO FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD MASHED INTO ONE. WALTER WHITE AND BALL
MLB rule changes hit the big stage on opening day
The rule changes have had nearly a month of practice in spring training, but they are one week away from deciding actual for-real ballgames.
In addition to larger bases, here's a quick review of the two other main rule alterations:
Pitchers now get 15 seconds to deliver the pitch with empty bases, and 20 seconds with runners on base. The hitter gets one timeout per plate appearance and must be ready to receive the pitch by the eight-second mark of the pitch clock.
Infield shifts are banned, and all four infielders must have both feet on the infield dirt when the pitcher is ready to deliver.
The extra-inning ghost runner at second base was also made permanent for 2023 and beyond.