On the eve of the opening of a new baseball season, those who call the games on radio (and TV) know this season will be different than any other - this time, batters and pitchers are under a clock. Which means so are the play-by-play crews. 

Some of the most experienced in the booth wonder if there will be any reason for a colour analyst, since they won't often have the chance to say much between pitches. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

"ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” analyst Eduardo Perez acknowledged that there’s a running joke in which the best innings are ones when the analysts never talk — and said there might be some truth to it."

And then there's the rush to get those sponsored "out of town scoreboards" and promotional announcements in. There also won't be the usual gaps when a batter steps out the box for 45 secs. or the catcher and the pitcher talk on the mound for a minute and a half. 

The new world baseball order begins on Friday, when the game that never had a clock suddenly finds itself ruled by one, both on the field and on the radio. 

MLB Broadcasters Adapting to Faster Pace Under New Rules