What Does MVR Mean In Baseball? (Rules & Exceptions)

Ever noticed the recent upgrade to the baseball scoreboard? As a regular baseball viewer, you might have seen the addition of a new column on the scoreboard titled MVR.

So, what does MVR mean in baseball? MVR stands for mound visits remaining, and it is added to monitor the pace of play and mound visits of a manager in a game of around nine innings.

Is it necessary for the game? Did it add a favorable implication to the game? Let us find it out in this article.

How Do Mound Visits Work?

The idea of mound visits was initiated in 2018 to speed up the play and minimize mound visits.

Are mound visits important? Perhaps, they are vital to enable managers and teams to interact with plans for the next inning.

• Every team is permitted up to five mound visits in a major league baseball (MLB) game.
• The managers and coach can make utmost one mound visit for a pitcher for each inning. In this process, there is no need to change pitchers.
• A mound visit takes around 30 seconds.
• If the manager does not wear the necessary uniform, getting the task assigned to a different authorized person is essential.

Here’s how a mound visit works in a baseball game.

• When there is a need for a mound visit, uniformed personnel walk to the mound to interact with the pitcher.
• The visit is recognized when the coach walks out of the dugout.
• During the visit, the player speaks with the uniformed person about the pitch to the hitter and the strategy to implement during a change of pitch.
• When the coach moves out of the 18-foot circle and enters the dugout, it symbolizes the end of the mound visit.

If you are new to mound visits, here is a video.

The discussion happens extremely quickly, and this approach lets the game speed up further as the pitcher grabs hold of the game and the strategy.

According to Dan Blewett, a mound visit benefits the pitcher in numerous ways.

• It gives a breathing space amidst a lengthy inning.
• The pitcher identifies a contingent strategy to handle the situation.
• The coach can calm the pitcher and get him out of mental fatigue.
• The coach provides a quick fix to the existing situation enabling the pitcher to regain his strength.

At the end of a mound visit, you can look at the eyes of a pitcher to find how he stays energized.

Many new baseball fans remain unaware of mound visits and associated rules. Let’s take a quick look at how mound visits have evolved.

• Before 2016, every mound visit had no time constraint. This implied that coaches and managers could interact with pitchers as long as they wanted. This flexibility increased the duration of the game and added new innings.
• During 2018, the number of mound visits was six for a match of nine innings, and this further narrowed down to five in 2019.
• During 2018, there was a rule on removing a pitcher when he was visited twice by the uniformed personnel in the same inning. However, this is not in place.

Are There Exceptions To Mound Visits?

There are several exceptions to mound visits, and these exceptions simplify the rule and permit flexibility among pitchers and catchers.

Exception 1. The number of MVR can change.

When a pitcher is injured, the coach can add another MVR to refresh him and also to ensure wellness.

Exception 2. After an offensive substitution, the visit to a pitcher is not charged under specific circumstances.

According to official Baseball Rule 5.10(m)(2)(D), a mound visit initiated by a player after an offensive substitution does not count if it happens after the announcement or before a pitch.

Exception 3. MVR counting does not occur during a crossup between a pitcher and a catcher.

Perhaps, a crossup can happen and develop complex signals among pitchers and catchers. In such an instance, a fastball can leave them unplanned and excited. This situation demands a meeting between players, and the umpire lets it happen without adding it to the MVR count.

Exception 4. A suspended play does not account for a mound visit.

If a play is suspended, the mound visit remains unaccounted for.

Exception 5. MVR is not counted when a pinch hitter takes charge of the player at the “at-bat” position.

When pinch hitter takes charge at-bat, a meeting is scheduled immediately with the pitcher to plan strategies. It calls for a brief visit to improve the play’s flow further.

Most importantly, the MVR increases by one when players play extra innings. For each extra inning, the MVR increases, making it easier for pitchers and coaches to retain the quality of the game.

Read also: Do MLB Players Buy Their Own Bats? (Sneak Peek To MLB)

Does Pitching Change Count As Mound Visit?

A pitching change is not counted as a mound visit and is treated normally during the course of play as the infielder and pitcher might have to discuss other strategies.

It is also common for players to use the pitching change as an inning break and visit the mound. The only condition is to ensure that the On-field regulation 2-7 is not breached and time limits are maintained.

Conclusion

Baseball games are improving in terms of timings, visits, and speed of play. The purpose of an MVR is to improve the flow of the game enabling teams to discuss the strategy whenever required.

While there are rules in place to explain when an MVR can happen, pitchers and other players also need to become aware of exceptions. When you pay close attention to what the pitcher and the coach talk about during a mound visit, you can observe how well-focused it remains. Sometimes, such conversations are cute, display empathy, and build the player’s overall resilience.

MVR is highly crucial as the baseball game progresses to new levels. So, stay updated as a fan!