New MLB bases 'look like a pizza box,' Alex Cora says

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he agrees with Major League Baseball's new rules but offered one notable quip on the first day of spring training.

«The bases, they're the bases,» Cora told reporters Tuesday. «Wait til you see them — they look like a pizza box to be honest with you.»

MLB has adopted a series of new rules that will be implemented this season, including increasing the size of the bases from 15 square inches to 18 square inches.

The enlarged bases primarily are intended to promote safety — first basemen are less likely to get stepped on — but also are expected to lead to an increase in stolen base attempts because the basepaths have been shortened by four inches.

Cora noted, however, that he has managed the Red Sox to «play fast whenever we can» and said he does not think stolen base totals will increase exponentially. Marlins infielder Jon Berti led the majors with 41 stolen bases last season, while Trevor Story paced the Red Sox with 13.

«Talking to the minor league coaches and everybody that used the rules last year — it's not that all of the sudden we're gonna steal 100 bags with a guy,» Cora said. «The value of the out is still in play, and you get 27. So you gotta be smart, you gotta be efficient.»

MLB also will introduce a pitch clock that will count down 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners. The MLB clock will be slightly longer than the version experimented with in the minor leagues last season — 14 seconds with the bases empty and 19 seconds with runners on at Triple-A, and 14/18 at lower levels.

Other new rules include a ban of defensive shifting that will require four players other than the pitcher and the catcher to be in front of the outfield grass when a pitch