It's the widespread desire for starters and relievers to stroll into a pitching lab and leverage modern technology to learn new pitches in a fraction of the time it used to take. A practice long reserved for only the nerdiest pitchers is now seen as a necessity.

Major League Baseball says pitcher injuries are more likely to occur during spring training and early in the season. Management has rejected an assertion by players’ union head Tony Clark that injuries may be linked to the pitch clock that was instituted last year and slightly shortened this season.