Major League Baseball is putting in effect some of the biggest changes in the sport’s history in an effort to speed up the game and inject more activity.

As the 2023 season opens, Michael Schmidt, a Times reporter, explains the extraordinary plan to save baseball from the tyranny of the home run.

Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• With three major rule changes this season, Major League Baseball will try to reinvent itself while looking to the game’s past for inspiration.
• Here’s a look at the new rules.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.