Baseball’s new pitch clock is already making the games faster

Over the weekend, Major League Baseball entered a new era. The first games – albeit spring training games – were played under the new rules implemented this season that include the banning of the shift, bigger bases, and most notably the pitch clock. It was a topic of discussion at the Red Sox game last weekend in Fort Myers.

The pitch clock is the rule that has gotten the most attention. In an effort to shorten games, players are now clocked in between pitches. From the time they get the ball back from the catcher, pitchers have 15 seconds with the bases empty or 20 seconds with runners on base to begin their pitching motion (30 seconds prior to the first pitch of an at-bat). If they don’t a ball is added to the count.

Under the new rule, batters are timed as well. They’ll receive an automatic strike if not in the box by the eight second mark. Pitchers are also limited two step-offs or pickoff moves per at-bat – a third would result in a balk.

Fort Myers has been named one of the coolest small cities in America.

I grew up right between Chicago and Milwaukee, so big city life is something I'm very familiar with. It was definitely a bit of change for me when I first moved to Fort Myers, but for me, the pros definitely outweigh any cons. "Cold" is anything below 70. While traffic isn't non-existent, it's relatively easy to get around. Rent isn't astronomical. And you can find a beer in a local bar for $5, not $15. Yes, you might have to travel to a larger city like Tampa or Miami to catch a big artist in concert or go to a Michelin star restaurant. But small cities have a charm about them too.

With Hurricane Ian devastating the area in September, we've got a long road ahead for rebuilding. A lot of people fear that as Fort Myers Beach rebuilds that it will be overrun by high rises and chain hotels. The reality of that remains to be seen, but I really can't wait for the beach to thrive once again.

So what defines a "small city"? The Demographic Research Unit of the Department of Finance qualifies a small city as an incorporated area that has a population of 100,000 of less.

Thrillist put together a list of the coolest small cities in America and Fort Myers made the list! To me, I feel like sometimes people forget about Fort Myers with some of the larger cities in Florida. Many people from out of town hear Florida and think Miami, Orlando, Tampa. But there's so many small towns, especially coastal small towns, that are so gorgeous and have so much to offer. And for us that live here, they may only be 3-4 hours away, so they make for a great little weekend getaway too.

A Midwest college town that is home to Indiana University-Bloomington that has some small town charm but with some perks of a large city like headlining live music acts, global cuisine, breweries, wineries and distilleries.

Just an hour from Yosemite, you'll find a variety of vintage eras from old western saloons, 1920s art deco architecture and 1950s neon signs and vinyl and cassette tape shops.

Alaska’s capital city where you can enjoy nature in amazing way by scaling glaciers, watching whales play, hiking trails and kayaking.

Fort Myers is home to baseball spring traning, excellent bars and restaurants and miles of beautiful beaches are just a few of the things we love about our coastal community.

Hot Springs has miles of gorgeous mountain trails to explore, museums like the Gangster Museum of America and the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita State Parks.

A great vacation destination, but the variety of attractions, diverse bars and restaurants, pro golf courses, and amazing scenery along 60 miles of shoreline would make for a great place to live as well.

Hawaii is paradise and in this small city you'll find bars and restaurants, shopping districts, art, and cultural museums and of course, the beach.

Yes, Ithaca is home to three universities, but you'll also find farm-to-table restaurants, theatrical performances, outdoor concerts, shopping and cute historic neighborhoods.

If cacti, dust and heat come to mind when you think Arizona, Flagstaff offers much more than that. The city is home to a 1.8 million acre pine forest, an almost 7,000-foot tall mountain at Humphreys Peak, and the state’s largest ski resort.

Bend is a ski town also known for white-water rafting, floating down the Deschutes River and ranch life.

Just under two hours from Asheville, in Greenville you'll find an active arts community, a great culinary scene, and some great nature that includes Falls Park on the Reedy.

Home to Montana State University, you’ll find a mix of a laid-back college town with Western small-town charm in a mountain setting.

Rock Fest and Country Jam are two huge festivals that happen every summer in Eau Claire, and if live music isn't your thing there's a great Chippewa River waterfront for plenty of swimming, tubing and canoeing.

Downtown is very walkable and filled with dog-friendly breweries, boutique wineries, fancy donuts, industrial-chic restaurants, and food trucks. A must-visit is Duckfat, one of the best sandwich shops in the country.

Hangout Music Festival takes place annually in Gulf Shores which also rates regularly as one of the most affordable beach towns in the country.

Burlington features everything you'd expect from a town in Vermont: brick roads, chill lifestyle, paddle boarding near Leddy Park and biking the beautiful lakefront path.