League representatives discuss rule changes

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Joe Torre, MLB's executive vice president of baseball operations, and umpire supervisor Steve Palermo met with Royals manager Ned Yost to discuss rules changes Thursday.

There was not much to discuss, although one change bans a pitcher's fake pickoff throw to third base with runners at first and third. The fake usually was followed by a throw to first base in an attempt to catch that runner. It was seldom successful.

"I'm fine with that," Yost said. "The play never really made much sense to me to begin with, and I actually think that no fake to third is actually an OK rule."