Didn't Major League Baseball make an effort to expedite the pace of play last year (or the year before?)

 

I seem to recall the average length was roughly 2 hours & 15 mins. It seemed to be working well, but it has been forgotten.

 

No way the league was anywhere near 2:15.

MLB did implement changes for 2015. The average dropped by 12 minutes to 2:56.

 

As of an article I read in May 2016 was averaging 3 hours.

 

Is 12 minutes going to change the iffy fan's mind? I doubt it.

MLB did implement changes for 2015. The average dropped by 12 minutes to 2:56.

 

As of an article I read in May 2016 was averaging 3 hours.

 

Is 12 minutes going to change the iffy fan's mind? I doubt it.

 

You're right, 2:56. It looks like it was down to 2:52 early on.

 

I agree that the game could be shortened, but I wouldn't decrease the # of innings.

MLB did implement changes for 2015. The average dropped by 12 minutes to 2:56.

 

As of an article I read in May 2016 was averaging 3 hours.

 

Is 12 minutes going to change the iffy fan's mind? I doubt it.

 

How long are the games you ump?

How long are the games you ump?

 

7 innings in about 2:00. Can be 1:40. Can be 2:40 or so.

I'd be curious to know how many commercials were ran and how much time they took.

 

I thought about this as well, then realized it was a 3.5 hour difference. I bet it's half advertising, half visits to the mound making the difference.

Make some of these changes strategic:

 

1 - after 2 strikes, you get 2 more foul balls. On the 3rd foul ball, you're out.

2 - after 2/3 pickoff moves in any AB, another pickoff move counts as a ball on the batter (you can still do it, but there is a cost)

3 - give each manager up to 3 innings (2 of which must be used before the 8th) where they declare a "1-1" count. All / 1st 3 batters of that inning start with a 1-1 count. Advantage is to the pitcher and keeps game moving.

4 - give each manager up to 2 innings (1 of which must be used before the 8th) where they get to start the inning with the runner that made the last out of the prior inning on 2nd base.

5 - make all bases like 1B where overruns are allowed without jeopardy of being put out unless you make an attempt to go to the next base. (The speed of current runners like Hamilton makes it almost impossible to stop.) Would increase SB attempts, I think.

 

Just some thoughts that are worth exploring in lower leagues to see if it improves pace of play. My contention throughout has been that length of games is an imprecise measure. Reduce the dead time and keep things moving.

Make some of these changes strategic:

 

1 - after 2 strikes, you get 2 more foul balls. On the 3rd foul ball, you're out.

2 - after 2/3 pickoff moves in any AB, another pickoff move counts as a ball on the batter (you can still do it, but there is a cost)

3 - give each manager up to 3 innings (2 of which must be used before the 8th) where they declare a "1-1" count. All / 1st 3 batters of that inning start with a 1-1 count. Advantage is to the pitcher and keeps game moving.

4 - give each manager up to 2 innings (1 of which must be used before the 8th) where they get to start the inning with the runner that made the last out of the prior inning on 2nd base.

5 - make all bases like 1B where overruns are allowed without jeopardy of being put out unless you make an attempt to go to the next base. (The speed of current runners like Hamilton makes it almost impossible to stop.) Would increase SB attempts, I think.

 

Just some thoughts that are worth exploring in lower leagues to see if it improves pace of play. My contention throughout has been that length of games is an imprecise measure. Reduce the dead time and keep things moving.

 

This sounds silly and ridiculous, but Id like to try it in an allstar game just for giggles.

The only two real changes baseball needs to make:

 

1) DH is either in or out in both leagues. I say in in both, but can get behind neither having them.

 

2) Stop having the old dudes managing wearing baseball uniforms. They look ridiculous.

 

And a 3rd one that is unrealistic, but should have been implemented long ago...

 

Make all the darn ballparks uniform dimensions. It's absurd that we have every park with different dimensions. It's the only pro sport around that doesn't have the same playing dimensions.

Baseball for thought: If Team A and just demolishing Team B, have a run rule like high school. If Team A is beating Team B by 10+ runs then call the game in the 5th or 6th inning. Once a team starts running away with a game, the viewers will get up and start leaving and people will start turning something else on the tv.

 

Not a huge fan of this one. Remember, it ain't over til it's over.

Make all the darn ballparks uniform dimensions. It's absurd that we have every park with different dimensions. It's the only pro sport around that doesn't have the same playing dimensions.

 

I know what you're saying, but disagree. Every ballpark it's 60 feet 6 inches from the pitching rubber to home plate, and there's guidelines as to the height of the mound itself. Homeplate is always the same size, it's 90 feet in between each base, they're all at 90 degree angles to each other...so everyone is playing on pretty much the "same field" so to speak. As far as the outfield is concerned, for the only two teams that matter in each game, they are playing with the same dimensions.

 

Yes, statistics (usually HR's) can be skewed, depending on what your home field dimensions are...but, I'm fine with that.

Make some of these changes strategic:

 

1 - after 2 strikes, you get 2 more foul balls. On the 3rd foul ball, you're out.

2 - after 2/3 pickoff moves in any AB, another pickoff move counts as a ball on the batter (you can still do it, but there is a cost)

3 - give each manager up to 3 innings (2 of which must be used before the 8th) where they declare a "1-1" count. All / 1st 3 batters of that inning start with a 1-1 count. Advantage is to the pitcher and keeps game moving.

4 - give each manager up to 2 innings (1 of which must be used before the 8th) where they get to start the inning with the runner that made the last out of the prior inning on 2nd base.

5 - make all bases like 1B where overruns are allowed without jeopardy of being put out unless you make an attempt to go to the next base. (The speed of current runners like Hamilton makes it almost impossible to stop.) Would increase SB attempts, I think.

 

Just some thoughts that are worth exploring in lower leagues to see if it improves pace of play. My contention throughout has been that length of games is an imprecise measure. Reduce the dead time and keep things moving.

 

Wow is about all I can say to that post.

UKMF brought up the DH situation. I forgot to post this when I first saw it on Facebook a little over a month ago. It's from Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs). Somebody asked him his opinion on the DH. At first I got a laugh out of it...and then the more I thought about it, I actually agreed with him.

 

Bart Collins writes ...

 

Mike, a group of us that appreciate your entertainment and the way you think have a pressing question. Do you favor getting rid of the designated hitter in major league baseball?

 

Hi Bart

 

A great baseball player should be able to hit, run, throw, and play his position competently. His “greatness” is therefor a reflection of a collection of skills - not the singular talent of a one-trick-pony. Specialists are great if you’re getting a new kidney or doing your taxes, but their existence in baseball is anathema to the concept of a complete player. The better question - to those who insist on keeping this travesty in place - is why not expand it?

 

Surely, if it makes sense to excuse a pitcher from batting because he’s a lousy hitter, why not allow every other fielder the same option? And if the designated hitter makes the game “more exciting,” as many proponents maintain, then why not assign one to every single player? Imagine the excitement then!

 

Nine excellent fielders, completely unburdened by the pressure of swinging a bat. And nine excellent batters, who never have to wear a glove or stand around waiting for someone to hit a ball in their general direction. All playing for the same team! But why stop there?

 

Why not allow designated sprinters to stand right next to designated hitters, and run the bases in their place? That would be so much more exciting than a pinch runner. And how about designated throwers? Seems fair, given the problem of excellent fielders with great hand-eye coordination but weak arms. For that matter, should we really expect pitchers to throw fastballs as well as sliders? Screwballs as well as change-ups? I mean, is it really reasonable to expect a Cy Young winner to have a knuckleball as well as a breaking ball?

 

Why not put four designated pitchers on the mound at the same time, and allow each one of them to focus only on their favorite pitch? Think how much better each team would be, if the field were filled with 30 specialists instead of nine generalists!!

 

Of course - if that happens, we’ll need to get some designated fans as well. This way, when former fans leave in disgust after the first inning, thousands of surrogates could take their place - kind of like those human seat fillers they use at the Oscars. That way, the designated players won't feel sad when they look up and see an empty stadium. And the designated mascot will have some people to inspire.

 

To answer your question, Bart - no, I’m not a fan.

You wanna shorten games? Go back to 24 MLB teams.

Wow is about all I can say to that post.

 

Remember the OP: "Radical Idea"

 

I'm largely OK w/ baseball as it is, but I am likely in the minority and aging out of the demographic baseball needs to keep engaged. They are using a "shot clock" for pitchers in minor league games now. There are rules about whether a batter can step out of the box if he didn't swing at the prior pitch. There are basically no bench clearing brawls in the minor leagues due to automatic and stiff suspensions. All of these rules would have been considered "blasphemy" by baseball purists a few short years ago. The minor leagues are a great incubator to test some radical ideas and see how they work out.