The solution is for all the umps to just make the strike zone bigger. Darn if that won't get them swinging the bat rather than take a third strike on a high outside fastball. Get a game over in a hour and a half.:banana:

Save a few pitcher's arms and extend their careers too.:bunny::jump:

Maybe the comments had some affect. Most times when I go to the Trop to see the Rays take on the Yanks or the Sox, I don't look to get home before 11:45 or midnight. They're always 3 + hour affairs, regardless of the score. Last night was different. I was home before 11 and there was a big crowd. It was a 9-3 game, too. For a game like this, I'd normally have to pack a sleeping bag.

I don't have a problem with the umps trying to speed up the game as far as eliminating batters stepping out or pitchers just holding the ball. However, Terry Francona made a good point when he said that both teams don't give away at bats and that leads to high pitch counts. One of the games had 411 pitches thrown--that takes a long time no matter if the batters stay in the box or not. The fact that both teams take a lot of pitches and don't swing at a lot of balls out of the zone is a big part of the reason that they are so effective on offense.

What Joe has stated and The Professor.

 

For my debaters...How come he is the only one lashing out? Crying?

 

How come he waited to the season to start? Nothing during their meetings? Like I said the Yanks have always had long games.

 

Whats his age? I know as I age I don't think the same as in my 30s/40s?

 

Retire!

He 100% correct, no one else takes this long why do the Yanks and Red Sox? I don't really have a problem with it.

He 100% correct, no one else takes this long why do the Yanks and Red Sox? I don't really have a problem with it.

 

I know that Reds fans are used to watching their players swing at any pitch that lands somewhere between the 2 on deck circles. Of course that is one reason that the Reds struggle offensively. That isn't the sole reason for the longer game times when the Yankees-Red Sox play but it is a big reason. These two teams just don't give up at bats, they grind them all out. I'm all for cutting out the stepping out/holding the ball/calling time thing but I don't think that either team is going to change its offensive philosophy of making the other team throw strikes and chewing up pitch counts. It has been proven to work. The Cardinals take a similar approach.

Here is my simple way to speed up play and I am sure most of you won't agree at all. Instead of 3 strikes to K or 4 balls to walk, make it 2 and 3, respectively. Batters and pitchers will have to be ready to go from the first pitch. Starters will be able to pitch more innings, less relievers will speed up the game, I see no real downside.

 

Another way would be that the batter must enter the batters box at the direction of the umpire and can't exit the box, he must be prepared to hit at all times. The pitcher just throw the ball within an specified time(sort of a time clock) or he is assessed a ball. If you keep the batter in the box and the pitcher throwing, the game WILL speed up.

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Edited April 11, 201016 yr by ACE
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I know that Reds fans are used to watching their players swing at any pitch that lands somewhere between the 2 on deck circles. Of course that is one reason that the Reds struggle offensively. That isn't the sole reason for the longer game times when the Yankees-Red Sox play but it is a big reason. These two teams just don't give up at bats, they grind them all out. I'm all for cutting out the stepping out/holding the ball/calling time thing but I don't think that either team is going to change its offensive philosophy of making the other team throw strikes and chewing up pitch counts. It has been proven to work. The Cardinals take a similar approach.

 

What does this have to do with the Reds? The Yanks and Red Sox have been in the 3 longest games this year and the other 2 that are in the top 5 one of those teams were in the game. The Reds aren't as good as the Yanks or Red Sox so your cheap shot at Reds fan is pointless and has no merit in this debate. The fact that they aren't as good has nothing to do with the fact that their games take a normal amount of time like 95% of the MLB. It's a simple FACT their(Yanks/Red Sox) games take longer.

What does this have to do with the Reds? The Yanks and Red Sox have been in the 3 longest games this year and the other 2 that are in the top 5 one of those teams were in the game. The Reds aren't as good as the Yanks or Red Sox so your cheap shot at Reds fan is pointless and has no merit in this debate. The fact that they aren't as good has nothing to do with the fact that their games take a normal amount of time like 95% of the MLB. It's a simple FACT their(Yanks/Red Sox) games take longer.

 

And it is also a FACT, like I pointed out that both of these teams work the count and see more pitches than other teams. They don't swing at everything and work every at bat. When they play each other they are definately going to have long games due to the pitch counts. Given their success on offense, the philosophy seems to work. As long as they aren't granted time too often for stepping out or the pitcher hold the ball too long they aren't doing anything wrong.

 

You asked why their games took so long and I gave you one.....I brought the Reds into it because I know you are used to seeing a team that will swing at anything so you aren't used to seeing hitters work counts.

Joe, working the count is a really good response. I played softball for over 40 years and I loved working the count. I never swung at a first pitch and early in my playing time I'd hit foul balls if I didn't like the pitch, use to drive people nuts.

 

One time in a tourney I got 19 walks in 21 at bats. This was a World Tourney.

 

So I sure agree about working the count and being sucessful.

IMO, this is why baseball is great. No time limit. Play as long as you'd like.

 

As for Joe West and his comments, it is only going to make it worse when he's umping. The players will either take their time or he'll make them speed up. Either way someone will be upset.

Here is my simple way to speed up play and I am sure most of you won't agree at all. Instead of 3 strikes to K or 4 balls to walk, make it 2 and 3, respectively. Batters and pitchers will have to be ready to go from the first pitch. Starters will be able to pitch more innings, less relievers will speed up the game, I see no real downside.

 

Another way would be that the batter must enter the batters box at the direction of the umpire and can't exit the box, he must be prepared to hit at all times. The pitcher just throw the ball within an specified time(sort of a time clock) or he is assessed a ball. If you keep the batter in the box and the pitcher throwing, the game WILL speed up.

 

I like the second part of this post. The Reds had a player recently, Jerry Hairston Jr. that stepped out after every pitch. He would stretch, adjust his gloves and then take a couple of practice hacks. After every pitch. I was surprised he wasn't picking himself up off the ground more often.

Wasn't it Mike Hargrove that they used to call "The Human Rain Delay" back in the day?

Wasn't it Mike Hargrove that they used to call "The Human Rain Delay" back in the day?

 

Yep. Watched many a game with Grover's actions. (Actually had them memorized at one point in time!)

 

But, here would be my point...if the batter steps out of the box without asking for time (of if the ump denies giving him time), then it should be fair game for the pitcher to fire away. Likewise, if the pitcher is the one delaying, then umpires should starting assigning balls to the count. I just think there's ways that baseball can use the umpires to be more proactive, rather than just bystanders.