Speeding up the game

[formerly33]

Baseball, America's national pastime, has always been a timeless sport.  However, it is now experimenting with quickening the games by putting itself on the clock (or more than one clock, as the case seems to be).  This has proved to be an extremely controversial subject among baseball fans, and I will briefly share my thoughts on it by covering a few of the basic rules that immediately come to mind:  preventing batters from adjusting their batting gloves more than once per at-bat, adding a pitching clock, and limiting the amount of trips to the mound in a single game to three.

 

First of all, I personally don’t have a problem with batters adjusting their batting gloves more than once while they’re in the box. They might as well make the pitchers stop using rosin more than once in an inning.  I think most people, especially young children, have experienced the discomfort of tying their shoes and a few moments later discovering that it doesn't feel right.  Lots of kids have melt-downs unless they can adjust the laces.  Batting gloves are no different; though adult baseball players won't have melt-downs on the field because they can't adjust them, they will still be frustrated and uncomfortable.

 

When it comes to the pitching clock, I can make quite a few points about its complete redundancy.  According to the Official Baseball Rules, a balk can be called when the pitcher unnecessarily delays the game, so adding a clock is really completely unnecessary. Also, a balk can be called when the pitcher delivers a quick return, which is likely what will happen now.  I especially hate the way a ball or strike is called if the pitcher/batter takes too long (over a mere twenty seconds, to be exact), because then the pitcher will have supposedly thrown more pitches than he really has, and he might walk a batter and have to face another when he could have gotten the strikeout to end the inning.  Also, I’ve watched several Arizona Fall League games using this new rule, and I’ve noticed that after a pitch the catchers will frequently throw down to first to give the pitcher more time to get ready for the next pitch, and when the pitcher is running out of time, he’ll do a quick pick-off throw (whether it’s necessary or not), and that delays the game, too.

 

The very worst rule of all, though, is the one stating that there can only be three trips to the mound in one game (with the exception of pulling pitchers). Sometimes when games are getting out of control, all a pitcher needs is a trip to the mound to relax and get his act together. Now teams will be forced to change pitchers instead, which will in turn take longer than a quick trip to the mound would have.  Trips to the mound don't take very long, and umpires can break them up at liberty.  Since this rule will result in more pitchers used per game, teams should definitely be allowed to place more pitchers on their rosters.

 

Obviously, then, speeding up the sport will only cause disorder because it will create problems for baseball players that they never had to deal with before.  Not being able to adjust their batting gloves more than once in an at-bat will cause discomfort and distract from the game; pitching with a time clock will create a rushed atmosphere and bring up complications that will lengthen the game; finally, limiting the amount of trips to the mound will make it necessary to have more players on the roster, which results in higher payrolls.  I can’t even begin to understand why they don’t let the players vote on these new rules (and it should only be able to pass if it leads by 67%); it’s the players who will be affected the most by it. However, I have come to the conclusion that baseball is being catered to the United States of ADHD.

[JB_Iowa]

Heard some good things about some of the measures being used in the AFL.  There's room for experimentation and enforcing existing rules.  I would welcome shorter games.

 

I do not have ADHD and I find your reference somwhat uncalled for.

 

I just want nice, crisp games.

[formerly33]

I'm sorry for making a seemingly offensive comment.  Maybe not ADHD, but definitely ADD.  You may not have it, but my guess is that most people who can't pay attention during 3 hours of excitement must have ADD.

[JB_Iowa]

Part of the problem is that its not 3 hours of excitement.  It's bursts of excitement interspersed with a lot of fidgeting, stalling and delays,

 

I love the ebb and flow of baseball games -- I just want some of them to flow more smoothly.

[ashbury]

Part of the problem is that its not 3 hours of excitement.  It's bursts of excitement interspersed with a lot of fidgeting, stalling and delays,

 

I love the ebb and flow of baseball games -- I just want some of them to flow more smoothly.

Yes, to me it's about the balance in the game.  I wouldn't want extreme measures taken so that it's like a pitch-and-catch game between the, well, pitcher and catcher.   And I have little sympathy for people who don't have the patience to watch a 3-1 count develop without the bat being taken off the shoulder.  But for me, the unzip-and-zip of the velcro on the batting glove after each pitch could be done without; if it's a mechanism to remind the batter to focus on each pitch, find a different mechanism please.

[brvama]

Establishing rules sometimes is counter-productive and it would be better if the players would make an effort to speed up the game. But I doubt that would happen and any vote you suggest would likely keep the status quo IMHO. Rules always end up being implemented b/c a few people take advantage of the situation - true in life also.

 

Now regarding the pitchers clock, 20 seconds may be a bit short and most pitchers generally don't fool around. Those that do have more negative effect on their teammates in the field. I think the league would be wise to have the umps push it along. But I'm generally neutral on this.

 

It has been my observation that the batters hold up the game more than anything. This constant fidgeting, adjusting gloves, calling time to get the proper placement of feet, etc. is annoying. Get in there and hit. They should be allowed to look for signs for vairous plays, but come on, beyond that becomes a ritual of the ridiculous. It's a cat and mouse game that needs to stop. I fault the umps for not getting them in the box.

 

I do agree with you Sharon, on the trips to the mound however. But even that has limits - one per inning should suffice. I remember in the "good old days" the infielders would make trips to the mound to settle down the pitcher.

[JB_Iowa]

Concern is also over increasing length.  See chart:

 

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/mlb-games-length-three-hours-pace-of-play

[formerly33]

Thanks for the link.  I think it's good that they brought up the issue of instant replay.  That has a lot of pros and cons.  For instance, today I watched game 5 of the 2002 ALDS, and there were a few plays that would have gone differently if there had been instant replay then.  That is the positive aspect of it.  On the other hand, it delays the game and destroys momentum.  I wonder if they will make a rule that if a manager comes out he has to challenge rather than waiting to be told whether it's worth it.  But that would also have pros and cons.  It's hard to say what's better.

 

I do believe that there are delays that should be stopped, but I would much rather have the umpires crack down on it than adding a clock.  I do enjoy long games, though, and went to a game this year that had a 66 minute rain delay (a non-preventable delay in an outdoor stadium), and I enjoyed every minute of it.  However, even though I enjoy "long and boring" (in the words of Anthony Rendon), I shouldn't "label" people who think differently than me.  Maybe I should just go watch the History Channel.

[formerly33]

Another thought - would Rick Anderson be a great pitching coach again if the game sped up?

[JB_Iowa]

Another thought - would Rick Anderson be a great pitching coach again if the game sped up?

 

You do know how to open a can of worms 

 

BTW, here's a link to the things being tested in the AFL -- doesn't have to be a clock:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/mlb-will-test-six-initiatives-to-speed-up-games-during-arizona-fall-league-000916732.html

[formerly33]

Thanks!  I may not be happy with every new rule, but as long as they keep the clock out:/

[biggentleben]

Thanks!  I may not be happy with every new rule, but as long as they keep the clock out:/

 

Clock is already in the rule book.  There is a 12-second time that the pitcher has to deliver a pitch that is not being enforced, but it's already in the rule book.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Clock is already in the rule book.  There is a 12-second time that the pitcher has to deliver a pitch that is not being enforced, but it's already in the rule book.

But MLB is discussing mounting actual clocks, like basketball shot clocks, behind home plate and in the outfield. That's the clock that has absolutely no place in baseball.

[ashbury]

You do know how to open a can of worms 

It's Sharon's thread.

[Willihammer]

I can think of about a dozen things, most of them pretty obvious, that MLB oughtta try before mounting a ****ing shot clock.

[brvama]

All this speed up stuff for a time savings of 8 minutes. My goodness, I stand around scratching my head trying to remember what I am doing here longer than that every day. It's stupid. I am all for improving the pace of the game, more for the momentum and flow, not necessarily the length. IMO the umps have enough things to do (and improve on) then to monitor clocks. Baseball is not a game of time - if it were there would be no long extra inning games. Hey, maybe they could do away with extra innings and add ties to the wins and losses.

[Platoon]

No one has mentioned the commercial breaks. I read somewhere that their length has been increased over the years? Even 30 seconds per is 8.5 minutes.

[formerly33]

 

I am all for improving the pace of the game, more for the momentum and flow, not necessarily the length.

That is completely fine with me! I don't care for it when other teams purposefully break up flow.

 

 

Clock is already in the rule book.  There is a 12-second time that the pitcher has to deliver a pitch that is not being enforced, but it's already in the rule book.

I am well aware of this rule, which is why I said that I would rather have the umpires crack down on it than adding a clock. My point is that baseball is a timeless game and should remain so. Umpires have discretion and should use it more often. But don't put them on a clock, please.

 

And by the way, there are other "clocks", such as the rule about setting up for at least one second, bringing the hands together and holding them at least one second, etc. before throwing the pitch.

 

Did I mention that if they do bring in a clock, fans will shout "three, two, one" when it's really "seven, six, five" to confuse the pitcher and break up momentum? That is one of my greatest fears since no one will be able to stop them. And pitchers can't keep their eyes on the clock 100% of the time.