TIME TO CHANGE

Everyone knows that MLB games are too long.  Even Joe Torre found its length tiresome when he managed.  Thankfully, he’s involved with MLB in trying to fix or, at least, alleviate the issue.  MLB has implemented a plan which is being tested during the games that are currently played in the Arizona Fall League.

As much as I love baseball, even I feel the length of games has gotten ridiculous.  How many times do we have to watch players adjust each of their overabundant equipment?  The hitters re-strap their batting gloves, fiddle with their helmets, kick the batting box dirt, take practice swing after practice swing, etc.  The pitchers walk to the rosin bags way too often, walk off the pitching rubber while dazing around, throw to first when a runner is barely off the bag, stare at the catcher’s signals way too long, etc.

With all of these time-consumptions, it should not be surprising to most fans to learn that, 30 years ago, the average game time was 2 hours and 35 minutes, while this season the average time was approximately 3 hours and 3 minutes!  Furthermore, in 1964, a ball was averagely put into play at 2 minutes and 29 seconds.  Today, that occurs every 3 minutes and 30 seconds!

Here are the 6 Time-Saving Rules MLB is currently thinking about implementing:

1)  Batter’s Box - Batters will keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the at-bat.  Exceptions may include a foul ball/tip, an inside pitch that causes the batter to move outside the box, granted timeouts, wild pitches, passed balls, etc.

2)  No-Pitch Intentional Walks - A manager will simply signal to the home plate umpire with 4 fingers for intentional walks instead of the pitcher trying to throw 4 ridiculous out-of-the-strike-zone pitches.

3)  20-Second Clock - A 20-second clock will be in each dugout, behind home plate, and in the outfield where an independent operator will begin once the pitcher is in his standard ready mode.

4)  2 Minutes and 35 Seconds Inning Breaks - This rule’s timeframe is estimated because they have to work this one out with their all-important paying sponsors; but, whatever time is finalized, here's the estimated implementations:  they will enforce the hitters to enter the batter’s box at the proposed 2:15 mark or a strike will be called within the pitch count, while by the proposed 2:35 mark, the pitcher must make a pitch or a ball will be called within the pitch count.

5)  Pitching Changes Within 2 Minutes and 30 Seconds - The clock for this will begin once the pitcher enters the playing field (thought to be when he crosses the warning track and, again, if the pitcher fails to pitch by the limit, a ball will be called.

6)  3 Timeouts - No more than 3 timeouts (other than pitching changes or injuries) will be permitted collectively within a game, even if the game includes extra-innings.

Just like the instant replay, the enforcement of time limits in Major League Baseball is way overdue.  Professional sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and hockey all have clocks implementing specified time limits.  Even our own lives have time limits!  I like a lot of the ideas they’re trying in the Arizona League.  They could implement even more as “time” goes on such as expediting instant replay reviews.

Maybe if MLB ends up with games averaging around 2½ hours, they can gain more ratings for their games, playoffs, and World Series.  More importantly, maybe folks (especially the younger folks) will appreciate the shortened time enough to watch more innings and, perhaps even a full game!  Of course, I could keep writing about this, but my time has run out!!