MLB: Pace of play rules for 2018

[CyForPresident]

Football takes longer than baseball. You can’t make a baseball game 2 and a half hours. It just won’t happen this day and age unless they get rid of umpires calling balls and strikes. A definitive strike zone every game would make the game go so much faster.

Also, players strike out way more now which causes higher pitch counts and more pitching changes. Advanced metrics/“moneyball” have slowed down the game immensely.

Bull. 50 years ago games were like 90 minutes.

 

[cyfanatic13]

Bull. 50 years ago games were like 90 minutes.

When they weren't televised

 

[RonBurgundy]

I think they ought to do something like a 6 visit limit, but if the other team sends up a pinch hitter or subs in a pinch runner, the pitching team should be allowed another visit.

 

[CyForPresident]

When they weren't televised

I get that, but the idea that we can't take 30 minutes off games is complete ********.

 

[ca4cy]

When they weren't televised

And starters threw 20 complete games a year. Now the average game probably has 3 pitching changes.

 

[Cyclone.TV]

I always really liked Mike Francesca’s plan of only allowing a pitcher to throw over to a base once per AB. Think that would help a lot.

It seems people aren’t fans of Francesca.

 

[CycoCyclone]

As long as MLB keeps games over 3 hours and blacks out DSM for the Cubs playing in Pittsburgh, the interest and eyeballs will continue to wane.

 

[AllInForISU]

Bull. 50 years ago games were like 90 minutes.

Lol no. First of all games were never 90 minutes. A little under 2 hours is the shortest average time on record and that was in 1915 with, as stated, no TV (commercials) and when pitchers went the distance (less than 2 pitchers per game on average per team), also there were basically no pinch hitters (less than 1 per team a game) and warm ups between innings were drastically shorter. Good luck changing that now with TV and health related arguments for warming up.

 

[AllInForISU]

And starters threw 20 complete games a year. Now the average game probably has 3 pitching changes.

Last year the average was over 4 per game.

 

[Iastfan112]

Personally wish they'd implemented the pitch clock as well, some guys are just atrociously slow, but reasonable first steps here.

 

[CyForPresident]

Lol no. First of all games were never 90 minutes. A little under 2 hours is the shortest average time on record and that was in 1915 with, as stated, no TV (commercials) and when pitchers went the distance (less than 2 pitchers per game on average per team), also there were basically no pinch hitters (less than 1 per team a game) and warm ups between innings were drastically shorter. Good luck changing that now with TV and health related arguments for warming up.

You’re lying to yourself if you don’t think cutting 30 minutes is possible. Games are painfully slow at times.

 

[harimad]

I always really liked Mike Francesca’s plan of only allowing a pitcher to throw over to a base once per AB. Think that would help a lot.

Might as well just award second base to every batter that hits a single.

 

[Macloney]

As long as MLB keeps games over 3 hours and blacks out DSM for the Cubs playing in Pittsburgh, the interest and eyeballs will continue to wane.

Attendance is up, ratings are up, revenue is up. The owners are loving life right now.

 

[2020cy]

As stated before, keep them in the batting box. Your gloves don’t need to adjusted after every pitch, especially when you didn’t even swing the bat.

 

[Penguin]

LOL. I get every Cubs game on TV. Let me guess, you have Mediacom?

As long as MLB keeps games over 3 hours and blacks out DSM for the Cubs playing in Pittsburgh, the interest and eyeballs will continue to wane.

 

[Cyclone.TV]

Might as well just award second base to every batter that hits a single.

You guys must not know who mike Francesca is.

 

[CycoCyclone]

Attendance is up, ratings are up, revenue is up. The owners are loving life right now.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mauryb...evision-ratings-for-each-team/2/#185a67d063cc

17 of the 29 clubs saw ratings decline in '17 vs. '16

 

[ca4cy]

You’re lying to yourself if you don’t think cutting 30 minutes is possible. Games are painfully slow at times.

I think it's possible but it would mean giving up ad money and I doubt that's going to happen. Have managers make pitching changes from the duggout and give relief pitchers 5 warm up pitches....make a total time limit/game for mound visits etc etc. But again, that means less/shorter commercial breaks. Is that going to fly?

Also, you'd probably have to forgo a lot of it in September and the postseason.

 

[VeloClone]

I think it's possible but it would mean giving up ad money and I doubt that's going to happen. Have managers make pitching changes from the duggout and give relief pitchers 5 warm up pitches....make a total time limit/game for mound visits etc etc. But again, that means less/shorter commercial breaks. Is that going to fly?

Also, you'd probably have to forgo a lot of it in September and the postseason.

There are about 300 pitches in the average major league game so a pitch clock could help, especially with some of the more methodical pitchers. Shave off 3 seconds between pitches and you just saved about 15 minutes.

 

[ca4cy]

There are about 300 pitches in the average major league game so a pitch clock could help, especially with some of the more methodical pitchers. Shave off 3 seconds between pitches and you just saved about 15 minutes.

I'd be fine with a pitch clock. I see no reason why it shouldn't be instituted as it should automatically eliminate the human rain delay guys that step out of the batters box incessantly as well.