This is the best that baseball could (or would) do? The game is too long and often boring. So no, I don't generally watch it, but I sometimes get roped into doing so. I don't need "educating" about the game - I get it, it's just slow and boring. 9 innings is too long; 7 would be plenty, with up to 10 if there's a tie. If there's still a tie after 10 innings then so be it - it's a tie. There are more than enough games in a season for there to be a few ties. I have better things to do with my time on a nice summer day than spend 3+ hours sitting in a stadium watching a baseball game in which nothing happens, while buying (or not) grossly overpriced food and drinks. Until there is a meaningful effort to speed up the game I will be spending my time and money elsewhere, thanks!
In an instantaneous, techno-functional, immediate gratification world, why rush the last vestige of relaxation?
1
How many times is there an intentional walk during a game? They really believe this will help speed up the action? What utter bull.
How about eliminating the 7 warm-up pitches when there is a pitching change?
Shortening the time between innings by at least 60 seconds.
Setting a time clock similar in basketball between pitches. A pitcher must throw within 30 seconds or it's counted as a ball.
If the powers that be were really serious about tightening up the game they would come up with much more than the intentional walk item.
How about eliminating the 7 warm-up pitches when there is a pitching change?
Shortening the time between innings by at least 60 seconds.
Setting a time clock similar in basketball between pitches. A pitcher must throw within 30 seconds or it's counted as a ball.
If the powers that be were really serious about tightening up the game they would come up with much more than the intentional walk item.
To be perfectly honest, after last year's World Series between the Cubs and the Indians, my heart is still pounding from the excitement, extra innings, rain delays, tied scores, little sleep during the entire series, . . . I will take slow, easy pace and blob along innings any time. If someone wants a speedy sport - stick to hockey or broomball or the Daytona 500. Leave the leisure and slow pace baseball sport to lounge lizards like me.
2
Baseball is a slow sport. it was created for those lazy summer days. There was a time when the manager could only go to the mound once a game to talk to a pitcher, second time the pitcher was out. Too much is made on Home Runs. That's why no one is capable to bunt any more. Forget about moving the game along. Start in the minors everyone needs to be able to bunt, and move the runner in scoring position. Guys like Mickey and Willie were sure able to bunt when needed. Make contact move the runners and baseball will be exciting. They want the replay rule and now it takes too long. Do they really know what they want besides attendance?
As I told solicitors from your "Sports" email, the biggest change the game needs is smaller pitching staffs. Managers and GMs have given 12-13 spots on a roster to pitchers and specialized their roles, so much that it has changed the pitching/hitting balance and slowed the game down. Limit staffs to 10 pitchers (transition from 11 to 10 in 2 yrs) so that managers have less incentive to change pitchers during a game and pitchers will have to train to throw longer in games (maybe 1 or 2 will be 1-inning specialists). The non-pitching lobby in the MLBPA might support this, but all fans should do so--changes in the game resulting from larger staffs should be reversed by these limits.
I agree with many others shorten commercial breaks. Shortening time for manager to ask for replay is a good idea. While they are at it don't allow the umpires in the last two innings to decide there should be a look at replay. The umpires are correct over 90% of the time, they are not perfect and that is part of the game.
It's not the game that's slow, it's the people playing it. Go back to having a 20-second pitch clock run by an official whose only job is to keep an eye on it. If the pitcher hasn't thrown a pitch by the time the the clock gets to zero, call a ball. If the batter isn't ready to hit when the pitch comes, tough. And there's no calling time by ANYONE to stop the clock.
The problem isn't the length of the games as much as the lack of action for extended periods during the games. If the rule book strike zone were enforced, it would mean fewer foul balls on off the plate pitches, more high strikes and fewer pitches per batter. Home plate umpires crouch behind the catcher and can't see either the plate or the batters' knees, unlike just about everyone else in the ballpark. They are just guessing on balls and strikes and none of them get it right. The first solution would be to equip the umpires with balloon chest protectors and have them stand upright. If that doesn't work, go to an electronic ball-strike system. Even having the second base umpire call balls and strikes would be better than what we have now.
Baseball is a slow-moving, at times boring, game. That is its appeal - to fly in the face of our rapid-paced society.
Oh boy, no more 4 pitches for an intentional walk. I can hear young people all over the country now clamoring for baseball, how do I catch the fever.
The whole point of any sporting event or contest is EXECUTION, can I or my team do something better than you or yours.
Dellin Betances will love this, last season Girardi called off an intentional walk because he couldn't EXECUTE it efficiently.
Here's another idea to speed things up. A sacrifice bunt when EXECUTED correctly results in both teams getting what they want, the offense gets a runner to second base, and the defense records an out, any lack of EXECUTION on the part of either team results in an advantage for one side. So let's save time- the manager of the team at bat announces "sacrifice" the base runner goes to second, the batter returns to the dugout and an out is posted on the scoreboard. We can speed things up a whole lot more- 2 outs instead of 3- 3 balls/2 strikes vs 4&3, 7 innings vs 9 innings.
Leave baseball alone Commisioner, I have faith in today's young people, in time as they age, I'm confident they will come to appreciate the wonderful charms of the "beautiful game" all due respect to Futbol.
The whole point of any sporting event or contest is EXECUTION, can I or my team do something better than you or yours.
Dellin Betances will love this, last season Girardi called off an intentional walk because he couldn't EXECUTE it efficiently.
Here's another idea to speed things up. A sacrifice bunt when EXECUTED correctly results in both teams getting what they want, the offense gets a runner to second base, and the defense records an out, any lack of EXECUTION on the part of either team results in an advantage for one side. So let's save time- the manager of the team at bat announces "sacrifice" the base runner goes to second, the batter returns to the dugout and an out is posted on the scoreboard. We can speed things up a whole lot more- 2 outs instead of 3- 3 balls/2 strikes vs 4&3, 7 innings vs 9 innings.
Leave baseball alone Commisioner, I have faith in today's young people, in time as they age, I'm confident they will come to appreciate the wonderful charms of the "beautiful game" all due respect to Futbol.
1
The times, they are not really a-changing. Saving time by eliminating throwing intentional walk pitches? Last year there were 932 IBB's in the regular season, over the 2,428 regular season games. that comes out to an average of 0.38 IBB per game. A typical IBB takes 1 minute and 15 seconds. So, this saves the average game a whopping 28 seconds.
Literally it would save more time to remove the verbs from Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
Literally it would save more time to remove the verbs from Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
1
If people think baseball is too slow, then why do they watch it?They should just watch basketball.
Leave the game alone. It's discouraging that all these ridiculous changes are made solely in the name of the almighty dollar.
Leave the game alone. It's discouraging that all these ridiculous changes are made solely in the name of the almighty dollar.
1
Mr. Commissioner...The elephant in the room is Baseball being held captive to the millions of dollars the TV money that influence the game. The extra commercial time between innings, the start times of games, especially games switched to Sunday night all help to make the average fan avert baseball. If a Sunday afternoon game is switched to Sunday night, how are younger fans going to be exposed to the game? If a World Series game starts at 8:30PM, it will end close to midnight on the East Coast. This is due to all the commercials in between innings that last roughly 3 minutes.
1
If MLB wants to speed up games, they should first figure out how much time is being used on different parts of the game. I'm talking about actual measurements, not speculation. They could pay people to watch games and measure the time that batters spend stepping out of the box, that pitchers wait before delivering a pitch, that managers spend visiting the mound, etc. They could compare short games with long games to see where the differences are. They could even use video to measure time spent in historic games to see how things have changed over the years.
Without actual data, attempts to speed up the game will just be stabs in the dark.
Without actual data, attempts to speed up the game will just be stabs in the dark.
Terrible idea to eliminate pitches for intentional walks. As many have said already, things can happen on those pitches. And, this will likely not save any time anyway. As a former pitcher, I can tell you that if a manager makes this call without consulting a pitcher, he's going to have a very angry pitcher on his hands. No, the time is spent in meetings on the mound and pitching changes. Please reconsider this ill-advised decision.
4
Biggest change in baseball is the money. Shameless they do not deal with the commercials.
1
Professional sports do not seem to get it. Perhaps they will when they look at the decrease in viewership for all sports and the empty seats at the stadiums. They will change when it affects the bottom line and not before.
1
Fans who argue for the 4 pitch intentional walk are suffering from the psychological bias that makes the surprising event (wild pitch, hit) seem like a frequent or likely event. The only one I can remember is that World Series strikeout and it is memorable only for its rarity.
Why won't they look at the real reason games are longer than they used to be? The owners and their TV partners are so greedy for profits that they've lengthened the games with more time between innings for commercials.
The punitive behavior of the owners towards fans--from their taxpayer-funded stadia to the late-evening game starts, November(???) World Series play, insanely high ticket prices, parking and concessions are far more uncomfortable for the idiot fans to confront than revelling in their nostalgic excursions to a mythical past and their faulty memories of their youthful experience of the great game.
Why won't they look at the real reason games are longer than they used to be? The owners and their TV partners are so greedy for profits that they've lengthened the games with more time between innings for commercials.
The punitive behavior of the owners towards fans--from their taxpayer-funded stadia to the late-evening game starts, November(???) World Series play, insanely high ticket prices, parking and concessions are far more uncomfortable for the idiot fans to confront than revelling in their nostalgic excursions to a mythical past and their faulty memories of their youthful experience of the great game.
2
I always thought it would be more fun for the pitcher to toss an eephus pitch and lightly tap the batter with it.
3
The whole selling point of baseball, as opposed to basketball and football, is is its unpredictability. Nobody knows what's going to happen until the pitcher throws the ball and the batter hits it - or doesn’t. I've seen batters step in to an intentional ball and knock in a couple of runs, and runners score on a passed ball that was supposed to be an intentional walk. What Major League Baseball has now done will not speed up the game significantly, but it will certainly make it more predictable and boring.
3
The most boring, time-consuming events are the batters hitting fouls. Limit the fouls allowed to a reasonable number. I've seen batters hit 5 or more fouls in a row. Time those plate appearances with a stopwatch and you.ll find that the time wasted can be far greater than the kind of tactical maneuvers like mound conferences.
Don Drysdale had the solution to the intentional walk. He just threw the ball straight at the batter. "Why waste four pitches," he said, "when one pitch will do the job."
5
MLB should seek out advice from Jim Kaat, Steve Carlton; both pitchers were involved in games clocking in under two hours
3
The game is slowed down by lengthy commercial interruption every change of pitcher and after every three outs. Who are they fooling with this silly new rule?
8
You really want a shorter, more exciting game? Starting pitcher. Relief pitcher. Closer. Period. No more chess game with human pieces marching on and off the field, warm-up pitches, commercial breaks. Surely three guys can make it through nine innings.
And then bring back the four pitch intentional walk and the rare, but exciting, batter who makes contact; and the pitcher who can't find the mitt and sends it sailing to the backstop.
And then bring back the four pitch intentional walk and the rare, but exciting, batter who makes contact; and the pitcher who can't find the mitt and sends it sailing to the backstop.
The game ain’t broke, so don’t try to fix it. Keep the intentional walk as is. Things happen. That’s a large part of the beauty of baseball.
The viewing public is the problem. Let’s not kid ourselves, they’ve got the time. They’ll watch two, three football games in a row. Their attention span is just wired for noise and lights and wham-bang action. Fix that if you can.
Ah, well. No one reads poetry, so why should they watch baseball? Just going to ruin it for everyone.
The viewing public is the problem. Let’s not kid ourselves, they’ve got the time. They’ll watch two, three football games in a row. Their attention span is just wired for noise and lights and wham-bang action. Fix that if you can.
Ah, well. No one reads poetry, so why should they watch baseball? Just going to ruin it for everyone.
10
MLB authorities move with the alacrity of the Vatican. With devout eyes the sport's silk-suited overseers dimly insist that the only path forward is through the Medieval past.
Baseball is slow. And its exorbitantly-paid players are pampered crybabies who, when pushed in a corner for their lack of spirit, repeat the mantra that "baseball is first and foremost a business". Who wants to root for these genetically-gifted, publicity-minded blockheads? The devoted flock in the stands (and in front of the TV screen) predictably gets thinner every year. The number of people willing to pay to walk through unkempt cathedrals gets smaller every year.
MLB executive and the sponsors who are their true partners have a stale, one-dimensional imperative: preserving profits and reducing risk. If these $200-dinner-every-night fat cats fail to change the game for a new audience they'll watch their properties diminish and disappear, just like the neighborhood churches.
Baseball is slow. And its exorbitantly-paid players are pampered crybabies who, when pushed in a corner for their lack of spirit, repeat the mantra that "baseball is first and foremost a business". Who wants to root for these genetically-gifted, publicity-minded blockheads? The devoted flock in the stands (and in front of the TV screen) predictably gets thinner every year. The number of people willing to pay to walk through unkempt cathedrals gets smaller every year.
MLB executive and the sponsors who are their true partners have a stale, one-dimensional imperative: preserving profits and reducing risk. If these $200-dinner-every-night fat cats fail to change the game for a new audience they'll watch their properties diminish and disappear, just like the neighborhood churches.
Just wait - now that intentional walks are sped up, next year baseball will add more time between innings for more commercials.
2
Baseball needs to stop picking on its self! The game is fine! We do not play by a clock. Tweaking is okay. But again Major League Baseball stop picking on the game and its player and promote the game. By the way:
An average professional football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes, but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes.
So much for, four 15 minute quarters with a 15 half-time break. If I do the math that comes out to one hour and 15 minutes. I forgot the 3-time outs per team, per half. That must be where the other one hour of time is used.
An average professional football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes, but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes.
So much for, four 15 minute quarters with a 15 half-time break. If I do the math that comes out to one hour and 15 minutes. I forgot the 3-time outs per team, per half. That must be where the other one hour of time is used.
1
There's no crying or shortening of baseball. It's baseball Jake.
The summer is miserably long as it is...why further the pain.
Skip NFL - go to Stanley Cup Finals - go to NBA Finals - Start Baseball again.
Go Cubs.
The summer is miserably long as it is...why further the pain.
Skip NFL - go to Stanley Cup Finals - go to NBA Finals - Start Baseball again.
Go Cubs.
1
I've been a Giants fan since age 8, now in my 70's I have a lifetime of memories (and now just getting ready to head off to spring training in Scottsdale). Why would anyone want to speed up baseball? That's part of its charm: a leisurely summer afternoon with friends and family discussing pitching styles and blunders at the plate and elsewhere. About 20 years ago I watched one of the longest games on record (I know it involved the Padres) with my mother. It started at 5 p.m., at 2 a.m. I rose to retire whence my stately mother unleashed her withering disdain. I simply sat back down to watch the 17th inning. It was memorable.
3
The great thing about baseball is the relative continuity that has had over a century. Tinkering with it just takes away from that.
'' Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you have a look around," you'll say. "It's only twenty dollars per person." They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack.
...
And they'll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they'd dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces.
---
People will come, Ray.
---
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come. ''
Stop tinkering.
'' Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you have a look around," you'll say. "It's only twenty dollars per person." They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack.
...
And they'll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they'd dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces.
---
People will come, Ray.
---
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come. ''
Stop tinkering.
6
I think the pitcher SHOULD have to make the four intentional walk pitches. My team has both lost games and benefitted from a pitch thrown away with runner on third... it's why you play the game.
I don'tsee the NFL worried about wasted time icing a kicker, and don't even.get me started on how long it takes for the last two minutes of a basketball game.
I don'tsee the NFL worried about wasted time icing a kicker, and don't even.get me started on how long it takes for the last two minutes of a basketball game.
2
+1 for ridiculous. There are the hard core fans, then there are the more casual fans, all pretty reliable. The problem is MLB can't be satisfied with that, they want MORE. And that means they will keep working to wreck the game (I have seen some great things happen with a big league pitcher trying to throw four balls) in order to get more market share. MLB needs to re-dedicate itself to The Game, and quit messing with it!
2
The first change should be the elimination of the designated hitter. Let's have AL pitchers hit again!
Let the strike zone actually consist of arm pits to knees, not the accepted belt to the knees.
Let the umpires give notice to the batters that mucking about during an AB will not be tolerated. They should give the pitchers free rein to actually pitch when they're ready. Whether the batters are ready or not.
Play Ball!
Let the strike zone actually consist of arm pits to knees, not the accepted belt to the knees.
Let the umpires give notice to the batters that mucking about during an AB will not be tolerated. They should give the pitchers free rein to actually pitch when they're ready. Whether the batters are ready or not.
Play Ball!
Agree.............no more stepping out of the box after every pitch! Can you imagine how much this would speed up the game? This should have been one of the most important edicts.
Oh please. These are all silly little tweaks.
What a real fix, and in the process, make baseball more exciting? Make the game seven innings long. It's easier on the players, the umpires, the fans, and the viewers. Nine innings is utter overkill.
What a real fix, and in the process, make baseball more exciting? Make the game seven innings long. It's easier on the players, the umpires, the fans, and the viewers. Nine innings is utter overkill.
Aside from the intentional walk....Has anyone asked the pitchers themselves if a faster game is desirable? Do they want (and do we want them) to pitch hastily? (Ans: I suppose the effect on pitchers has been considered, but I've not seen it discussed.)
Games will not be over any quicker. The time saved on these few seconds will be allocated to what's really important (you know what that is, or, they are.).
1
I have been a baseball fan since I used to go to the Polo Grounds to watch the Mets. This is an absurd rule change that will have zero affect on 90+% of the games. It takes about a minute to intentionally walk a player.
To save that minute, the rule destroys the enjoyment of the fans hoping to see the pitcher throw a wild pitch or hoping to see the batter take a swing at a too close pitch.
The only way the game can be seriously sped up is to drop the 4 balls 3 strike rule in favor of a 3 balls and 2 strike rule or maybe a 3-3 rule but no real fan wants to go there. At least this one doesn't.
Baseball is a game that quite simply just takes time.
Sit back, relax, check out the halter tops and have a dog and a brew or two or three. Life is too fast anyway.
To save that minute, the rule destroys the enjoyment of the fans hoping to see the pitcher throw a wild pitch or hoping to see the batter take a swing at a too close pitch.
The only way the game can be seriously sped up is to drop the 4 balls 3 strike rule in favor of a 3 balls and 2 strike rule or maybe a 3-3 rule but no real fan wants to go there. At least this one doesn't.
Baseball is a game that quite simply just takes time.
Sit back, relax, check out the halter tops and have a dog and a brew or two or three. Life is too fast anyway.
2
Leave baseball alone, please. I don't know who wants a faster game; I certainly don't. Part of the pleasure of baseball is its pace, giving me a chance to sit back and just enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the ball park. Always an afternoon, by the way. Always a weekday as well. Because if you aren't missing work when you go to the ball game, you are missing half the point.
7
Great. Now the games will be finished in 3:03 instead of 3:04.
4
I have no faith that any time saved will be given up to commercial time between innings in the near future.
I'm a huge baseball fan and I do not like it. At least 40-50 times a season, the pitcher throws away the ball during a IW and the runner goes to second or a runner scores. I have even see batters swing at them when they get too close.
This "speeds up the game" ? and makes the game a little bit less fun.
No more.
This "speeds up the game" ? and makes the game a little bit less fun.
No more.
1
How idiotic to save maybe 20 seconds of time to eliminate the pitches thrown during an intentional walk, as if these walks happen all the time, anyway. I liked watching them with the anticipation of a pitch going awry.
Let's talk about the late innings when a starting pitcher is removed (commercial break) to bring in a relief pitcher who pitches to one batter (another commercial break), only to have another pitcher come in who may pitch to one or two batters (again, commercial break), and the process becomes too unbearable to watch?
Let's talk about the late innings when a starting pitcher is removed (commercial break) to bring in a relief pitcher who pitches to one batter (another commercial break), only to have another pitcher come in who may pitch to one or two batters (again, commercial break), and the process becomes too unbearable to watch?
1
1. Get rid of some of the commercials.
2. Go to three balls and three strikes.
3. Go from nine innings to eight. (If the US Supreme Court can make do with eight inside of nine, so can baseball)
2. Go to three balls and three strikes.
3. Go from nine innings to eight. (If the US Supreme Court can make do with eight inside of nine, so can baseball)
5
1. No way a TV station is going to reduce commercials.
2/3 that would be a tectonic shift to how the game is played.
2/3 that would be a tectonic shift to how the game is played.
Ridiculous - one that I love about baseball is the timing of the game, the way the little things are important. If I wanted to watch something fast paced I'd watch a race. Leave it alone. The game has already been somewhat ruined for me with all the pitcher changes at the end - I remember when pitchers actually pitched.
19
Faith, I totally agree. And I don't like this walking without pitch-outs, because in regular pitching to the intentional walker some odd thing could always happen, maybe once in a millenium like a real pitch-out, a passed ball,etc. Just signaling seems completely against everything that goes on in the game, and it stops the pitchers momentum. Who came up with such an inane rule? And who says the games are too long?
1
Here is how it should be:
Do an international walk on the first at bat (i.e. Mike Trout) and he goes to 1st base. Do this on his 2nd at bat and he advances to 2nd base, still scared of Trout, and walk him on his 3rd at bat and he marches to the 3rd base.
This will take care of the REAL intentional walk issue once and for all. Nothing bothers me more when a really good and/or hot player has no opportunity to show of his skills.
Do an international walk on the first at bat (i.e. Mike Trout) and he goes to 1st base. Do this on his 2nd at bat and he advances to 2nd base, still scared of Trout, and walk him on his 3rd at bat and he marches to the 3rd base.
This will take care of the REAL intentional walk issue once and for all. Nothing bothers me more when a really good and/or hot player has no opportunity to show of his skills.
3
Errr, it's fairly rare that some isn't intentionally walked unless the situation directly calls for it, i.e. setting up a double play and when a pitcher is due to bat next. Aside from the few instances with Bonds, blatantly walking a player outside of a strategic movement is absurdly rare.
1
JW, I understand your point of view, but the intentional walk is a part of a managers strategic plan. I don't mean to take this to the point of absurdity, but what is wrong, then, with returning to the rule that allowed a batter to select the location of a pitch? Would you not allow a relief pitcher to come in until after your favorite player has batted? All the manager would do is call for an "unintentional" intentional walk. Besides, I a manager can force a pitcher to throw strikes, wouldn't they already be doing so? Again, I respect your viewpoint, but I think it's impractical.
Has anyone actually timed an intentional walk? It takes about a minute (maybe), and occurs about once every other game. This is the best they could do to speed up the game?
Certain factors that slow down baseball can't be changed. The rarity of complete games, and the increased use of relievers at specific moments of a game (as opposed to when things go wrong), is a matter of strategy - that's how managers think they will win. But they could alleviate that a little by bringing back the golf cart to take the reliever to the mound, and not letting him throw warmup pitches once he's there (he should have warmed up in the bullpen). That should cut the time of a pitching change by more than half.
I would suggest cutting down on commercials, but how else would they afford the current level of salaries?
Please don't do anything drastic to change the game. I'd rather put up with slow play than watch a different sport.
Certain factors that slow down baseball can't be changed. The rarity of complete games, and the increased use of relievers at specific moments of a game (as opposed to when things go wrong), is a matter of strategy - that's how managers think they will win. But they could alleviate that a little by bringing back the golf cart to take the reliever to the mound, and not letting him throw warmup pitches once he's there (he should have warmed up in the bullpen). That should cut the time of a pitching change by more than half.
I would suggest cutting down on commercials, but how else would they afford the current level of salaries?
Please don't do anything drastic to change the game. I'd rather put up with slow play than watch a different sport.
10
Dear Who, If you watch the older games rebroadcast on ESPN (from the 60s -80s), you'll notice that batters stayed in the box between pitches. The trend to step out of the box between pitches began in the 90's s a tactic to slow a pitcher down and possibly disrupt his timing. Again, tactics and trategy is the culprit, not the game itslf.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the state of baseball in America. As far as ballpark attendance, the game has not seen huge declines...but in an age of television where the NBA and NFL seems to command a king's ransom, the regionality of baseball, outside of a few major teams, may preclude the game every achieving the same tv success. The problems are more over-reaction by management and the fact that they've allowed the inmates to run the asylum. The players don't want doubleheader, or day games and they refuse to accept changes such as enforcing pitch times and restricting batters ability to stand and preen for the crowd between every pitch. The desperation moves such as inter-league play, instant replay, all-star game with a purpose and now the intentional walk indiocy only adds to the perception of a dying game. Perhaps a few less $250 million contracts to average players and a bit more investment in nice ball fields in inner city and poor rural communities might help. Short of allowing the players to hit each other with the ball and bats, the game will never translate the same on tv as the NFL and the NBA....the charm of the game was in being able to afford to attend home games, spending a summer afternoon (not late night) with the kids at the ballpark, the joy of a Sunday Doubleheader and a world series that didn't have to worry too much about whether it would snow or whether the game on the East Coast would end before 2am....
9
I agree. The game itself is the beauty of baseball. If you want speed, watch the recaps on TV.
Batters should not be allowed out of the batters box. Umpires should not grant time outs automatically. Other sports have a limit on the number of time outs. Manager or catcher going to speak with the pitcher is condsidered a time out.
2
With the time people save watching speeded up baseball they can watch more speeded up golf...
But seriously, the culture has changed, more people want to participate in outdoor activities, not just watch overpaid athletes, at over priced sports events that were popular for prior generations. An actual working class person today can't afford to attend a baseball game.
And if you're really having trouble falling asleep, don't tune into baseball or golf (although that would work), for faster results start reading a book by someone who's written tens of thousands of works about the good old days at Ebbets Field, how great it was....zzzzzzzzzz
But seriously, the culture has changed, more people want to participate in outdoor activities, not just watch overpaid athletes, at over priced sports events that were popular for prior generations. An actual working class person today can't afford to attend a baseball game.
And if you're really having trouble falling asleep, don't tune into baseball or golf (although that would work), for faster results start reading a book by someone who's written tens of thousands of works about the good old days at Ebbets Field, how great it was....zzzzzzzzzz
2
Baseball has a way of being outside of time that is itself a part of the game. It resists interruption for commercial breaks and requires a kind of close attention that, especially when I take my scorebook to the park, allows me - in a city that requires me to spend most of my days buried in a swirl of email and screen time and fast-paced everything - to focus and feel awe, surprise, suspense, delight (and despair) with every pitch. Eliminating chance to save time seems like a tiny bit of sacrilege. Having some things take time, vary, and be unpredictable even in all their relative predictability is something we could stand to savor.
10
Eloquently put. I couldn't agree more!
1
Please leave the game alone. For those who are too impatient they can go elsewhere. The beauty of the game is its pace. Please don't mess with that.
13
Even throwing those slow wide pitches for an intentional walk can be interesting; that is still a live ball. Bases can be stolen and the batter can actually take a swing and hit the ball (it has happened before) or even strike out (and there are reasons when this is a good strategy). Not a fan of removing the real intentional walk from the game.
9
Some us watch baseball to watch the grass grow. It happens just as fast as the game.
2
If the game is too slow for you, do something else. Go for a jog, read a book.
Sport in general( and baseball in particular) are difficult to rebrand, especially when trying to compete with the hyper-speed of our digital age. Certainly, one can market to the young by speeding up content or hyping that you deem "hip" but once you rebrand a classic product, you will lose your core audience (see "ESPN"). Baseball has lasted more than a century because its slow pace compliments its action and connects so easily to its past. Engaged fans can easily compare the stats (and magic) of Mike Trout to Willie Mays and even back to Rogers Hornsby. In advertising jargon THIS connection and nostalgic quality IS the "steak" and not the "sizzle". Our generation monkeys with lots of classic things, too often in the hopes of growing revenue. With baseball, perhaps its very nature as an iconic (and nostalgic) pastime suggests that you fix it most often by leaving it alone? What if, after a day spent at light speed and an afternoon fighting traffic to get to our seats, the ballpark was a step back into a simpler age where time stood more still and less was more? If it wasn't about growing revenue, would baseball need fixing?
3
Circling the bases is horrendously time-consuming!
We should start with the elimination of the extremely boring trot around the bases on homeruns. The umpire should simply signal it, and command the hitter to remove himself to the dugout.
Later we can automate the running entirely, using calculated base-running outcomes. Selling of game consoles comes next, this gives the younger fan more excitement..
But you could go in a different direction with the introduction of two or three brightly-festooned clowns running around on the field as disruptors. Even if prudish fans refuse the appearance of clowns on the field, Circus Baseball could be introduced by our POTUS as an extension of the circus programming now underway in our Homeland.
We should start with the elimination of the extremely boring trot around the bases on homeruns. The umpire should simply signal it, and command the hitter to remove himself to the dugout.
Later we can automate the running entirely, using calculated base-running outcomes. Selling of game consoles comes next, this gives the younger fan more excitement..
But you could go in a different direction with the introduction of two or three brightly-festooned clowns running around on the field as disruptors. Even if prudish fans refuse the appearance of clowns on the field, Circus Baseball could be introduced by our POTUS as an extension of the circus programming now underway in our Homeland.
8
It's all about the money and TV needs the revenue to pay baseball the absurd sums that it does to televise games.
Long boring games don't get watched, viewership declines, commercial s cost less and tv makes less money or possibly loses money.
A tv remote is a very powerful tool.
Long boring games don't get watched, viewership declines, commercial s cost less and tv makes less money or possibly loses money.
A tv remote is a very powerful tool.
1
Half century ago the Yankees went ten innings over time. It could have been more? In that case I fell asleep.
A pitcher sometimes throws the ball past the catcher, or gets nervous, during an intentional walk. So the batting team loses this advantage to the detriment of the game's entertainment value.
5
It won't bring back the fan base - it won't save any noticeable time off the game - it will remove some of the drama from the game, not a plus for sure.
5
I have been watching baseball for 30 years. it has gotten progressively more boring. I am an old man at 40 and even I think this game will become a fringe sport unless MLB learns to modernize and cater to millenials. No one wants to sit thru 162 games anymore, and who can blame them. I would rather binge watch 3 hours of good TV than sit thru the snooze-fest that is modern baseball.
2
With Barry Bonds long retired, I don't see this making a big positive difference, but it does mean we won't see Gary Sanchez hitting sac flies (that would be homers in most parks) like the one he hit last season, while they were trying to walk him. And that's a shame.
2
What's next? - if you hit a ball over the outfield wall, you no longer have to run the bases?
3
Why not cut out tv and media time-outs, waste-of-time pre-game folderol, waste-of time seventh inning "patriotic' singing and programs, and absurd, time-wasting replay reviews?
9
Speeding up a baseball game by cutting the pitches out of the intentional walk is like balancing the federal budget by abolishing the NEA.
45
There is way to much commercial time between innings. Of course, on the radio, there are so many commercials during the innings that the games have become intolerable. Let me know when Manfred, the owners and the players are willing to give up a few bucks to speed up the game.
14
As any long time fan knows, throwing a ball to the catcher can be more difficult than it appears, particularly with men on base. Allowing a pitcher and catcher to forego this part of the game eliminates the risk of a passed ball.
If Major League Baseball is genuinely interested in speeding up the game, then it will preclude players from stepping out of the batters box. That is by far the most substantial time killing aspect of the game.
If Major League Baseball is genuinely interested in speeding up the game, then it will preclude players from stepping out of the batters box. That is by far the most substantial time killing aspect of the game.
20
Two strikes and you're out. Three balls and you walk.
Clearly, none of you have ever watched cricket. The shortest form of the game takes several hours (T20), the most popular version takes a whole day (ODIs), and the oldest and still most prestigious form takes FIVE days (Tests). So, what were you complaining about again?
5
T20 takes about 2 2/2 to 3 hours. Some baseball games, with lots of ads (World Series) can take up to four. Baseball is approcahing the length of 25 full overs of an ODI.
Baseball needs to attract more young kids. Football is played on Sunday afternoons when kids can watch. Baseball is played at night when most kids are long gone and in bed. Look no further than the Superbowl (starts at 6:30 pm EST vs the World Series (starts at 8:30 EST). You can't attract fans if they can't see the games.
13
I remember, back in the 1960s WPIX and WOR used to air many Mets and Yankee games during the day. And, gasp, on Sundays they showed double during the summer, on many weekends. Remember Banner Day at Shea?
1
Get rid a replay. It has no place in baseball.
Baseball is a game about human error, human frailty, and human failure. Sometimes even the umpire makes mistakes. It's part of the game's humanity. Haven't we already allowed our humanity to be diminished by technology?
Baseball is a game about human error, human frailty, and human failure. Sometimes even the umpire makes mistakes. It's part of the game's humanity. Haven't we already allowed our humanity to be diminished by technology?
11
Couldn't disagree more. Baseball should be a game between two teams of athletes. Umpires should help, rules should help. Don't let umpires call balls and strikes, machines now do it better, with consistency and even umpire schools use machines to teach umpires to call better. Plus, bad calls by umpires send ripples of bad effects through the rest of the game, sometimes many games. The games should be about superb athletes going at each other, seeing which will play better and win. If you are really concerned about the length of the games, cut the time between half innings and keep the pitcher pitching and keep the batter in the box. I don't mind video replays; they are fast and they really help get the call correct.
If you just make pitchers throw the next pitch within 10 seconds, you speed up your game. No walking around, no player conferences, no pitching coach visit. Go over 10 seconds and the batter takes his base.
2
A little simple math. 3.5 minutes between half innings means a minimum of 56 minutes of commercials in a 3 hour game. Add pitching change commercials and you have exceeded an hour. The game isn't much longer than it has ever been. There is just more non-playing time. That's why minor league games are routinely around 2 hours while having the same rules. Play some of the commercials on the back stop. There is already advertising there in most games. Cut the commercial break by a minute and save at least 16 minutes and routinely more per game.
18
Why not just make the games seven innings with two max extra innings?
Because that's not baseball.
1
While I am not one of those who is bothered by "slow" games (it is baseball, after all), if they want to make a change to pick up the pace then I am in favor of reducing the number of foul balls allowed on the third strike. Make it four. The same as it takes for a base on balls.
". . . don’t expect to go to the park this season to see a brisk two-and-a-half-hour game. The changes are mostly minor and do not appear likely to make a dramatic impact on the pace of play."
Thank God! One of the many reasons why I adore baseball IS because of it's slow pace (except when a triple or grand slam makes its way into the inning). There is nothing more relaxing nor enjoyable than sitting in the stands on a warm, summer afternoon in the middle of the week, with an ice cold beer in one hand and a delicious and juicy brat in the other. My God, if that ain't heaven, I don't know what is. My ONLY complaint is that with the cost of tickets these days, the program should be included for FREE (like in the olden days). It really galls me to pay anywhere from $3.50 - $5.00 for a program.
10
A major appeal of baseball is its miscues and errors. Rattled pitchers can turn intentional balls into wild pitches. Aggressive base runners can attempt a steal on a pitcher focused on throwing the intentional balls. But no longer, if the no pitch intentional walk is adopted.
What next, an automatic out on a bases empty ground ball, saving time of the batter running to first and then back to the dugout? How about a no touching the bases home run?
For those who find the game too long, watch a condensed version with the slow parts edited out. The Red Sox NESN network has a "Sox in Two" (hours) after the live broadcast.
I know one way of shortening the game. Reduce the time between half innings. But that will never happen, as it would allow for fewer commercials.
What next, an automatic out on a bases empty ground ball, saving time of the batter running to first and then back to the dugout? How about a no touching the bases home run?
For those who find the game too long, watch a condensed version with the slow parts edited out. The Red Sox NESN network has a "Sox in Two" (hours) after the live broadcast.
I know one way of shortening the game. Reduce the time between half innings. But that will never happen, as it would allow for fewer commercials.
21
Limit every game to two hours period. At the end of 120 minutes, it's over, regardless of the score or state of play.
1
I suggest you find another sport. Maybe horse racing. Or does 2 minutes tax your attention span?
8
Ah, yes. Men hitting little balls with big sticks. Grown men. Fascinating.
2
At least when a horse is in the box it stays in the box and then just gets on with it.
1
The no-pitch intentional walk is a bad idea. It will not significantly speed up the game, but it will make it less interesting.
Just a few years ago, a Washington National pitcher threw a ball to the backstop on a intentional walk in a postseason game. A pitcher can also come too close to the strike zone and allow the batter to take a swing.
And some of us remember the A's pretending to intentionally walk Johnny Bench after runners advanced with a 2 strike count on Bench. Bench let down his guard when the catcher stood and held his arm out and the pitcher surprised Bench by throwing a fast ball down the middle for strike 3. Moments such as these make baseball more interesting.
Make the pitcher throw the 4 balls.
Just a few years ago, a Washington National pitcher threw a ball to the backstop on a intentional walk in a postseason game. A pitcher can also come too close to the strike zone and allow the batter to take a swing.
And some of us remember the A's pretending to intentionally walk Johnny Bench after runners advanced with a 2 strike count on Bench. Bench let down his guard when the catcher stood and held his arm out and the pitcher surprised Bench by throwing a fast ball down the middle for strike 3. Moments such as these make baseball more interesting.
Make the pitcher throw the 4 balls.
40
these changes are just window dressing until real changes can be made. 3 pitching changes max per game. No mound visits. No warm up for relief pitchers. And restricted replay. Unfortunately all these are tied in with TV time outs so it will never happen.
Make stirrups mandatory too!
Make stirrups mandatory too!
2
@John: Agree that these changes are window dressing and the need to limit pitcher changes, but if they eliminated the relief warmup (which is limited to eight pitches, the minute a relief pitcher got hurt, they would say he wasn't allowed to warm up properly.
"Commercial time between innings will also remain the same, as expected."
BINGO!
Do not believe the fraud pushed by MLB that fans are driving this effort to install pitch clocks and the like because they object to long game lengths. I don't know of a single baseball fan who frets about game length. The reality is that it is the TV networks who are complaining to MLB about unpredictable lengths of games and the need to shorten them. They want to cram more commercials into a shorter stretch of broadcasting time - that's what this is all about. Just say no. Loudly say no.
BINGO!
Do not believe the fraud pushed by MLB that fans are driving this effort to install pitch clocks and the like because they object to long game lengths. I don't know of a single baseball fan who frets about game length. The reality is that it is the TV networks who are complaining to MLB about unpredictable lengths of games and the need to shorten them. They want to cram more commercials into a shorter stretch of broadcasting time - that's what this is all about. Just say no. Loudly say no.
42
Agreed.
We need more commercial-free options for watching the game live. Currently you can either attend the game, watch on TV with commercials, or watch later via MLB app w/o commercials. I would pay a decent price to see live MBL w/o commercials, and I won't be watching much of it until they make that option easily available .
We need more commercial-free options for watching the game live. Currently you can either attend the game, watch on TV with commercials, or watch later via MLB app w/o commercials. I would pay a decent price to see live MBL w/o commercials, and I won't be watching much of it until they make that option easily available .
2
With apologies, but not sure I agree. The Networks would love really long games because that would mean more ad dollars, but only if there are enough people watching. Also, I think there needs to be a distinction between length of games and pace of play. If a game goes 12 innings, but is well played and otherwise moving along, I don't think people have an issue with that. It's the 3:30-4 hour 9 inning affairs that get to people. Games have gotten longer
1
Extra Innings from MLB on cable is commercial free. But since most games are shown on commercial stations, you still have the same wait time
They should leave the sport alone. If you're in such a hurry, just don't go to a baseball game.
22
Three simple rule changes that will have meaningful effect on pace of play:
1. Replay: Stop trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. This isn’t football where there are only 16 games, and 1000 offensive plays run a year. In baseball we see 1000’s of pitches and hundreds of plays in the course of a week. I understand the desire to get things right, but does a 35 degree game in April really need to be extended because a manager wants to challenge a trapped ball in the OF? Let’s play ball so people can get to bed at a decent time to get up for work. If MLB can’t live without replay, limit it to the Post Season.
2. Pitching Changes: the games really slow down once teams go to the pens. Think about it, Manager walks to mound, signals for reliever, commercial break, reliever throws one pitch and manager pulls him repeating the process all over again. Limit the number of pitching changes a manager may make in any one inning to two, and also require that any pitcher brought into a game must face at least three batters. These are supposed to be Major League pitchers. If you can’t get out a righty or a lefty, then maybe you don’t belong.
3. Pitchers must…you know pitch: Did an informal experiment during a Mets game a few years back when I really noticed the pace of play slowing considerably. A Padres reliever took between 40-50 seconds to throw a pitch…during a three run game…in July.
1. Replay: Stop trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. This isn’t football where there are only 16 games, and 1000 offensive plays run a year. In baseball we see 1000’s of pitches and hundreds of plays in the course of a week. I understand the desire to get things right, but does a 35 degree game in April really need to be extended because a manager wants to challenge a trapped ball in the OF? Let’s play ball so people can get to bed at a decent time to get up for work. If MLB can’t live without replay, limit it to the Post Season.
2. Pitching Changes: the games really slow down once teams go to the pens. Think about it, Manager walks to mound, signals for reliever, commercial break, reliever throws one pitch and manager pulls him repeating the process all over again. Limit the number of pitching changes a manager may make in any one inning to two, and also require that any pitcher brought into a game must face at least three batters. These are supposed to be Major League pitchers. If you can’t get out a righty or a lefty, then maybe you don’t belong.
3. Pitchers must…you know pitch: Did an informal experiment during a Mets game a few years back when I really noticed the pace of play slowing considerably. A Padres reliever took between 40-50 seconds to throw a pitch…during a three run game…in July.
13
@CTR: Finally someone recognizes what is really slowing the game down; pitching changes. I watch 80-90 games a year. The first six innings usually doesn't take any more than an hour and a half (unless there is a lot of scoring). The last three innings up may take upwards to 2 hours. Using five to six pitchers a game is the true culprit for the long games.
That being said, I agree with your point #2 completely.
That being said, I agree with your point #2 completely.
2
How long do the last 2 minutes of a football or basketball game take? Too long. As long as 10 minutes or more? Slowing sown at the end of the game is common in many sports, hockey and soccer being the most notable exceptions.
This is all just a bit nuts. Why speed things up? Baseball has, traditionally, been referred-to as the "national pastime" -- as in "pass[ing] time". What's the hurry? As it is, there's way too much empty chatter; after all, if you can't be there watching, the next-best thing is listening to a ball game on the radio (know what? it's even better on the radio!) Want more "meat"? Listen to minor-league games, or go to a game... you'll see: baseball is a *pastime*, not a sport. Relax and enjoy it (and buy a program... can't tell the players without a program).
15
It's the right call, but as we see from the occasional highlight reel, it's kind of a shame to take away an opportunity, however remote, to watch a pro athlete do something incredibly stupid or amazing (in the case of those who've nailed walk-balls over the wall)...Oh well, I suppose everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and now we have video. So be it.
1
I remember watching Johnny Bench striking out during an intentional walk. Also saw a few wild pitches that changed games around.
5
What pointless "improvement" to speed up the game is next? Batters who hit a home run don't have waste time running the bases?
13
Prohibit batters from stepping out of the batter's box between every pitch. Some batters take an inordinate amount of time going through some kind of ritual where they adjust every piece of equipment that they are wearing before stepping back into the box. Give each batter only one step out per bat unless they are knocked down by a pitch or forced out by some other event. Similar rule for the pitcher or a max amount of time between pitches.
7
I know the current generation has the attention span of a fruit fly, but why does everything have to be accelerated at mach speed to entertain? Like a happy long-term marriage, I love you just the way you are. Don't change. Learn to love the intrinsic beauty of the game.
16
Baseball games used to be faster.
I'm not a member of the younger generation,but I want the game to be accelerated. When I was younger, games were shorter. Now that I'm older and time is more precious to me, the games take forever.
Limit trips to the mound, pitching changes, time-outs by batters, and add a pitch clock.
Limit trips to the mound, pitching changes, time-outs by batters, and add a pitch clock.
How about limiting the number of foul balls?
How many time have I watched a batter foul off ball after ball, and get pitch after pitch? I have seen some batters get upwards of 10 pitches for one up at bat. That can be upwards of 10 minutes or more, for one batter. And that can consume an average pitcher's 10% of pitches for a given game.
So, make each foul ball 1/3 of an out. There should be some penalty for foul balls.
Another way to speed things up is that a pitcher must pitch to a batter, or perform a pick off attempt, within 45 seconds, or the batter is awarded a ball. I have seen some games where a pitcher can take well over a minute between pitches. This would be excepted fro time outs.
Of course, the real slog for baseball, or just about every sport, are the longer, and getting longer TV breaks. The last World Series it seemed like 3 minutes have gone by between each half inning. Back, 50 years ago, it was one minute, except the middle of the 7th Inning. Back then a two hour game was the norm. Today, it is pushing three hours. So, reducing commercial time certainly will help.
Then they need to address NCAA and NFL Football. How about dumping the rule that if a pass is not caught, the clock stops until the next play. How about stopping the clock until the ball is set for play? While baseball is pushing 3 hours, NCAA is pushing 4 hours; well up from just under 3 hours 40 years ago. Again, due to to many commercials.
Ever watch Rugby or Soccer? 2 hours tops.
How many time have I watched a batter foul off ball after ball, and get pitch after pitch? I have seen some batters get upwards of 10 pitches for one up at bat. That can be upwards of 10 minutes or more, for one batter. And that can consume an average pitcher's 10% of pitches for a given game.
So, make each foul ball 1/3 of an out. There should be some penalty for foul balls.
Another way to speed things up is that a pitcher must pitch to a batter, or perform a pick off attempt, within 45 seconds, or the batter is awarded a ball. I have seen some games where a pitcher can take well over a minute between pitches. This would be excepted fro time outs.
Of course, the real slog for baseball, or just about every sport, are the longer, and getting longer TV breaks. The last World Series it seemed like 3 minutes have gone by between each half inning. Back, 50 years ago, it was one minute, except the middle of the 7th Inning. Back then a two hour game was the norm. Today, it is pushing three hours. So, reducing commercial time certainly will help.
Then they need to address NCAA and NFL Football. How about dumping the rule that if a pass is not caught, the clock stops until the next play. How about stopping the clock until the ball is set for play? While baseball is pushing 3 hours, NCAA is pushing 4 hours; well up from just under 3 hours 40 years ago. Again, due to to many commercials.
Ever watch Rugby or Soccer? 2 hours tops.
1
limit foul balls? This is when the battle between pitcher and batter gets intense.
Will the pitcher find the right pitch or make a mistake? Is the batter just staying alive or working the pitcher? Will the batter strike out, get a hit, work out a walk?
Enjoy your rugby, but change a fundamental of the game.
Will the pitcher find the right pitch or make a mistake? Is the batter just staying alive or working the pitcher? Will the batter strike out, get a hit, work out a walk?
Enjoy your rugby, but change a fundamental of the game.
4
Mike,
Maybe I should have been clearer. After the second strike, a foul ball is equal to 1/3 of a strike. Thus, at most a player gets 5 balls that are fouled off. That, speed up pitching, and reduce commercials, will not radically change the game.
Of course, you could do what they do in cricket, and get rid of foul territory. Certainly will increase scoring, but also lengthen the game significantly.
Maybe I should have been clearer. After the second strike, a foul ball is equal to 1/3 of a strike. Thus, at most a player gets 5 balls that are fouled off. That, speed up pitching, and reduce commercials, will not radically change the game.
Of course, you could do what they do in cricket, and get rid of foul territory. Certainly will increase scoring, but also lengthen the game significantly.
Currently a ten or twelve pitch at-bat is usually considered a victory for the batter, even if he ultimately makes an out. Limiting the number of foul balls will preclude that possibility, and will effectively eliminate the batters advantage of a long at-bat. The importance of pitch count will recede, thereby eliminating one of the many beautiful nuances of the game. No longer would a batter be able to fight off good pitches until finding one to his liking.
Nope. Bad idea.
ten
Nope. Bad idea.
ten
2