Ok,

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Tim C

In the Cleveland game Mark Wegner, with stop watch, called TWO balls for Bettincourt taking more than 20 seconds to pitch:

Comments?

Regards,

It would be nice if this were called more frequently so players at "our level" would be more aware of it and then we could call it without receiving a rasher of s*** and games would move faster.

Applies also to the batter's box rule (and I know MiLB umps have been instructed to enforce this)

[mbyron]

1. I have never seen this rule enforced in MLB, whether 20 seconds or 12.
2. Betancourt is sloooooow. Even this Indians fan can admit that.

The Indians' announcers have learned how to wait until he's actually set before announcing "the set, and the pitch," or there's an ungainly pause in the middle!

[greymule]

I love baseball, but the pace of MLB games today is murderous. I find myself working in my office while the TV plays the living room. If things start happening, I go watch.

MLB needs a lot more than a 12-second clock. How they're filling the parks, I don't know. And it's not just MLB: last Saturday, my partner complained to me about the 3-hour, 40-minute regulation Legion game he had endured the night before.

I know you can't really compare baseball today with baseball 100 years ago, but . . .

In the 29 games of the first 5 World Series (1903, 1905-1908), the average time of game was 1:52. A half inning—time between third outs—took on average 6 minutes and 17 seconds. (Seems like it takes that long between innings today.) The 29 games saw a total of 15 relief pitchers.

The 4 games of the 2005 World Series averaged 3:51. A half inning took on average 11 minutes, 25 seconds. Game 3 (14 innings) took 5 hours, 41 minutes. The White Sox and Astros used 15 relief pitchers in game 3, and 31 in the 4 games.

[mbyron]

Fans think they want a lot of scoring, without realizing that base runners lengthen the game. Baseball is a business, so the customer is always right...

[Jim Porter]

Here's video of the two incidents. The umpires had issued a warning about the pitcher taking too much time during Magglio Ordonez's at-bat just prior to the first incident. The warning was explained to manager Eric Wedge.

http://menotomyjournal.com/mlbvids/eddings1.wmv
http://menotomyjournal.com/mlbvids/eddings2.wmv

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by greymule

I love baseball, but the pace of MLB games today is murderous. I find myself working in my office while the TV plays the living room. If things start happening, I go watch.

MLB needs a lot more than a 12-second clock. How they're filling the parks, I don't know..

Disneyland. most MLB parks are entertainment venues with basball as a side show.

[Jurassic Referee]

Apparently MLB issues a list to their umpiring staff on what pitchers, hitters, etc. are delaying the game. Makes sense.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...707050386/1048

[PeteBooth]

In the 29 games of the first 5 World Series (1903, 1905-1908), the average time of game was 1:52. A half inning—time between third outs—took on average 6 minutes and 17 seconds. (Seems like it takes that long between innings today.) The 29 games saw a total of 15 relief pitchers.

The 4 games of the 2005 World Series averaged 3:51. A half inning took on average 11 minutes, 25 seconds. Game 3 (14 innings) took 5 hours, 41 minutes. The White Sox and Astros used 15 relief pitchers in game 3, and 31 in the 4 games.

What were the average players salary back then?

MLB can do certain things but the almighty dollar has taken over which IMO is the biggest reason for the lenght of games.

Another BIG factor that needs to be addressed is when a team is warming up a pitcher in the bullpen.

First F2 will go out and talk to F1
Then the pitching coach goes out and talks to F1 and
Finally the manager (especially Joe Torre) takes that SLOOOW walk out to the mound and F1 is finally removed
Then when the change is made another set of commercials

I do not know about you but I very rarely watch a MLB game these days from start to finish.

I know it will NEVER happen but regardless of the purists baseball should be TIMED especially in the amateur game.

High Schools in certain areas have put time limits on games below the varsity level. Also, there is nothing like doing a weekend tournament in which time limits are imposed except fro the Championship Game.

Pete Booth

[David B]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It would be nice if this were called more frequently so players at "our level" would be more aware of it and then we could call it without receiving a rasher of s*** and games would move faster.

Applies also to the batter's box rule (and I know MiLB umps have been instructed to enforce this)

Nice post Bob. I've often thought the same thing in these long b o r i n g games that we are subjected to now just about every night.

Much more fun to watch a Maddux work - quick and efficient.

Thanks
David

[PFISTO]

I can see a light being added like in Basketball what's it the 30 second clock. I'ts actually not a bad idea

[lawump]

There is an ESPN Insider story about this incident. However, I have no idea what it says as I'm not an "insider".

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Applies also to the batter's box rule (and I know MiLB umps have been instructed to enforce this)

And they have enforced it...over 300 times so far.