New Var time record

[Tim C]

Klokard:

Not trying to "one up" you but each varsity baseball season here we have several seven innings games that run around one hour. While we have our share of 2:30 to 3:00 hour games I would suggest our "average" high school game runs between 1:20 and 1:40.

My personal best, I was on the stick, was 6 1/2 inning game in 42 minutes. This game included nine consecutive pitches that ended in outs.

Regards,

[Rich]

I worked a WIAA (Wisconsin) sectional semifinal (winner of the sectional goes to the state tournament) on the plate two years ago that ended in 1:10. The game was scoreless with only one or two baserunners through 3.5 innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the home team plated 10 runs and after a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, the game was over.

I'm guessing the bottom of the fourth took up about half of the game. Weirdest fast game I ever worked.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Klokard:

Not trying to "one up" you but each varsity baseball season here we have several seven innings games that run around one hour. While we have our share of 2:30 to 3:00 hour games I would suggest our "average" high school game runs between 1:20 and 1:40.

My personal best, I was on the stick, was 6 1/2 inning game in 42 minutes. This game included nine consecutive pitches that ended in outs.

Regards,

I only say "strike" when the pitcher throws a strike.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Tim C

This game included nine consecutive pitches that ended in outs.

Regards,

Did the string begin with a second or third out or did that result in three three-pitch half innings?

[Ump29]

You would need 9 pitches (all strikes ) to record a NINE pitch half inning.
BTW I have had several 3 pitch half innings (no strikes).

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by Ump29

You would need 9 pitches (all strikes ) to record a NINE pitch half inning.
BTW I have had several 3 pitch half innings (no strikes).

How so?

Batter 1 sees four pitches, grounds out on the fourth pitch.

Batter 2 sees three pitches, flies out on the third pitch.

Batter 3 sees two pitches, grounds out on the second pitch.

9 pitches.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by zm1283

How so?

Batter 1 sees four pitches, grounds out on the fourth pitch.

Batter 2 sees three pitches, flies out on the third pitch.

Batter 3 sees two pitches, grounds out on the second pitch.

9 pitches.

He didn't mention that any of the outs were strike outs............


Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

1:15 on bases, 7 innings full, Varsity.

1:18 on plate, 6-1/2 innings, Varsity.

Maybe if I were an agnostic, I'd have better times!





Just kidding, TimC!

[Ump29]

Originally Posted by zm1283

How so?

Batter 1 sees four pitches, grounds out on the fourth pitch.

Batter 2 sees three pitches, flies out on the third pitch.

Batter 3 sees two pitches, grounds out on the second pitch.

9 pitches.

Sorry I was thinking Strikes !!
Guess that is not so bad !!
Strikes = outs !!!

[johnnyg08]

I would agree w/ most posters on here in the fact that on average a 7 inning game should last between 1:20 and 1:40. If you finish one in an hour...that's fast...and of course we have the multiple error, long count, base runners every inning, 14-13 game that touches three hours. We take the good with the bad.

[cardinalfan]

I worked the bases for an NAIA game last week that went 1:15. The home team won 2-0 on a 2-run dinger.

My best in high school was in a state playoff game. Home team led off the last inning with a walkoff homer to win it 1-0. Game went 1:01.

Strikes and ground balls make me a happy guy. An SEC ump once told me, "Make it prove to you it isn't a strike". I give that advice to all young guys.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by cardinalfan

An SEC ump once told me, "Make it prove to you it isn't a strike". I give that advice to all young guys.

That is interesting that you mention this. I was sitting thinking last night how other might think when behind the dish. My thought has always been that the pitch is a strike till it isn't. Just wondered what others thought.

[Huskerblue]

When you have pitchers throwing strikes, fielders making plays, and both teams hustling in and out between innings, 1 hour ball games are not hard to come by. Rarely do all of these things occur in a single ballgame, but every now and then they do, and that means you can throw back a few extra "sodas" after the game before the wife expects you home.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

That is interesting that you mention this. I was sitting thinking last night how other might think when behind the dish. My thought has always been that the pitch is a strike till it isn't. Just wondered what others thought.

Borrowed from Casey Stengel describing the slider: "He throws that pitch that that looks like a strike 'til it isn't."

[Publius]

Let's assume:

The clock begins with "PLAY!"

A half-inning averages 5 batters.

A batter completes his at-bat in an average of 1 minute (3-pitch average takes 40 seconds, plus the new batter appears immediately in the box every time).

There is an average of exactly one minute between the last out of a half-inning and the first pitch of the next.

The home team wins every time.

Under these conditions, a game zips along--even with substitutions, stolen bases, pick-off attempts, walks, errors and conferences, a half-inning averages six minutes. A six-and-a-half inning game takes 78 minutes, or 1:18. Add just one minute per half-inning--seven minutes is still quick--and then throw on the bottom of the seventh, and you're up to 1:38.

It may be not uncommon for individual umpires who manage games properly and are routinely rewarded with games played by talented teams, but "average" for an area? I'm talking about the mean time for all games played in an entire season. Read again the conditions it takes to move a game that quickly. That's not average, and I don't care where you live.