Why do FP games last so long

[tzme415]

I don't do FP, but I have watched quite a few. There are a few differences that may or may not slow or speed up each game:

1) Most SP games start with 1-1 count and foul balls are strikes (no batter gets more than 5 pitches), whereas FP there is a 0-0 count and foul balls are not strikes after 2 strikes(I have seen many times where a batter will foul off 5 or more pitches)

2) Most SP has no stealing or lead-offs (therefore no pick-off attempts or catchers throwing to bases)

3) As mentioned before - no waiting for the catcher to put gear on in SP

4) And also as mentioned before no waiting for signs to be given in SP

Some things that tend to slow down the SP game

1) More hits in a typical SP game

2) Most of the leagues I work only give one ball/game - so everytime a ball goes out of play, the game is stopped until the ball is retrieved

3) Adult players don't usually hustle in and out

A good pitching duel with experienced teams will be real fast FP, just like a high scoring hit-fest will be take a long time in SP. But if you have a similar
scoring game, the SP will tend to be faster.

At least that has been what I have observed.