Baseball is not a game for people in a hurry. There are sports like that. Golf is another one. Baseball isn’t broken, despite the best attempts of some people to bury it.
If you look at football, where the ball is actually in play for only a few minutes out of sixty, you see a sport with a reputation for being fast that really isn’t.
Sports like hockey, where the puck is almost constantly in motion and where substitutions are allowed during play, is better for those who seek action. For scoring, I suppose there’s always basketball.
Most cable providers now offer dvr service for about 10 bucks a month. Very useful for recording games and then quickly just watching the plays, rather than watching the pitcher standing on the mound, getting ready, and getting the sign from the catcher. The total time that elapses while the pitcher is holding the ball has got to be 80-90% of the total time of the game, with the relief pitcher parade accounting for a good deal of the remainder.
That and limit TV commercial breaks, is about all one can do without compromising the game.
If you love baseball it isn’t slow if you don’t iti is. I suppose games could be 7 innings - still there is a beauty to baseball that is easier to see if you ever played the game.
I know it's hard to believe they played with the other team's gloves out there, but I've asked about this and know it's true.
Three balls, three strikes, and no more than one foul ball after two strikes.
baseball needs a play clock just like football. That would solve everything.
When Bob Gibson pitched for the Cardinals, the only thing faster than his wind up and pitch was his fastball. Just ask Tim McCarver.
Allowing the ‘challenges’ this season adds to the ‘minutes’ since the decisions have to come from the main center in New York.
This is so easy it’s stupid. 1. Intentional walk is automatic. 2. Stop batters from stepping out of the box between pitches. 3. Stop the seventh inning stretch nonsense. 4. Realign the strike zone back to knees and letters. 5. Walks must RUN to first base or you’re out. 6. Maximum 3 throws to first to hold runner on. 7. Get rid of instant replays.
Of course limit time between pitches for both pitcher and hitter.
But the easiest and most effective thing to do is simply get the Umps to call the strike zone as it is described in the rulebook. A lot to ask, I know. The high strike would solve so many problems. Hitters would have to swing earlier and more often. Pitch counts would lessen so you use less pitching changes and relief pitching.
Freegards
I love baseball. The older I get, the more I appreciate it.
NOTHING should be changed. NOTHING.
I don’t like and/or find many things boring. But I certainly don’t advocate changing those things.
Baseball is a beautiful sport. Leave it alone.
You always hear this from sportswriters. They aren’t paid by the hour.
Of course, real fans have been priced out and the stadiums are more like theme parks now. But, I was never in a hurry to go home. I didn’t care if I ever got back!
Bottom line - the longer the game, the more conce$$ion$ sold. And more commercials for the networks. So it ain’t gonna’ change anytime soon.
When is Selig going to go? He's ruined baseball and he's been around way too long.
I never understood why relief pitchers needed to throw warm-up throws after getting to the mound. Isn’t that why they have bullpens?
You want to check out a fast ball game then check out Jai Alai. Fastest and most exciting game I’ve ever seen...but only if you have money riding on the outcomes.
Maybe they could hang a cage over 2nd base where people from the stands could fight for prizes between innings,
Used to watch baseball as a kid & early adult. Since 2001 when Cal Ripken Jr. retired, I haven’t paid any attention at all. It’s become an intolerant snoozefest populated by spoiled brats.