Baseball is just over 3 weeks into the season with 3 new rules being implemented. One of them is the pitch clock.
So far, an average of 26 minutes has been shaved from each game, making them resemble the length of contests from 20+ years ago. The reduction in time is not in actual play but it involves dead time – mound visits, batter adjustments at the plate, pitcher confabs, etc.
Many fans report that the pace has picked up and the tempo more even. Both of which hold their attention better. And more families are able to attend because the end times are conducive for those with young children or work days.
However, some fans complain that shorter games takes away from their entire experience and amount of time spent at the ballpark.
So which system – old or new – do you prefer now that you’ve seen the pitch clock in action?
Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can respond to as many other readers as you want.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?
APRIL POLL RESULTS:
Which strategy for improvement would be your top priority?
- Focus on development of top prospects and young players. 78%
- Controlling the strike zone on both sides of the plate. 22%
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to a maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page in order for your comments to be published.
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The pace is alright but I despise the man on second base to start extra innings. I always will!
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I see your point–normal baseball strategy is altered with the ghost runner in extra innings. Yet the payoff–a brief extra innings period–is especially important for fans at the ball park, who came expecting the satisfaction of a conclusion.
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Totally (Tigers) agree ! I, too, love the clock…. as long as I’m home in my lounger with a beer. Not so if I go to the game (drive from GR) for a 2 hour, 15 min high dollar experience.
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I don’t like it, either. I’d be more amenable to the silly ghost runner, though, if it started, say, after 2-3 extra innings. But I do like the faster pace with less dead time.
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I never thought the games were too long. I believed the problem was too little was happening. The shifts reduced offensive options like hitting to the opposite fields, extra bases, stealing, so that dramatic game altering plays were eliminated. Triples, or attempted, are far more exviting than home runs.
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Open the gates earlier so fans can watch batting practice if they’re feeling shorted.
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One of the best changes ever. That 26 minutes turns boring into engaging.
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Love the faster pace. Not once have I shouted at the television: “For crying out loud throw the ball!” Now they just do it.
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Tigers recently played a game that lasted just under two hours. Now that’s baseball. Also, Tigers starting nite games at an earlier time is beneficial to fans as well.
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Pretty much agree with everyone here. It’s still batting practice homer ball. But it’s doesn’t drag like it used too. Still won’t bother keeping score. Or turn sound back on. But it’s quicker.
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Mike, I also mute the tv so that I don’t have to listen to all the jibberish (all the constant noise about anything and everything annoys the heck out of me). I do however put the radio on and listen to Dan Dickerson while watching the game. It’s like a breath of fresh air compared to the constant chatter of the tv crew. Now if only there was a way to black out the tv screen when the that same crew place themselves on the screen with all the very many people that they love to interview–so that there’s never a second of silence with them)!! I would much rather watch what’s going on in the game then to watch them blabber on and on, as if we’re there to listen to them and not watch the game!!
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Love the shorter games. Tiger games are even shorter since they do not score many runs.
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Love the faster pace but not that it required a pitch clock to achieve. This was a self-inflicted problem by MLB. There is no rule that requires the umpire to grant time out to a batter who wants to verify the color of his underpants between every pitch. The umpire has always had the ability to say, “play ball”, and then the batter can opt to be in the batter’s box or not, as he chooses. The pitcher can proceed to pitch regardless of what the batter is doing. It’s that simple: “play ball”.
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The shorter games are much easier to watch, but I agree with the fan who abhors the extra inning with an automatic runner at scond base. That was one of the worst changes ever made.
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The rule changes seem to be positively impacting both the pace and focused intensity of play along with condensing the duration of the game time. My initial thought — that the pitch clock would have a greater impact on the hitter than the pitcher — seems to be playing out (pun intended). I think the two throws over to first base rule needs to be less severe… For every time you throw over more than twice, that throw is counted as a ball against the hitter. Awarding a base to the runner just seems to be too much. What I really am looking forward to is the possible new rule next year that if the starting pitcher doesn’t go 5 innings then you lose the DH.
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I have doubts that the MLBPA will agree to eliminate the DH based on starter’s innings pitched. Regarding a runner at second in extra innings, it doesn’t bother me *that* much but I would have been OK if they called the game a tie after 12 innings (something like that). Of course, that would only apply to regular season.
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The only thing they have eliminated is a bunch of standing around, adjusting your equipment. No real baseball has been eliminated. The result has been fantastic! In fact, I bet we could find ways to shave off another 20 minutes of filler. Mark Fidrych beat the Yankees on Monday Night Baseball in 1 hour, 51 minutes. Let’s get back to that!
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You can miss half a televised game on a bathroom break. That’s annoying. To improve fan attendance at a game, build domed stadiums, with or without a retractable roof. The overall quality of the game played by the home team does more than anything to get fans back into the seats, not rules changes, although most of the recent ones seem good.
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Not a fan of the pitch clock. Much of the same could have been accomplished with a rule change making the hitter stay in the batter’s box for the entire at bat
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Voted “keeper”. Nothing is going to take the game back where us oldsters really want it to go but the 3 hour plus mind snooze had to end somewhere. Saw a lot of great games that barely lasted 2 hours, now we see shadows of yesterday’s players and have to give them an extra hour to preen.
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