Since it's a slow (and here in metro DC, rainy) Thursday afternoon, I'd like some baseball BBIers to chime in on the ever-growing length of baseball games. Lots of folks thought the 3-hour mark would be a rarity and now MLB has blown past the 4-hour mark on a frequent basis, it seems, during this postseason.
So my questions are: does it matter to you? When was the last time you sat on a couch and watched a game from beginning to end? Could you do so for a 4 hour game (I certainly can't)? Should something be done? If so, what?
If I'm king for a day, among other things, baseball would definitely have a time clock (2:45 seems good to me, no longer) and at least some WS day games. Oh, and the first pitch on the East Coast has to leave a pitcher's hand at 7:05 p.m. for night games.
So there. Have at it and thanks in advance.
DC metro shut down at 11:40 PM as well. I really don't think the games should start later than 7 as you mentioned
DC metro shut down at 11:40 PM as well. I really don't think the games should start later than 7 as you mentioned
Problem is, that's 4pm on the west coast, so that would kill ratings there.
I go to (Hudson) "Valley Cats," baseball games. They're a Houston Astros minor league club). Those games are waaaay better than a TV game. They're fast and fun and there is something going on between innings instead of commercials. I get good seats that cost $7 or 8 bucks and parking is free. A fairly short drive from my house.
The last time I went, I didn't get to the stadium early enough and the game was sold out except for standing room. I was disappointed. I've never been disappointed to miss a game on TV.
How many of us wouldn't sign up for a 4 hour football game?
more is more betterer
7:05 PM Eastern is too early a start time IMHO. As I kid, I seem to remember baseball games ending between 10 PM and 10:30 PM Eastern. I think those games typically had 8:05 PM start times meaning the games lasted 2 to 2.5 hrs.
We of course know the main reason for the longer games is to provide time for more and longer commercial breaks. So shortening games will be an uphill battle against higher owner revenue and higher player salaries.
8:00 PM Eastern time start with a 2 hr 45 min game duration is a good goal.
Fastest 9 Inning Baseball Game Ever Played - 31 Minutes - ( New Window )
How many of us wouldn't sign up for a 4 hour football game?
more is more betterer
Having a 60 minute football game take an extra hour to play does not appeal to me at all.
Postseason baseball takes a really long time, but the bigger issue is their start times.
I think it's strange to call for a postseason game to not take longer than 2:45 on a football board where a playoff football game takes nearly an hour longer.
Now I'm not the biggest fan of the idea, as it would be a drastic change from the game we all know and love. However, it certainly would speed up the game and it would save pitchers from throwing as many pitchers. It still allows for 162 games and 9 innings (thus protecting the sacred record books and the even-more-sacred advertising dollar).
I wouldn't be surprised to see this format used in the minors or independent leagues at some point to test out the idea.
MLB will get a great rating this year because of the Cubs, but long term you can't have 2 pitches per minutes and tons of pitching changes, commercials and all sorts of "non-action" and expect to bring new fans into the game IMO.
- Walter Johnson
- Walter Johnson
are your kids watching baseball, or is it all NBA?
Quote:
- Walter Johnson
are your kids watching baseball, or is it all NBA?
Basketball is unwatchable. Illegal picks, traveling overlooked, palming all the time, few teams play defense. Blah...