Sleepful In The Saddle

[Max Power]

Are just the A's looking at this? If yes, why? The fan sleeping thing is funny. For all they know, the guy had 10 beers. Maybe not selling beer at the park will keep the fans more alert?

http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=933912


Associated Press
Mar. 3, 2003 6:30 p.m.
PHOENIX (AP)— Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha spent part of Monday with general manager Billy Beane watching a short video produced by the commissioner's office on speeding the game.

Macha said baseball will begin to look at four areas to help speed up games, which averaged 2 hours, 52 minutes for nine-inning games last season.

The areas of concern are the batter getting into the box, pitchers picking up the pace, the amount of time it takes to bring in a relief pitcher and the length of trips to the mound.

"I'm concerned that it could put the umpires in the middle," Macha said. "Some of those areas could become confrontational, and we don't want that to happen. It's good they're doing it in spring training to help get these guys adjusted to it."

At one point in the tape, it shows fans sleeping in the stands to emphasize a point.

"That's a little overdramatic," Macha said.

[TGwynn19]

Originally posted by Max Power
For all they know, the guy had 10 beers. Maybe not selling beer at the park will keep the fans more alert?




If MLB does that I will never, ever return to a ballpark!;)

[Max Power]

I've always said, that if MLB wants to shorten game times, take out one 30 second commerical in between each half inning. That would take 16 minutes off each game time - - - then 2 hours, 52 minutes becomes 2 hours, 36 minutes, which is a big difference.

Now, if it's "pace" of game and not length of game that they are worried about - - and which is the right point of attack - - the answer is simple:

1. Eliminate the pre-PA "signature" music sample that each batter gets now. And,
2. Treat all mound conferences the same as a coach/MGR visit - - meaning only 2 per inning, or the pitcher comes out.

Those two steps alone would take 30 minutes off a ballgame and would certainly take out some strolling and standing time, IMHO.

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by Max Power
I've always said, that if MLB wants to shorten game times, take out one 30 second commerical in between each half inning. That would take 16 minutes off each game time - - - then 2 hours, 52 minutes becomes 2 hours, 36 minutes, which is a big difference.

Now, if it's "pace" of game and not length of game that they are worried about - - and which is the right point of attack - - the answer is simple:

1. Eliminate the pre-PA "signature" music sample that each batter gets now. And,
2. Treat all mound conferences the same as a coach/MGR visit - - meaning only 2 per inning, or the pitcher comes out.

Those two steps alone would take 30 minutes off a ballgame and would certainly take out some strolling and standing time, IMHO. I think you are right on with those suggestions. They all could be done without affecting the game too much.

[JamesI]

Just keep batters in the box, and make pitchers pitch in a reasonable amount of time.

Eliminating the pre PA music is good too.

[KCBOOMER]

Stay in the box and throw the damn ball already!

[SmedIndy]

I agree - enforce the existing rules already.

[LeGrandOrange]

I feel sorry for the poor fan that MLB decided to pick on...

I've said it before too...take 30 seconds off of commercial breaks, shorten games by 10%. Not in those exact words but still.

Maybe Bud Selig fears Milwaukee will lose money if they do that. :)

[rcartman28]

Keep batters in the box and make the umpires call balls and strikes using the actual strike zone.

I agree with the eliminating a commercial between innnings, too. Those between innings at the ballpark seemingly take forever sometimes, but god forbid they lose their advertising revenue.

[JamesI]

actually if the games were faster and started at a reasonable time, the ratings would go up. So the price of the commercial time would go up, so baseball would not lose revenue by cutting a commercial.

[Doc Pontoon]

I remember that during the down times at ballgames, like in between innings or during Carlton Fisk at bats, I used to talk about baseball with the people sitting around me, and the time I spent doing so was time I enjoyed spending. Now, it's hard to converse (at least at Comiskey) because of the constant pop music piped in during every moment, making the games seem so tedious that I tend to avoid going to ballgames. Plus, I really despise pop music. It's the musical equivalent of the Brewers.

[Rajah]

The length of the games is fine, imo. Not much different from other sports. Its the pace that kills it for people. Whenever nonbaseball fans I know list their reasons for not liking the game it comes down to pace issues. It's too slow. Not enough action. too slow. Don't like watching people walk around scratching themselves. so on and so forth. enforce the existing rules. cut back on timeouts by batters. tell pitchers to hurry up. get rid of the music. This isn't hockey. Just play music between innings or something? If the batter steps out of the box without waiting for the ump to ok it, let the pitcher pitch away. Let that happen a few times, and batters won't waste our time so much anymore. The pitcher should get to throw when he's ready, not when the batter is ready. blah blah blah blah :)

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by JamesI
Just keep batters in the box, and make pitchers pitch in a reasonable amount of time.

Eliminating the pre PA music is good too.

Yes !!

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Just once, I'd like to see an ump say, "No!" to a batter asking for time.

I'd love to see a pitcher throw a real nice strike -- a big fat pitch at that -- while Nomaaah's in there fiddling with his stupid wristband. Just to see the look on Nomaaah's face.

I've said it many times -- Nomar alone adds more time to a game than Mike Hargrove ever did, and it's not entertainment.

[cubfan33]

All the timeouts are crap. Maybe a team should have so many per game!

I am reminded of once, Bo Jackson asked for time by holding his hand up. The ump didnt see it in time, the pitch came in and one handed, Bo put one in the fountains.

He may not have been a great player, but Bo makes a great legend.