Too slow for you?
Cubs GM Jim Hendry and bench coach Alan Trammell took part in a Major League Baseball conference call today to talk about the pace of games. Apparently MLB feels the pace is slowing too much. If Cubs games are taking longer this year, it's because their batters are working counts and taking walks.
Manager Lou Piniella put the blame on television. Monday night's game (3 hours, 19 minutes) was televised by ESPN, who crammed in more commercial time between innings. For that reason, Piniella had pitcher Ted Lilly stay back in the dugout a little longer between innings.
"The biggest thing is television with their commercials," Piniella said.
Hendry said the Cubs have not been chastised about things such as getting their relievers in too slowly from the bullpen or having their batters step out of the box too much.
There are a good number of baseball people who feel the fans at the park don't care. A longer game allows them to relax more and maybe have another cold one.
What do you think? Do you care about time of game as long as your team wins? Or do you prefer a snappy 2-hour, 15 minute game?
You cant worry about the time of the game! Thats what makes baseball so different...there is no time limit on when you can get that last shot off or make that 10 yard hitch and go and pray for a touchdown. I think Lou is doing nothing wrong with holding back pitchers to get out during the commercial breaks!
If your a fan of the game and your at the ball park really what does an extra half hour really mean. I'm there to enjoy myself and take in a baseball game. I expect to make an afternoon or night of it if im attending a ball game.
Don't make any sort of ruling on the amount of time you are allowed to have in games. Leave baseball be and just take it in!
Lou got it exactly right. The commercialism of the game is out of hand. Cut back 1 30-second commercial each half inning. In a full game, you get 9 minutes back. The article I saw on this said something like the game is now 10 minutes longer than it was 15 years ago. Dust off a game from 1993 and compare the amount of time spent in commercial compared to what it is now. I think you will see the answer right there.
..granted, I don't want the game to drag and some pitchers need to hurry it b/w pitches, but baseball is the purest of all major sports - no timeclock.
Hey the Cubs dont have Trachsel anymore so whats the big deal ? Maybe they should worry about why Country Joe West missed two calls in one game.