Timing a Game

Grant Brisbee watches two very similar games from 1984 and 2014 to see why the modern game takes so much longer:

In the 1984 game, there were 70 inaction pitches that were returned to the pitcher and thrown back to the plate within 15 seconds.

In the 2014 game, there were 10.

In the 1984 game, there were 32 balls, called strikes, or swinging strikes that took 20 seconds or more between pitches

In 2014, there were 87 balls, called strikes, or swinging strikes that took 20 seconds or more between pitches.

That’s it. That’s the secret. It isn’t just the commercials. It isn’t just the left-handed pitchers coming in to face one batter, even though that absolutely makes a huge difference in the games when that does happen.

It’s not like every at-bat in the 2014 game was rotten with hitters doing a Nomar Garciaparra impression between pitches, either. It was a marked difference in the modern players doing absolutely nothing of note. The batter taking an extra breath before he steps back in. The pitcher holding the ball for an extra beat.

Brisbee endorses the pitch clock to speed things along. Let me note that a 20 second pitch clock would probably make the game longer than in 1984. It’s the 15 second between pitches that sped the game along. So if MLB really wants to move the game, set the clock to 15 seconds rather than 20.

My guess is the pitchers will benefit from this. It will force them to have a game plan, and execute it rather than question it. I’ve always enjoyed watching games where the pitcher worked quickly.

Hat tip, BBTF.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2opzR1H