One of the easiest ways for MLB to shorten games would be to simply enforce some of the rules on the book. The league has proposed a quick fix to help make games flow just a little bit faster – forcing pitchers and hitters to be ready before commercial breaks end, rather than as the broadcast is coming back from commercial. Jayson Stark of ESPN has the details.
Under a new proposal by Major League Baseball, pitchers would be required to finish their warm-up pitches and be ready to make their first pitch of an inning 30 seconds before the end of all between-inning commercial breaks, sources told ESPN.com.
Similarly, hitters would have to be in the batter’s box, ready to start their at-bats, 20 seconds before the end of each break.
Stark also notes that MLB officials think that these rules, if implemented and enforced properly, could cut games by ten to 15 minutes.
The MLBPA seems open to this proposal but naturally, there are other factors at play.
It isn’t known how the union has responded to MLB’s proposals designed to shorten the time between half-innings. However, players and club officials have told ESPN.com they believe a number of factors are contributing to the prolonged delays, other than pitchers and hitters not being ready when commercials end.
Team officials have expressed concerns about having enough time to stage popular between-innings entertainment such as Kiss Cam. And players have complained that TV commercials often run long, or get started late, because producers choose to show replays of the final out of the previous inning before going to commercial.
However, both sides have identified between-inning breaks as an area they believe can be shortened. So discussions are expected to continue for several weeks as the two sides seek common ground in their efforts to address time and pace of games.
Yep, we’ve gotta have the Kiss Cam during games – can’t take that away!
Please.
[ESPN]
