Defeating Time Click Here for other interesting Articles     March 1, 2015

Baseball has always been my favorite sport. One reason is that America's favorite pastime can be played in a variety of ways as well as places. A whiffle ball and plastic bat allows the game to be played almost anywhere including in a swimming pool. All one needs is a broom handle and an air ball and two people can compete in a game of stick ball. If the ball deflates, simply cutting it in two allows for a game of half ball. The game has even been known to be played by cutting a garden whose and using it in place of a ball.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of baseball; what I always liked best about the game, and why I have at all times had such passion for the sport, is that there is no clock. Baseball has defeated time - the game can last forever.

Of all the major sports I believe baseball touches the senses best. There is the cracking sound of a bat hitting a pitched baseball, the popping of a fielder's mitt catching a fly ball, and the thunderous ovation of a large crowd cheering for a home run. A Kelly green baseball diamond provides a picturesque view displayed under bright lights in the twilight. The smell of grilled sausage fills the ballpark with a mouth-watering aroma. And the refreshing tastes of an ice cold beer on a hot summer's night is hard to beat.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of baseball; what I always liked best about the game, and why I have at all times had such passion for the sport, is that there is no clock. Baseball has defeated time - the game can last forever. Ironically, what I like best about the game is the very thing that is hurting it. The games simply take too long! Many times games are taking over three hours to complete. It is time for a change.

Whenever the subject of speeding up the game is debated, inevitably the first suggestion is the elimination of the intentional walk. However, I must argue that the time saved by removing four pitches from the game is negligible. The intentional walk is a rare occurrence. It may take place once or twice a game. Many times not at all. To have a truly significant impact on the pace of play one must ask who controls game. Since 75% of the game is pitching let's star there.

All objects should be removed from the pitching mound. I am referring to the rosin bag. I recently viewed a baseball game where the pitcher grabbed the rosin bag after each pitch like a child pursuing a favorite toy. This is a waste of time. If the pitcher's hands are wet with perspiration he can wipe them off on his pants as we did when we played little league ball.

Another accomplice of slow play is the amount of conferences at the pitching mound. In his bestselling book, Ball Four, pitcher Jim Bouton gave some insight as to what critical information is conveyed during these visits. On one such visit the manager's advice on pitching to the next hitter was, "Don't give him anything good to hit but don't walk him". Gee thanks!

Visits to the mound should be eliminated especially by the catcher. The only thing most catcher's know about pitching is that they can't hit it. How often do we see the catcher walk out to the mound to discuss pitching strategy? This leads to the umpire making the same visit to "speed things up". The pitchers and catchers should have their "sign language" understood before the start of an inning. Otherwise too bad.

Each team should get two thirty second time outs per game. When time out is called, one coach and any or all fielders may visit the mound. If a player or coach attempts a visit without calling time out all runners advance one base. If there are no base runners the batter is awarded first base. If the manager wants to make a pitching change, he is allowed on the field until the new pitcher completes his warm-up throws.

The game is also significantly lengthened by the amount of pick-off attempts. Most of the time this effort is futile and only performed for the purpose of keeping the runner close. Instead of placing this burden on the pitcher, baseball should mark a spot between each of the bases to be known as the maximum lead spot. Prior to a pitched ball, the base runner may not pass this spot unless they are on route to the next base. Otherwise they are ruled out. This will lessen the incentive for the pitcher to attempt monotonous pick-off attempts that only serve to delay the game.

At the start of each inning and after a play or pitch is completed, the umpire should use his discretion to resume play. At this time the batter must step into the batter's box and the pitcher should get no more than 10 seconds to deliver the pitch. At this time the batter must remain in the box and is not permitted to call time-out. If the pitcher fails to deliver a pitch the batter is awarded a ball.

Anyone who plays golf knows that slow paly can ruin a nice day. This is why most golf courses have rangers patrolling in carts to encourage sluggish golfers to pick up their pace. Professional golfers are timed. If their play is consistently slow, they are penalized. Perhaps it's time to discipline Major League Baseball players for slow play. At the discretion of the umpire a ball or strike will be issued to the offending team (batting or fielding).

Major League Baseball would be wise to step back and obseve the Little League World Series. Pitchers do not stray from the mound after a pitch. They remain close to the rubber and are ready to fire the next pitch. There is no rosin bag to distract the pitcher. The batter stays in the batters box and is always ready for the next pitch. It is basically a came of pich and catch.

By applying creative thinking, the length of a baseball game can be reduced without sacrificing the tradition of the game. After all, "Ninety percent of the game is half mental" - Yogi Berra.