3 rules to speed up the game.

[kelsey59]

Three new rules to speed up the game to be implemented this year.

1. Managers must challenge replays from dugout.
   
2. Batters must keep one foot in box unless an established exception occurs.
   
3. Play to resume promptly once broadcast returns from commercial break.
   

Game speed link

What will Adam Jones do?

[kelsey59]

I only like the second rule.

The others seem kinda pointless.

[Frobby]

It's a start. The batters are going to hate rule 2 at first, but they'll adjust (and I don't mean they'll adjust their batting gloves). See how much help these are and go from there.

[Crazysilver03]

#3 seems like it could be problematic for the NL. If a pitcher is on the bases for the final out, will he be allotted appropriate time to warm up?

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[Frobby]

#3 seems like it could be problematic for the NL. If a pitcher is on the bases for the final out, will he be allotted appropriate time to warm up?

He'll have a shorter walk to the pitcher's mound....

[weams]

He'll have a shorter walk to the pitcher's mound....

I like it. Or, just give them a DH like the offensive numbers will dictate.

[Moose Milligan]

Here's what it looks like they're doing for 2015: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

I don't get it, how faster is the game going to be? 5-10 minutes? Is that really noticeable? Do I care if a Sunday game ends at 3:50 or 4:05? Do I care if a night game during the week ends at 10pm or 10:10pm?

MLB also wants more offense, which would mean more scoring and longer innings but they want to shorten the game and not shorten it by a real noticeable amount. IMO, they won't be able to have it both ways. If this is just nitpicking over a few minutes here or there, it doesn't mean much to me.

Try tackling something else like starting a World Series game on the weekend during the day, Pete Rose, etc...something that people actually care about more than shaving 5 minutes off a game. I really don't understand, an NFL game takes 3 hours, why can't an MLB take the same time?

[Aglets]

Here's what it looks like they're doing for 2015: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

I don't get it, how faster is the game going to be? 5-10 minutes? Is that really noticeable? Do I care if a Sunday game ends at 3:50 or 4:05? Do I care if a night game during the week ends at 10pm or 10:10pm?

MLB also wants more offense, which would mean more scoring and longer innings but they want to shorten the game and not shorten it by a real noticeable amount. IMO, they won't be able to have it both ways. If this is just nitpicking over a few minutes here or there, it doesn't mean much to me.

Try tackling something else like starting a World Series game on the weekend during the day, Pete Rose, etc...something that people actually care about more than shaving 5 minutes off a game. I really don't understand, an NFL game takes 3 hours, why can't an MLB take the same time?

It's a false choice to imply that MLB has to choose between shortening games and increasing offense.

Over the past several years, time of game has steadily increased, while offensive scoring has steadily decreased. In the late 90s PED era scoring was much higher yet games were shorter. We can get back there, we just need to isolate what's changed to lengthen games so much since then.

[PA724_Oriole]

It's a false choice to imply that MLB has to choose between shortening games and increasing offense.

Over the past several years, time of game has steadily increased, while offensive scoring has steadily decreased. In the late 90s PED era scoring was much higher yet games were shorter. We can get back there, we just need to isolate what's changed to lengthen games so much since then.

At the same time, these the changes also weren't in effect in the PED era as you mentioned. So what makes them think it will help. I agree with Moose and if they want to make the game faster, the best way is to not play 90 seconds worth of commercials between innings. They don't need that long, neither should a pitcher.

It's all about money so they aren't cutting commercials ( even though I'm sure they make enough money without them. And longer games mean more beer and food bought at the stadium. I feel they want the appearance that they are trying to shorten the games but really don't want to.

[Beef Supreme]

Resuming play immediately upon returning from commercials is the best idea I see. The increase in commercials has had the greatest impact on game length. Since the number of commercials won't be decreased, at least narrow the span between innings as much as possible. Pitchers will have fully adequate time to warm up.

But if they could figure out a way to decrease the time between innings, it would improve the flow of the game for fans.

[mdbdotcom]

I'd like to see them implement these 3 rules:

1. If you wear it in the batter's box, you wear it on the basepaths. Every time someone gets on base it's a two-minute time out while they remove their protective armor and batting gloves. And if someone hits a double and the first base coach has to trot out to second, might as well make a sandwich. Speed up the game and stop coddling the hitters.

2. No fraternization on the field. It used to be that players from opposite teams would be fined for talking with each other on the field once the gates were opened. I'd just like to see them stop all the chitchat on the bases during the games. It might not save a lot of time, but it will save my stomach from getting upset with these "rivals" acting like they're at a cocktail party out there.

3. Limit the time from the moment the manager signals to the bullpen and when the new pitcher throws the first pitch. This should be a minor delay, not an intermission. I don't know what the number of seconds should be, but once it reaches that mark a ball should be called.

[Frobby]

Here's what it looks like they're doing for 2015: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

I don't get it, how faster is the game going to be? 5-10 minutes? Is that really noticeable? Do I care if a Sunday game ends at 3:50 or 4:05? Do I care if a night game during the week ends at 10pm or 10:10pm?

MLB also wants more offense, which would mean more scoring and longer innings but they want to shorten the game and not shorten it by a real noticeable amount. IMO, they won't be able to have it both ways. If this is just nitpicking over a few minutes here or there, it doesn't mean much to me.

Try tackling something else like starting a World Series game on the weekend during the day, Pete Rose, etc...something that people actually care about more than shaving 5 minutes off a game. I really don't understand, an NFL game takes 3 hours, why can't an MLB take the same time?

NFL games are once a week, usually in the afternoon. MLB games are 6-7 times a week, usually not starting until 7 pm or later. For me, I have to drive 45 minutes home after the game, and get up at 6 a.m. the next day. An extra 10-15 minutes means a lot to me. Moreover, we're talking about eliminating dead time here. I get no enjoyment at all out of watching a batter wander around after taking a pitch and adjust his batting gloves for the 10th time. I get no enjoyment from guys lallygogging along between innings. I get enjoyment from watching them play the danged game! Baseball is much more enjoyable to watch when it's faster paced.

I care about this a lot more than I care about Pete Rose's pathetic attempts to avoid the known consequences of his own decisions.

[PA724_Oriole]

NFL games are once a week, usually in the afternoon. MLB games are 6-7 times a week, usually not starting until 7 pm or later. For me, I have to drive 45 minutes home after the game, and get up at 6 a.m. the next day. An extra 10-15 minutes means a lot to me. Moreover, we're talking about eliminating dead time here. I get no enjoyment at all out of watching a batter wander around after taking a pitch and adjust his batting gloves for the 10th time. I get no enjoyment from guys lallygogging along between innings. I get enjoyment from watching them play the danged game! Baseball is much more enjoyable to watch when it's faster paced.

I care about this a lot more than I care about Pete Rose's pathetic attempts to avoid the known consequences of his own decisions.

In the grand scheme of things, ten minutes means nothing other than to ppl in your situation.

And on another note. If the game went to extras, would you stay and watch? If so, then that extra 10 or 15 minutes obviously wouldn't be that important to you.

The answer lies in the time between innings and between pitching changes as mlbdotcom stated. there is about 40 minutes wasted during those times. Figure out a way to shave that in half and none of the little in game things would be a concern.

[DrungoHazewood]

Here's what it looks like they're doing for 2015: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

I don't get it, how faster is the game going to be? 5-10 minutes? Is that really noticeable? Do I care if a Sunday game ends at 3:50 or 4:05? Do I care if a night game during the week ends at 10pm or 10:10pm?

Yes, you should. Every minute of downtime you've shaved is a minute of eyeballs that otherwise disappear from the TV screen. Which is revenues, which is the health of the game. And it's the 8-year-olds and 10-year-olds who're becoming baseball fans who are most effected by long games. My kids essentially never see past the 5th inning of a game. Five or 10 minutes won't fix that, but it helps, and this is just one step.

MLB also wants more offense, which would mean more scoring and longer innings but they want to shorten the game and not shorten it by a real noticeable amount. IMO, they won't be able to have it both ways. If this is just nitpicking over a few minutes here or there, it doesn't mean much to me.

It's not a linear relationship between runs and game length. Games were ~2 hours in the 1890s and 1920-30s when there were many, many more runs scored than today. Obviously commercials and pitching changes are different today, but an hour+?

Try tackling something else like starting a World Series game on the weekend during the day, Pete Rose, etc...something that people actually care about more than shaving 5 minutes off a game. I really don't understand, an NFL game takes 3 hours, why can't an MLB take the same time?

I think people would have a lot more problem with 3-4 hour NFL games if they happened 162 times a year, and you regularly had five of them a week on work/school nights. Baseball fans skew old, and the next generation of fans simply can't see more than half a game, most of the time, until they're teenagers. I think MLB needs to be very careful in relying so heavily on both the cable TV bubble, and older fans. It could get really ugly if cable goes a la carte and you're the 4th- or 5th-most popular sport in North American among those under 30.

[weams]

Managers will now get an additional second challenge to use during a game, but those managers will be encouraged by umpires to initiate those challenges more promptly via a signal from the dugout.

Two challenges.