The Reds had a 3-hour and 54 minute, nine-inning game with the New York Mets.
It's time for Baseball, the only major sport without a clock, to concentrate all its energy on adding rules to quicken the game. Many hitters are "human rain delays" and fidget after every pitch, step out of the batter's box and check their third base coach for a sign. You have time to go out and get an $8 beer.
Sean Casey would readjust the Velcro on his batting gloves, and tap the bat on his cleats.
Baseball's speed police need to be out in force this season, targeting long conferences on the mound, relievers who throw an extra pitch in the bullpen after they've been called into a game, and batters who refit their gear between pitches and return to the on-deck spot for more pine tar. Too much dead time is creating a slow pace of the game. Umpires should deny time out to the hitters stepping out of the box.
Umpires should vigorously enforce the 12-second rule (the time between the catcher throwing the ball back to the pitcher and the pitcher delivering the ball.).
Last year, the Reds were 14th (2:48:57), middle of the road out of 30 teams in length of games. The Angels were the speediest (2:42:16). The Red Sox (3:02:07) and the Yankees (3:03:48) are traditionally the slow pokes.
In 1981, an average game took 2:33; now it's 2:52.
More pitching changes don't help, either. Also, the commercials definitely slow the game up.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478 or rjackson@DaytonDaily News.com.
