Yankees and the length of major league baseball games

What increase game time?

The Yankees and the rest of baseball follow similar patterns and rules that increase the length of play. There are several distinct factors that increase the duration of a game. There are things like mound visits from coaches, players, and managers. We, of course, have warm up time between innings. Always a consideration is the amount of time between pitches. The dance between a hitter and a pitcher during each at-bat. The September obstacle of pitching changes and player substitutions.

We, of course, have warm up time between innings. Always a consideration is the time it takes between pitches. The dance between a hitter and a pitcher during each at-bat. The September obstacle of pitching changes and player substitutions.

Currently, the long-standing rule is if that a manager must remove a pitcher after the second visit, by the coaching staff. That has been in baseball forever. Our coaching staff does the least amount of mound visits.

If they are coming to the mound, it is a stall tactic, to improve a flaw they noticed, a defensive strategy or time to make a pitching and position player change. This practice is a staple of every team in baseball.

The Yankee’s Gary Sanchez has become a master of stopping play with his continuous mound visits, late in games. This is his attempt at making sure the pitcher understand what he wants. Gary seems to believe that momentum is not important, as he works on a player to player schedule.

This sometimes even annoys his coaching staff.  It maybe, just a young catcher,  experiencing growing pains. Sanchez seems to take pride in wearing out an umpire. By making the umpire take that walk out to the mound to break up his mound visits.

That cat and mouse game between a hitter and a pitcher often turns into an opera. The calling for time. Moving out of the box for the signs or getting ready to hit the next pitch. Backing off the rubber. Shaking off pitches. The delivery, it can include that pause at his stretch, the quick step, that slow, deliberate stride towards home plate. All in all, it’s like a dance. Almost comical to watch sometimes.

The instant replay has caused a definite prolonged game. It takes time to appeal, review and decide. Then of course relay that decision to the teams on the field. That of course, comes after the stall tactic to see if a team wants to appeal the play.  Everyone wants to get it right. Except, when it goes against your team. Of course, the more challenges, the longer the game time.

We have the umpires coming out to speed the process along.  Should that be restricted to a time limit per visit? Should a number be placed on pitchers allowed per inning? How about the time between pitches?What is a fair punishment if violated? Same could be said for a catcher or any player visiting the mound? Limit the number of visits per inning or game? Who is going to regulate this time?

All of these reasons are direct contributors to the length of a baseball game. We all want to see the best baseball possible. There is an issue that lingers, and these questions still go unanswered.

 What can be done?

Yankees and every other team in baseball are aware of any new rule changes or reinforcement of existing standards. It is evident it is not working. For example, we saw a steady decline in the time it took to play a game the last few years. Now, it has increased, and that is not including the extra time it usually takes to play those September games.

Do you want to change the strategy or the chess match that goes on within a game of baseball? That game of you do, and I will do that? That truly has been a part of this game forever.  I love the strategy and forcing another to make a move. And there’s nothing like that chess game within a game of baseball. That could be at the plate or in the field. The Yankees and baseball need to consider all options.

I do understand the need to figure out a way to lessen the length of a game. I believe the Yankees Joe Girardi was on to something. He suggests that we should install a communication device, earpiece, in the hats and helmets of players.  Joe felt that he would allow better communication on the field. Give this some thought?

“Realistically you could put it in your hitters’ helmets and you could say what you wanted,’’ Girardi said, via the New York Post. “Then it’s not a sign from me to the third-base coach and a sign to the player. Instead of catchers always going out to change signs they could do it through communication. I think you could speed the game up a lot that way. The thing about signs is that signs take time and it slows it down.’’

This straightforward idea of Joe’s could be used in various ways on the field of play.

Pitching and defense improvements:

The Yankees and every other team in baseball could at least help them from getting their signs stolen, during a game. Sure would make it harder for a team like Boston to steal a sign from an opposing catcher. There would not be any excuse for a pitcher and a catcher to not be on the same page.

Even plays called from the dugout, pick off attempts,etc., could be handled electronically. No longer would there be a need for the pitching coach to take that stroll to the mound.

He could instruct his pitcher from the dugout. This could be a huge benefit in a pitching change situation. Everyone would already know what was going to happen, as the manager could be talking to the pitcher as he makes that stroll to the mound.

Along those same lines, a Yankee defensive adjustment could be relayed and employed without stopping the action on the field. There are things like re-positioning of the infield and outfield. Even aid in player substitutions. Same for switches made during pitching changes.

Offense:

Before any Yankee batter ever steps into the box, he takes a look at his third base coach for a sign. Depending on the situation maybe he’s asked to bunt, take a pitch, etc. He usually takes a look down to the third base coach between every pitch.

A runner on base is similar. The Yankees or any teams third base coach, also controls the runner, to some degree. Yes, it is true some players always have a green light. Batters and base runners could be part of a hit and run situations, sacrifice bunting, straight steals, suicide squeezes, etc. all of those signs come from the third base coach. If nothing else this new technology could end some mistakes on the field of play.

Other ideas:

Challenges could be automatic, by design. Long before an official challenge, made. The challenge review process underway. That very thing goes on by each team’s video team. During this time of team review, baseball needs to start its process. This would allow for a much quicker decision time. Baseball could be better ready than  it is now, that is for sure.

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Rosters are increasing to 28 players, during the season. This allows a team a set order of pitching options, out of its pen, for use during a game. But, more importantly, allows for easier decisions by the manager, thus eliminating some of the stall tactics.

Along those lines it also allows the player on the bench, more accustomed to his time to enter a game and or switch situation. All in all, this ends up being minor time saving, but it could add up in those September games, with so many player changes.

If a set number of players used during a game. That too is a potential opportunity to speed the game up.

For example, if a manager has only 25 to 28 players to choose from he might be more hesitant to make frequent pitching changes in a game. Like during the regular season he will have to manage his bench and bullpen staff. Always keeping in mind a game could go into extra innings.

How much time would it save?

If only the Yankees and other teams could turn back time to speed up the game. Looking at where they could have done a better job of time usage, but that is not reality. Joe is on the right track here. We already see it working well in professional football. Where plays are routinely called in from the bench for both offense and defense. That technology is available and a proven item.

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Giving this some thought, one would have to believe it would cut down on mound visits from players and coaching staff. Improve sign calling between a catcher and his pitcher. Get quicker and faster sign from the third base coach. Better signs to a fielder or a base-runner.

Lessen the number of blunders on the field of play. Possible eliminating as much as thirty minutes or more per game, on average. One has to wonder what else the Yankees and other teams can do to speed up the game of baseball.  Remember, every second counts towards total length of a game.

Next: The Yankees farm report: The playoffs and beyond

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