YankeesRedSox.com

Baseball without the Yankees and Redsox = Hockey...

If the umps want to rid the sport of its only two marketable teams maybe the umps would be interested in a huge pay-cut...

I agree the pace of the game should be sped up, but if they really want to make changes, they should improve the rules for time between pitches or amount of pick off attempts, or something of that sort. You can't blame players for taking their time. It's to their advantage, so why wouldn't they.

I agree with the umps on this one. The only thing they can do to speed up the game is to keep the players from calling time.

My suggestions:

1. Once you step in the box and get set for the first pitch you never leave unless injured.

2. Electronic equipment for catchers to give signs to pitchers to eliminate mound conferences and running through signs to prevent the guy on second from stealing them.

3. Limit number of times catcher can go talk to the pitcher.

4. Unnecessary walking around the mound by a pitcher is a balk.

The games are still going to take 3 hours instead of 2 hours, but who wants to watch all this fidgeting around?

I think the umpires need to replay some of their INCREDIBLE calls from last year's postseason before they start using words like "pathetic and embarassing". :-)

Yep, there's a lot of games that players "play" to mess with a pitcher's rhythm, but if there's a concern about games running long, perhaps we need to start some of the games a little earlier. I'm SURE the networks would go along with that (not).

Or maybe, the teams could play the game without regard to commercial breaks for "a word from our sponsors". Whole lotta things going on that make these games run long ...

Corey- electronic signs is a really interesting idea. I just wonder how it could be implemented and how they would address the security of those signals?

Peter, same way as the NFL does calling in signals.

As for the pace of games and West's comments. He is right in that these 2 teams especially are really slow and I had no problem with Angel Hernandez (terrible ump by the way), not granting timeouts to the batters. Some needs to be done.

That said, West was out of line and just like a player/coach gets fined for criticizing umps, he should face a similar punishment.

Not sure I'd ban the crew from these 2 teams though.

Andy

I don't think that would work because the catcher is too close to the batter not to be overheard calling for a pitch.

Limiting mound visits by catcher in an inning I can see being a good rule, but the whole thing makes me laugh. The NFL had same problem, games running too long. You know, its hard to get 2hrs of commercials into a 3hr game. So they shrunk the game, and cut the number of plays down. Pretty soon you'll have everyone starting with a 1-1 count. TV makes games take longer, not the players. Warm up time for a relief pitcher can be cut down as well. He's already been throwing in the pen. He needs some throws to get used to the mound but he doesn't need to 'warm up'. But its all a bit silly.

Peter, an audio hook-up wouldn't work for the reason you suggest. But a keypad on the catcher's arm that triggered an electronic signal would. There are many possible ideas that would get around the issue of eavesdropping.

Back to West, I think you were a bit harsh now that I've seen the quote again. He didn't refer to the Red Sox and Yankees as "pathetic and embarrassing."

Rather he said "it's pathetic and embarrassing..." In other words he is saying to have a game played so slowly is pathetic and embarrassing.

Semantics? I don't think so, do you?

My son's little league games are time set (no, not suggesting that, lol) but they are playing less and less in that time because kids are emulating ML players, step out, touch all sides of the plate with the tip of your bat while you have your back hand up telling the ump you're not ready...the umps (my son is in an 11/12 league) sit down between innings and take long drinks from a soda or sweet tea. I counted one game, each infielder got 5 warmup grounders from first, pitcher threw over 15 pitches. That was one half inning. Good thing the league watches innings pitched for these young pitchers , seriously they do but let them throw complete innings inbetween the innings they count and watch for safety.

We all have DVRs, I'd love to know how much time of the 3:48 they averaged in the first two games was non-warmup, non-commercial, non-Neil Diamond?

I would support limiting catcher trips to the mound, absolutely.

I would limit stepping out of the box.

I would limit warmup tosses for a relief pitcher when they first come in to 5 unless coming in for injured pitcher.

I would squeeze some commercials out of the night (never happen).

I would contract some teams to better distribute players (yep, middle relievers that suck slow down games).

Andy

He also referred to their pace of play as "a disgrace to baseball". I think that crosses the line and I would question his impartiality in any game involving the Yankees or Red Sox because of his comments.

Amazingly, I think Curt Schilling nailed the reason the games are slow:

"The reason the games are slow is very clear, and one not many will print -- TV. Ad revenue has gotten to the point that TV is allowed to dictate pace of game, not the game itself."

But doesn't TV revenue impact all teams, not just the Yankees/Red Sox? Sure a nationally televised game might be a bit longer, but even the non-nationally televised games are longgggg.

The Red Sox and Yankees play very slow games.

These bums have too much to say, they are for the most part pompus and think they are above question..15 more minutes ...hmmm...the bar will stay open..let them start drinking in the ninth...every one thought it was funny when that imbecile tried to erase the foul line he should be fined..and have his vision checked out.. the ball almost hit him in the foot..players and managers have to walk on eggs now ..weaver and martin would miss 30 games each if they were still in the game..boy do i miss those days..by the way they should kiss the yanks and sox behinds for making every game they play a big stage..if they don't like working 3 to 4 hours a day go to work on a farm , sell insurance or door to door vacuum salesman

decent article here:

click here

Great work! ive saved your site.

Good article, BL