June 15, 2018: National Game

posted in: Cubs | 3

Everybody wants to change the game.

In a world full of short attention spans, folks try to look for ways to speed up the game of baseball.  3 hours is much too long to dedicate to one single thing.  Sorry, ain’t buying it.

Yes, the bottom line, that necessary evil, the almighty buck always speaks loudest.  Everybody needs to adjust to the current times.  Watching as the average age of your audience gets older and older, MLB feels the need to do something.  They already implemented the pitch clock and the limit on mound visits; I’ve heard of the stupid idea of starting extra innings with a guy on 2B.  What’s next?  Why not just make the game 7 innings?  That’s about how long starters are allowed to pitch anyways…

Talking to someone the other day about their national game, Cricket, I found out some interesting things.  Did you know a Cricket match could last all day long?  Yeah, from like 9am- 4pm.  Yeah, that’s 7 hours no matter what time zone you’re in.  I tried to understand all the rules of the game, and asked many questions; still don’t have it completely straight.  But the length of one game really got me…

Here we are, complaining about 3 hours, and there is a sport, that on the global stage is huge, where one game lasts all day?  I guess maybe there are just too many options here in the USA.

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But I have no problem with spending an afternoon at a baseball game.  You know what you’re signing up for.  What’s next?  People complaining about the length of a movie?  It’s about the same when you add in all the previews.  I mean, at least at a baseball game you can still sit on your phone and text people…

That’s another thing.  Yesterday was the anniversary of MJ’s last shot as a Bull; the sixth and maybe final Bulls championship… haha.  In the still photos, everybody’s eyes are glued on the game.  Yeah, it was the Finals, and the game was on the line, but still.  Yet, it would still be different today; someone’s observation was spot on.  You saw everybody’s faces… today, in a big moment, all you see is cell phones.  I do bust out my phone at times at sporting event, I’m not gonna lie, but… enjoy the fricking moment will you.

But I will sit there and watch 9 innings of a baseball game, in person or on TV.  Call me boring… maybe I’m getting old, but yeah, I enjoy it.  I don’t care how long it lasts.  Sometimes it’s even better with extra innings… like 10 innings after a short rain delay… like 17 minutes… can’t believe I had to look that up!  Like the 17 seconds the Blackhawks needed to beat the Bruins.  I am getting old.

My opinion is that they don’t have to mess with it.  If people can’t enjoy the game, that’s their loss.  Well, the whole point is that it’s MLB’s loss, and that’s why they’re trying to change it.  Appealing to the masses…  that’s the name of the game.  The true fans of the game most likely aren’t going anywhere anyways.  They’ll just bitch like I just did, but we’ll be there… watching the game, however it changes, still not caring about what anybody else likes…  I love baseball just the way it is, and oh yeah, Go Cubs!

3 Responses

  1. rockin' robin

    I do agree with your gripe. It is, after all, Americas Game! I guess I don’t have a problem with letting the game(s) running their course, but for the most part, I cannot sit and watch an entire baseball game on TV. In person, mostly another story, but still, you’re not just sitting in your seat the whole time. Either going to the beer line, or the un-beer line, or just walking around the park. But even in person, you’re not ‘watching’ the entire game. Maybe boring isn’t the word I’d use, but no matter the score, whether my team’s ahead or behind, I won’t sit on the game. That’s pretty much the same for all sports on TV. I can’t think of any game, any sport, that I would sit and just watch the whole game. Don’t agree with finding ways to shorten the games tho. Even the ‘auto 4-ball walk’ is taking something away from the game. Is it really worth the 23 seconds you’re saving?

  2. MK

    3 hours too long for a baseball game? I do not feel this way, especially when I am at a game. Can it be a bit boring at times watching it from my couch? Sure, but what sport isn’t? I mean, even a movie nowadays is 2.5-3+ plus hours after previews and all the other nonsense they show. You know what you are in for beforehand so plan accordingly. Little tweaks here and there, fine, but nothing like playing only 7 innings or starting extras with men on base. Baseball is great just the way it is, especially with the Cubs in contention year in and year out!
    GO CUBS GO!!!

  3. Mo

    3 hours too long…no way. Baseball is not for everyone. It’s a thinking man’s/woman’s game. Some people just keep complaining about some things for no reason. I do not even agree with the auto-walk, pitch count really does matter and if someone is being walked by a SP or a RP…I want those pitches! The one thing we should be complaining about is adding more night games and fewer day games. If I was the Comish of baseball, no game would start before 6pm..period. You have to get off of work, get home/game, get settled and for most people that does not happen until well passed 6pm. Plus it gets really hot in the summer and unless all MLB teams get a dome, it impacts the game.

    Its not basketball or hockey where its in doors at all times… its not like football were at times its really, really, cold. Please associate baseball with the spring and summer and who is going to complain about a 4 hour playoff game?

    Let’s all take a step back and think about the fights that need fighting, not just something that’s a spur of the moment issue. What’s next, a DH in the NL, no more ball boys/girls at the game, or no peanuts and beer?

    Go Cubs!

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