Can’t something be done to speed up baseball? Every other game I know of goes pretty much by the clock. In football, if they don’t start a play in the allotted time, there is a five-yard penalty. In basketball, everything runs by the clock; hockey, the same way.
But baseball, oh my! First of all, the pitcher must reform the mound by kicking dirt around and making new holes that suit him. Then he adjusts his cap, even though he did it 10 seconds before. He gets his sign from the catcher, but doesn’t like it and wants a new one. More waiting. If there is a runner on second, they have to get together for a conference regarding new signs. More waiting.
The batter, on the other hand, must get a signal from the third-base coach, but he doesn’t understand it and continues looking. Then, he finally gets one pitch, and the “looking” starts all over again.
Heaven help us when they change pitchers! The new pitcher takes his jacket off, walks in, adjusts the mound, talks to the catcher, warms up with a few throws and then actually pitches to the first batter. And sometimes after pitching to one guy, they replace him because the next batter happens to be left-handed.
I think the players and management should be reminded that they are being paid by the fans, and if they want to give the fans a “break”–speed the game up.
