Coop Fined!

that’s one of the dumber things i’ve heard. wonder how they decided coop and gardenhire were to blame for the pace.

start watching about 45 minutes after the game starts. I skip the commercials, betweeen innings breaks, and pitching changes, and usually catch up to live action in the 8th or 9th inning.

If MLB really wants to speed up the games, there are some easy fixes:

1. Cut out the throw from the catcher to 2nd base and “around the horn” after the pitcher warms up between innings. Each one takes about 30 seconds and there at least 17 per game, so that would save 8-9 minutes per game. This could be done without cutting back on precious TV commercial time, I think.

2. Eliminate the four pitched balls when an intentional base on balls is intended. This would save a couple of minutes out of most games, but huge amounts of time if Cecil Cooper is one of the managers.

3. Require relief pitchers to come in and start pitching without additional warmup on the mound. This would be good for at least 3-5 minutes per game.

4. Disallow ANY discussion or disputing of an umpire’s call or decision during the game.

I think those changes would save 20-30 minutes per game without changing any strategy or affecting the outcome of the game. If that isn’t enough, a time clock could used between pitches, the number of total visits to the mound from the dugout could be limited, but those would change the game strategies, not that it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done.