Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up on deck during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sept. 18, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.; Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says he wants to hasten America’s favorite pastime. The League has formed a committee chaired by Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz to study the current pace of the game. At present, there is only one rule that specifies the amount of time in which an in-game action must be conducted. The "12-second rule" stipulates that when bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball, otherwise the umpire shall call a "ball." If you clock average pitches, you'll know the 12-second rule is broken constantly. Not all fans thinks the pace is a problem. A Braves fan commenting on MLB.com writes, "Life is moving at neck-breaking speeds and as a family man, there's no time to relax. Going to a baseball game and being able to sit and watch a game for 3hrs [sic] is a nice getaway from the fast paces of life." Others worry that innings could get brisker, only to have television commercial breaks run longer. Would you liven up the pace of baseball? If so, how? What are your fantasy rules for MLB? What will this mean for the economics of the game?
Guests:
Ryan Fagan, MLB writer at Sporting News