Pace of play is the hottest issue surrounding MLB’s proposed rule changes. All these people who cover baseball have accepted and re-spout the notion that pace of play is the most important issue facing the game, and that if drastic measures are not taking immediately to address it, we won’t have any fans left. I haven’t seen one study or shred of evidence to indicate that attendance, TV ratings, or overall interest in the game has anything to do with the pace of play.
I personally don’t have any problem with the pace of play in baseball. In fact, I quite enjoy it. I don’t think it’s weird that I enjoy it, baseball has been awesome and popular for a long time. The rhythms are comforting, and the suspense and tension in a close game is enthralling. A quality broadcast team can keep me entertained while I’m watching by myself, and I can also enjoy a game while hanging out with friends or family without missing a pitch. When I spend $100+ on a ticket to attend a baseball game in person, I want to be in the park for more than two and a half hours. I want to enjoy my day at the ballpark. I want to walk around and get a dog and a beer between innings. When I get back to my seat, I want to savor being only a few dozen yards from the fresh cut grass and the crack of the bat. I want there to be a few extra seconds between pitches, because it means a few extra seconds before I have to face reality again.
I work all day. Watching baseball in the evening is my break, my relaxation, and my reward. Don’t rush me! Every other baseball fan I know feels the same way. Outside of football fans who aren’t going to convert even if we shave 8 minutes off the average game time, the only people I’ve ever heard legitimately complain about the pace of play in baseball are broadcasters, umpires, and analysts. What do these people all have in common? They all watch and attend baseball games for a living, as their job. Do I want to cut some time off of my work day? Sure. Who wouldn’t?
I don’t blame Joe West for being unhappy that pulling the Red Sox/Yankees series means he’s probably going to have to put in a little overtime. When the Padres are 61-80 and the game is in the bottom of the 12th, I can sympathize with Don Orsillo not being thrilled about another mid-inning pitching change. These guys don’t get paid like the players do. A short game means a short work day for them, and so I can appreciate where they are coming from. On the other hand, there is a pretty big part of me that wants to explain to them that making their salaries to watch baseball is an absolute dream for 99.9999% of the population so they should stop whining and enjoy the ride.
The unfortunate reality is that we have a self-fulfilling prophecy. Broadcasters and analysts are in a position to impart their views on their audience of baseball fans. They complain about the pace of play and talk about what a problem it is, and their audience believes them. Their influence creates the perception among fans that the pace is a problem, and all of a sudden the perception is that any downtime is a negative thing. All the while, we’re forgetting to wonder if it even matters in the first place. Baseball is fun – when did we all get so hell-bent on wanting the game to be over as quickly as possible?
