Pitch clock in baseball???

I never thought a shot clock was needed in baseball was necessary as there is a time limit between pitches but after reading this article I am not so sure it wouldn't be nice sometimes. I am very much a baseball purist but I very much prefer watching Mark Buerhle pitch than most other pitchers; he just moves at such a better rate of speed. I mean the speed of the game is very important and when you are forced to stay up and watch a Red Sox-Yankee's game until 1 am because they go SO SLOW, it can get a little frustrating. Take a look and formulate your own opinion and tell me what you think. This idea is already in play in one of the biggest conferences in College Baseball. But what would it do to major league games? Can it bring baseball into a better position to compete with football? What about the rest of the ideas down below?

How Would A Play Clock Impact Major League Baseball?

Cork Gaines | Dec. 13, 2010, 11:04 AM | 42 | 

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Image: mwlguide via Flickr

Last season, the SEC instituted a play clock during their conference baseball tournament, a rule change that will carry over to the 2011 regular season.

You can be sure that eyes in the offices of Major League Baseball will be watching closely to see if similar rules could be implemented at the big league level.

The rules call for a 20-second clock in between pitches when no runners are on base. In addition, the SEC used a 108-second clock between innings during the SEC tournament.

So how much a difference would a play clock make for a big league baseball game?

To answer this, let's look at three games from the 2010 regular season. And see how much shorter those games would have been with a play clock.

In addition to the rules used by the SEC, we will also include a 30-second clock with runners on base and the 108-second clock will also apply to pitching changes.

In 2009, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 2 hours, 52 minutes. We also know that the ball is in play for an average of 14 minutes.

Using this data, we picked two random games from the 2010 regular season that lasted 2 hours, 52 minutes (one AL game and one NL game). For giggles, we also looked at a matchup between the Red Sox and Yankees that lasted over four hours.

Here are the results if each pitch and play had a play clock and if each team used the maximum allowable time on the play clock...

As we can see, the typical games would have been 7-15 minutes shorter with a play clock. On the other hand, the sloth-like Yankees and Red Sox matchup would have been over almost an hour sooner.

And this is assuming each team uses the full allotment of time. If each pitch occurred with just three seconds remaining on the play clock, all three games would have saved another 15 minutes.

All of the sudden we are talking about Major League Baseball games that average 2:30-2:40 per game.

If baseball has a fault, it is that they cater too much to the traditionalists. These are the fans they will never lose. But if Bud Selig wants to make baseball more entertaining for the younger generations, he needs to shorten the games. If he wants to shorten the games, MLB needs a play clock.

Now after reading that you wonder what was changed and was it implemented. Well, the article below will tell you.




College Baseball Is Adding A Play Clock: Will The Majors Follow Suit?

Adam Fusfeld | Dec. 10, 2010, 10:40 AM | 167 |  2

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David Wright spends a lot of valuable TV time adjusting his batting gloves. Image: Flickr/Ted Kerwin

The SEC will begin using a play clock during its college baseball games, according to USA Today.

The clock will give pitchers 20 seconds between pitches (hitters must be ready in 15 seconds), and 90 seconds between outs.

The clock figures to speed the pace of the game, and, hopefully make it more watchable. Considering Major League Baseball's well-documented declining ratings, it would be wise to keep tabs on how this initiative works out.

Obviously, baseball traditionalists wouldn't stand for this, and perhaps rightfully so. MLB's declining national ratings are countered by growing local audiences and the sheer number of games.

But, in talking to scouts, a main concern at the Winter Meetings was the sport's lack of traction with America's best athletes.

So if this increases the time spent actually playing the game, rather than adjusting jock straps, it could be worth trying out when baseball's dinosaurs move on.

Add it to the list of changes that could save baseball >

What is the rest of the list mentioned above take a look...

http://www.businessinsider.com/five-ways-to-save-the-baseball-playoffs-2010-10