It’s an off-topic Saturday here at Mets Police (hopefully you read about The Narrative earlier).
Last night I enjoyed the hell out of USA-Mexico on FS1.
Put aside your dislike of soccer for a minute and let’s just consider the TV experience.
The game started at 8. There was non-stop sport for 45 minutes, then a half-time where I finished off Sunday’s TWD, and then another 45 minutes of sport (also with an exciting finish). We were done at 9:58.
Two hours. An actual entire game. Even started at 8pm for those in Los Angeles who might die if a sporting event started at 7 eastern.
Compare that to the absolute slog that the latter innings of a baseball game have become once the pitching changes start. Really compare it to the nightmare of Extra Point-commercials-kickoff-commercials of the NFL.
Each sport is different. There is no way to play continuous baseball in two hours, but they really need to get serious about speeding up the game. For real this time.
Why do catchers need to go to the mound. End that.
And….this is an actual game-changer…..I think there should be a rule that a relief pitcher has to face X hitters. Stop the LaRussaism that ruined the television experience.
Now you’re thinking, whoa that’s changing the game. Um, we started letting guys bat in the pitcher’s spot. This is far less of a change that that would be.
On the football side – they could probably shrink the XP-commericals thing by shrinking the screen and doing some sidebar ads the way soccer does.
Anyway, in a world where we are seeing that even sports aren’t bullet-proof ratings grabbers, this idea of a 3:30+ baseball game is decreasingly attractive. I know I’m the cranky old guy, but go ask some 13 year olds how much baseball they watch.
