New extra inning rule being tested

[Sammys Boombox]

Idk what the statistics show in regards to the coin flips in the current OT setup*, but nobody ever chooses to kickoff in OT so that says quite a bit right there. You always choose the option that guarantees you get at least the same number of possessions as the other team.

 

And this rings even more true in the playoffs where both teams likely have an elite QB. Giving Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, etc. 1 possession to 0, 2 possessions to 1, 3 possessions to 2 is not fair. At least let them have the opportunity to use clock management to try to even the scales somewhat. Also, why in the world would fairness not be important because regulation ended in a tie? Neither team could finish the other one off in regulation. Why give one an advantage over the other?

 

I would even prefer something like each team receives a kick off with 2:30 on the clock and 1 timeout. If you reach a punting situation then the other team gets to try to score during the remainder of your 2:30. If it's still tied after each team receives a kickoff then do it again. Similar to college but timed and not starting them at the 35. You're basically playing two 2:30 minute halves. In my opinion this would be more fair AND more exciting than the current setup.

 

* So I looked it up. http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/12/29/10682736/nfl-overtime-rules-bill-belichick-patriots-jets-decision-wind-kick-receive

 

So the models and actual results both are at about 7-9% difference in winning probability/winning percentage for the team that gets the first possession.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

I'm late to this. But I share what most everyone here and elsewhere have said. This is the dumbest idea. I don't understand why people care so much about the length of baseball games. I mean, sure, some games go on too long. And I'm all for cutting out stuff like Pedro Baez's existence. But, there's a point where I stop caring about the length of games, and it's somewhere well before this point. The unrelenting desire to cut games down by a minute-and-a-half or two... it just confounds me. Obviously nobody already sitting through 162 (or thereabouts) marathon games every summer cares. And the people that aren't watching games aren't going to be persuaded to give baseball a chance if the games are 3 minutes shorter. They are fighting a battle that doesn't exist.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This is so dumb. Manfred is so dumb.

 

Can you imagine how different the 10th inning of Game 7 might have been?

[WrigleyField 22]

This is so dumb. Manfred is so dumb.

 

Can you imagine how different the 10th inning of Game 7 might have been?

Is there any thought that if they ever actually implemented this rule it would be for regular season only at least? Not that I'd like it in any form, but the argumemts for it seem espeially weak in the context of playoffs.

[Banedon]

This is so dumb. Manfred is so dumb.

 

Can you imagine how different the 10th inning of Game 7 might have been?

Is there any thought that if they ever actually implemented this rule it would be for regular season only at least? Not that I'd like it in any form, but the argumemts for it seem espeially weak in the context of playoffs.

 

I would guess it'd be regular season only, but then you play all season with one extra inning strategy and have to change it for the playoffs....not ideal.

[Brian707]

 

I would guess it'd be regular season only, but then you play all season with one extra inning strategy and have to change it for the playoffs....not ideal.

 

 

Reminds me of the NHL.

[Banedon]

https://twitter.com/hbryant42/status/834202359374884864

[Andy]

I don't love it, but if they're desperate to cut game times, this is much more common sense than most of the other garbage Manfred has tossed out.

[WrigleyField 22]

I don't love it, but if they're desperate to cut game times, this is much more common sense than most of the other garbage Manfred has tossed out.

How much time will this really save?

[Banedon]

I don't love it, but if they're desperate to cut game times, this is much more common sense than most of the other garbage Manfred has tossed out.

How much time will this really save?

 

Very little, but it also will have very little negative impact on the game.

[Derwood]

I don't love it, but if they're desperate to cut game times, this is much more common sense than most of the other garbage Manfred has tossed out.

How much time will this really save?

 

Very little, but it also will have very little negative impact on the game.

 

So basically pointless.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't love it, but if they're desperate to cut game times, this is much more common sense than most of the other garbage Manfred has tossed out.

How much time will this really save?

38 seconds a week

[MWV]

Although it will be pointless in terms of shaving time off of games, it will be fun to watch casual fans flip out the first couple times the rule is implemented and some batter just walks from the dugout straight to first like it's no big deal.

"Why's he on first base, now? They're just lettin' 'em take first?! And [expletive] Matheny ain't even gonna argue that [expletive]?!"

[Cubswin11]

How much time will this really save?

 

Very little, but it also will have very little negative impact on the game.

 

So basically pointless.

It improves the optics a bit for when it does happen, just don't have guys essentially standing around while the pitcher and catcher play catch for 4 pitches. It will make the game flow and look "cleaner" on a TV broadcast, imo.

[Banedon]

[Derwood]

Manfred has really boxed himself in on this issue. I'm not sure why length of game is an issue he chose to champion when the only REAL way to speed games up is to have shorter commercial breaks, which will never happen.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Shorter games are a symptom of the fix, not the end goal. Pace of play is the phrasing for a reason, 3 hour games that are full of action are not a problem. The potential changes are all aimed at 'gameplay' where there is little but dead time. Mound visits, intentional walks, gaps between pitches, changing those are not going to turn the average game into a 2 hour affair, but if the time that remains chugs along and doesn't have tons of dead air, then it's a positive change.

[Derwood]

I'd rather see them implement a pitch clock than mess with IBB's and extra innings

[Cubswin11]

I think a pitch clock is a relatively stupid idea, outside of a few pitchers who really drag things out it won't matter. Plus I believe it's part of a comfort thing that the pitchers have their routines in between pitches, I'd rather not screw with that and have their performance effected. If a guy needs to step off the mound for 25-30 seconds here and there between pitches to "catch his breath" I'm fine with it.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think a pitch clock is a relatively stupid idea, outside of a few pitchers who really drag things out it won't matter. Plus I believe it's part of a comfort thing that the pitchers have their routines in between pitches, I'd rather not screw with that and have their performance effected. If a guy needs to step off the mound for 25-30 seconds here and there between pitches to "catch his breath" I'm fine with it.

if he needs that, screw him

 

learn to pitch at a decent pace

[Cubswin11]

I think a pitch clock is a relatively stupid idea, outside of a few pitchers who really drag things out it won't matter. Plus I believe it's part of a comfort thing that the pitchers have their routines in between pitches, I'd rather not screw with that and have their performance effected. If a guy needs to step off the mound for 25-30 seconds here and there between pitches to "catch his breath" I'm fine with it.

if he needs that, screw him

 

learn to pitch at a decent pace

If a guy is at 20, 25, 30+ pitches for an inning I get why he'd need to take a step away off the mound after a pitch or in between batters and re-collect himself for 20-30 seconds, is all I'm saying.

[Liam Neeson]

Get replay reviews under 25-30 seconds starting from the moment it is challenged.

 

The fact that replays are taking 2+ minutes on average is still ridiculous to me.

[Andy]

Manfred has really boxed himself in on this issue. I'm not sure why length of game is an issue he chose to champion when the only REAL way to speed games up is to have shorter commercial breaks, which will never happen.

Getting rid of the DH would speed things up a small bit as well (more outs, presumably fewer pitches), but that's obviously not happening either.

[Andy]

Get replay reviews under 25-30 seconds starting from the moment it is challenged.

 

The fact that replays are taking 2+ minutes on average is still ridiculous to me.

They should rig up the videos in New York to stop exactly 45 seconds after the replay ump taps into them. If you can't find clear evidence the call was wrong, the video stops and the play stands.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think a pitch clock is a relatively stupid idea, outside of a few pitchers who really drag things out it won't matter. Plus I believe it's part of a comfort thing that the pitchers have their routines in between pitches, I'd rather not screw with that and have their performance effected. If a guy needs to step off the mound for 25-30 seconds here and there between pitches to "catch his breath" I'm fine with it.

if he needs that, screw him

 

learn to pitch at a decent pace

If a guy is at 20, 25, 30+ pitches for an inning I get why he'd need to take a step away off the mound after a pitch or in between batters and re-collect himself for 20-30 seconds, is all I'm saying.

well then if you really need that breather take the automatic ball penalty.

 

 

we're not talking about one 30 second break. There are guys who take ridiculous amounts of time between every pitch. That is bad.