So, this is bizarrely fun to watch... The Savannah Bananas, technically a minor-league quality team (summer league full of college players) playing in the Coastal Plain league, has been workshopping a variation on baseball to speed up the game and make it more fun to watch. After 3 years of practice, scrimmages and tweaks, they've unveiled Banana ball, and are playing real games against opponents this spring. Banana ball is baseball with 9 extra rules: 1. Every Inning Counts - Each inning is worth a point. If you outscore your opponent in that inning, you get 1 point. Most points at the end of the game wins. If you score 13 runs one inning and the opponent gets 0 you get 1 point. If you score 0 runs one inning and the opponent gets 1, they get 1 point. 2. Two hour time limit. From the first pitch start, there is a running 2 hour clock for the game. If an inning isn't complete at the 2 hour time limit, the inning doesn't count towards the game score. If the game is tied at 2 hours, it goes into showdown. 3. No stepping out - If the batter steps out of the box, it's a strike 4. No bunting - Bunting sucks. If a batter even tries to bunt, they'll be thrown out of the game. 5. Batters can steal first - If a passed ball or wild pitch happens in any point in an at bat, the batter can choose to take off for first. If they're out, they're out. If they're safe, they're safe, At bat over. 6. No walks allowed - If a pitcher throws a fourth ball to a batter, it becomes a sprint. The hitter takes off running while the catcher has to throw the ball around to every defensive player on the field before the ball becomes live. The hitter can advance as many bases as he can while this takes place. 7. 1 on 1 Showdown Tiebreaker - Each team picks one pitcher and one hitter to face off. Defensive team gets the pitcher, catcher, and one fielder that has to be on the infield grass until the ball is put in play. Once in play, the batter has to come around all the bases, while the pitcher and fielder are allowed to chase the ball and throw it to the catcher for a play at the plate. If the pitcher strikes him out, he's out. If the batter walks, he takes second and the hitting team gets another batter. One out each team, most runs after showdown gets the win. 8. No mound visits allowed - No mound visits from the coach, catcher, or any other player. Shout at him from afar if needed. 9. If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out - True home field advantage, let the fans get in on the action. If it sounds bizarre, it's even more so to watch, especially on walks, foul balls, and showdowns. Games go amazingly fast, as a typical 9 inning game completes in an average of 99 minutes. Each inning has the potential for a walk off by the home team, since it's like match play inning by inning. Sure, a team can win the first 5 innings and end the game, but so far this spring it hasn't happpened. If you want to see how a game plays out, they livestreamed a game on March 18 on Youtube here:
Next game in the series takes place tonight.