If you’ve been annoyed by the way the Yankees and Red Sox have turned some games into four-hour marathons, then you’re not alone.
This is what umpire Joe West had to say following New York’s recent three game series in Boston (from ESPN.com):
“They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace,” said West, the chief of the umpiring crew working the three-game series, according to the report. “They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest?
“It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play,” he said, according to the report.
During Tuesday night’s game, home plate umpire Angel Hernandez denied a number of requested time outs in the batter’s box. West did not allow Hernandez to comment, according to the report.
“All of baseball looks to these two clubs to pick up the pace,” West said, according to the report. “[Hernandez] did everything he could. The players aren’t working with us.”
Seeing as how everything in baseball revolves around the Yankees and Red Sox, it makes sense that these are the two teams that have been accused of setting the pace of games. If this trend continues, then MLB should take West’s comments to heart and do something about the situation. They could always limit the number of meetings that pitchers have with catchers per inning and also make batters keep one foot in the box at all times.
Personally, I don’t want to see any rules changed. Baseball is a slow game by nature and not everything in life has to be freaking rushed. But there’s a problem when two teams play a three hour and 46 minute game like the Yankees and Red Sox did on Sunday night and the contest didn’t even go into extras. If it has to, MLB should step in.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
