MLB: 5 tasks new commissioner should prioritize

1. Explore ways to shorten games

In the 1970s, the average Major League Baseball game took just 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. By 2000, that figure had increased to 2 hours, 54 minutes. Now, with the increased use of instant replay, obsessive bullpen micromanagement, and a surge in mound conferences to discuss strategy, the average ballgame lasts 3 hours and 8 minutes, an all-time high.

This trend is dangerous of its own accord but, when coupled with the steady decline of human attention span in a globalised, technology-driven epoch, it’s near-fatal. Accordingly, Manfred’s biggest task will be to explore potential ways of tweaking the game in order for it to again become of premier relevance in the everyday lives of sports fans. We live in a world of 200-channel television and ubiquitous internet, with innumerable activities competing for our time and attention. Manfred doesn’t have to dominate that contest, but he must at least steer baseball back into contention.

There are a number of theories as to how baseball games can be shortened, ranging from the sci-fi suggestion of a pitch clock, to a simplistic urging of managers to hurry up with replay challenges and resist delving into the bullpen with such mind-numbing regularity. Each has merit, but may be difficult to enforce.

In this regard, I’m a passionate advocate of umpires moving to enforce Rule 8.04, which states that a pitcher has a maximum of just twelve seconds between deliveries. Similarly, I would compound this rule by disallowing hitters from leaving the batters box at any time other than to escape a potential beanball. No more wielding the bat five, six, seven times near the on-deck circle between pitches. No more readjusting the batting gloves twenty feet wide of home plate. No more pointless roaming and moments of ceaseless inactivity on the field.

Batters, get in the box and don’t leave. Pitchers, receive the ball and throw it. Problem solved.