Introduction of the pitch clock this season has lopped off nearly half an hour from the length of games, viewers are more engaged with the pace of play
For years, the game’s purists pointed with pride to the fact that there was no clock in baseball.
“No more watching the pitcher lull fans and teammates to sleep while walking around the mound, kicking dirt, grabbing the rosin bag, waiting for divine intervention — on every pitch.” All of them applauded changes to speed up the game, with several of bringing the name Randy Jones into the conversation.famously outdueling the Phillies’ Jim Kaat in a 1977 Padres victory that required only 89 minutes to completeTo challenge that team record is absurd, though the Padres did beat the Rockies 3-1 the first weekend at Petco Park in a game timed at 2:03.
Jones had a Padres teammate in 1979 named Mike Hargrove. The first baseman who took so much time at the plate — stepping out of the batter’s box to adjust his helmet and batting glove, pulling on the sleeves of his jersey, wiping his hands against his pants — that he was nicknamed “The Human Rain Delay.”Getting back to 2 1/2-hour games depends on one’s perspective, however.Walking through the field-level stands at Thursday night’s game was Michael Kirkham, who was wary of the changes.
Padres fan Chris Gregori likes the pitch clock, but believes it should be adjusted to provide a little more time. “You’ve seen a lot of wild pitches. I have a feeling because they’re in a rush, there’s losing grip on the ball. If they had another 10 seconds, I think it would accomplish the same goal.”“I like the fast pace,” Valdez said. “I think it makes it more exciting because they make more mistakes.
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