Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Basketball addressed pace of play. Baseball ... duh.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) changed rules for the current season to speed up pace of play, i.e., removing dead time between plays. The result has been more plays and higher scoring. Sounds good. Basketball has a clock, both for total minutes (48) and length of possession (24 seconds).

NBA teams are playing at a breakneck pace, scoring like crazy and it's not going to stop any time soon
Point totals and pace are up significantly from last season, so what exactly is going on? by Colin Ward-Henninger @Colin CBSSports Oct 25, 2018


... in the NBA so far in the 2018-19 season ... a frenetic pace and staggeringly high point totals on a nightly basis have caused even the most casual fan to raise an eyebrow ...

Looking at this season's mind-boggling numbers regarding pace (estimated number of possessions per game) and scoring, it's safe to say that the NBA has reached a tipping point...

... the rule changes implemented by the NBA over the past few seasons have encouraged a faster, higher-scoring game ... the subtleties within the rule -- not just the changes, but within the interpretations of the rule ...
Starting in 2004, when the NBA eliminated hand-checking above the free throw line, the league has shifted more toward perimeter play rather than post-ups. This season, new rules addressing "freedom of movement" have made it even more difficult for defenses to contain potent, wing-heavy offenses that have become so popular.
This isn't unique to the NBA. The NFL has enacted similar rule changes over the years to limit contact between defensive backs and receivers, leading to more effective passing and increased scoring. Ultimately both leagues are trying to serve their audience, and the regulations encourage a more up-tempo, entertaining style.
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Notice that the NFL is also mentioned. But not baseball.

Pace of play: just order the damn umpires to not call time out! Thursday, February 1, 2018

My head is going to explode if I hear one more moronic discussion about rule changes to improve pace of play, which invariably include stuff like limiting the number of pitchers, which impacts length of games but NOT pace of play!

Much of it sounds like: OK, only one time out per pitch, unless they really need more.

Order the umpires to not call time out. You know, like the other sports. Come on, baseball is a simple game. There's not much to think about and not much to talk about.

I see no reason that the umpires need to be consulted. It's not a rule change. Don't give either the umpires or the players any excuse to claim that they can oppose. Make it a simple procedural issue. Umpires, do not call time. Umpires, impose the penalties already on the books for not complying. See, it's simple.

Commissioner Rob Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, pretend that you are the chief executive of the major baseball league. Take control of your bodily functions and issue the order.
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It's beyond me why the baseball commissioner does not simply order umpires to not grant time out in 99% of the situations they are currently granted now, either implicitly or explicitly. That's not changing the rules. Only the umpires can call time out. The players and coaches can only request time out. A mound visit requires time out. Don't grant it. Forget about counting visits. Just don't allow them.

The batter stepping out of the box requires a time out. Otherwise, the pitcher could simply throw the ball right down Broadway for an easy strike. Unless, of course, the pitcher is complicit in this slow motion death dance that kills the game. It helps if the pitcher is stupid.

So why doesn't it happen? Baseball pretends that it does not have a clock but it does. It just prefers to ignore its own rule, the one that could actually save the game from itself. There's a 12 second rule with no runners on base. Previous commissioner Allan Huber "Bud" Selig explicitly refused to enforce it.

Selig refuses to enforce existing 12 second rule between pitches! Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Allan Huber "Bud" Selig should suspend himself 211 games and self flagellate indefinitely.
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Increase time to reduce time: only in the Bud Selig Alice in Wonderland league. Sunday, January 18, 2015
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Everyone else remains ignorant or equivalent. Current commissioner, Manfred the A-Rod Slayer, does not want to upset any of the unions: players or umpires.

Apparently ordering the umpires to enforce the 12 second rule might cause a problem, probably with both unions. Manfred is too timid to offend either union. And too unimaginative to order the umpires to not grant time out. Manfred would prefer that changes be so imperceptible that improvement is not noticed. This is criminally moronic.

Pace of play Kabuki dance. Monday, March 30, 2015

Manfred, the A-Rod Slayer, on pace of play changes: evolutionary, rather than radical. Thursday, April 2, 2015

Pace of play improvement policy abandoned? Sunday, May 3, 2015


Rob Manfred "considering radical changes". If only. Thursday, November 10, 2016

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