It seems like every year, professional baseball games are getting longer. In 2014, the average game time was 2 hours and 53 minutes, which was up from 2 hours and 33 minutes in 2004 (“Why do baseball games last so long?”). This increase in game time is due to a number of factors, including more pitching changes and more commercial breaks.
How Long is a Professional Baseball Game
Major League Baseball games typically last around three hours. However, there can be significant variation in game length, depending on factors such as the number of innings played, weather conditions, and how many players are on base. The average game time has been slowly creeping upwards in recent years, as teams look to take advantage of every opportunity to score runs.
One thing that all baseball fans can agree on is that there is nothing quite like being at a live game. The excitement of the crowd, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn, and the chance to see your favorite players in person all make for a truly unique experience. While the length of a game may seem like a minor concern in the grand scheme of things, it can actually have a big impact on the overall enjoyment of the experience.
Pitching Changes
One of the biggest reasons for the increase in game time is the increased use of relief pitchers. In baseball, a relief pitcher is brought in to replace the starting pitcher when he is no longer able to continue pitching effectively. In years past, it was not uncommon for a starter to pitch an entire game, regardless of how well he was doing. However, today it is not uncommon for a starter to be replaced by a relief pitcher in the middle of an inning.
The increased use of relief pitchers has led to more pitching changes, which take time and can break up the flow of the game. In addition, relief pitchers are often used in specialized situations, such as when a left-handed batter is up to bat against a right-handed pitcher. This can further complicate matters and add to the overall game time.
Commercial Breaks
Another factor that has contributed to the lengthening of baseball games is the increased number of commercial breaks. In order to generate revenue, television networks airing baseball games will take breaks for commercials every few innings. This can add up to a significant amount of time over the course of a game, and it can be frustrating for fans who are trying to follow the action.
In addition, baseball games are often played during the day, when there is a larger audience available to watch advertising. This means that there are more commercials during baseball games than there are during other sporting events, such as football or basketball.
Can You Still Enjoy an MLB Game?
Despite the increasing length of professional baseball games, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the experience. For example, many fans choose to attend live games, where they can see all the action up close and personal. In addition, there are a number of ways to follow the game even if you can’t be at the ballpark, such as listening to the radio or watching it on television.
Of course, the best way to enjoy a baseball game is to have a good understanding of the rules and strategy. This will help you appreciate all the little things that happen during a game, and it will also make it easier to follow the action. If you’re new to the sport, there are a number of resources that can help you learn the basics. Once you have a good understanding of how the game is played, you’ll be able to enjoy it even more.
