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Pace of play has been a hot topic in baseball, with the average game coming in at over three hours last year. Commissioner Rob Manfred is reportedly considering implementing a pitch clock for the upcoming season, although the player’s union has balked. There are also reports the Commissioner wants to put a runner at second base to begin every inning starting with the 11th inning for spring training games and the All-Star Games, with concerns that this idea could be adopted for regular season games one day.
With these, and other proposals in the conversation, Royals pitcher Danny Duffy decided to chime in with his thoughts, and he definitely doesn’t like the idea of making it easier to score runs.
Id be all for starting the runner on 2nd base in extras if we get to start the first hitter with an 0-2 count. And if you go for that maybe we paint the seams white on the ball. Still keep em juiced if needed just paint the seams white. Bang bang.
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
I mean its creative but..The most exciting game ive ever been a part of was the 2014 AL WC game. To create a scenario that could hinder things like that happening or change how they unfold would be counter productive. Also... Who’s in the W/L column? Whos runs are they? Meh https://t.co/9Mj9L2dAa7
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
Duffy welcomed pitch clocks, putting the onus on pitchers for the slow play.
Id be cool with a pitch clock. Maybe not like 20 seconds but.... ramifications of exceeding the clock would be interesting to see! I think the hitters steppin out is more necessary than us being human rain delays out there. The flow of the game is on us more than its on them. https://t.co/Bt8R8wRtSH
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
He also blamed long commercial breaks between innings and pitching changes.
BINGO. One of my biggest pet peeves. Get fined for not warming up fast enough.... but get done with the clock still at 35 seconds? Stand around and wait bud. https://t.co/TIqSvIF9E3
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
But you can keep instant replay, as far as he is concerned.
There are certainly things that can benefit everyone involved! Plenty of things happen in ball that are so quick that a review is necessary! Im thankful replay has been put into place fashoooooooo. https://t.co/yniEIBbdil
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
As far as pace of play, Duffy doesn’t see the need for drastic change.
Not that my opinion is coveted that much but.. i think the game is best left alone. My buds and i growing up never thought, “man, i sure hope baseball speeds up and is more exciting and brings in more revenue when im older”.. we just appreciated it for what it was. Its baseball. https://t.co/D9TIa8Qca0
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) January 31, 2018
Duffy also had some interesting ideas on how pitchers and catchers can reduce mound visits.
I hate the visits too. The only feasible solution would be for salvy drew or cam to whip for heater and naenae for a bender.. two seam would be running man.. changeup the russell.. bean ball? You guessed it.. hit dem folks. #Solution https://t.co/AK50eSEqUL
— Danny Duffy (@duffkc41) February 1, 2018
Oh man, I want to see that.
What do you think about the pace of play proposals? What other ideas do you think would reduce the lag time? Or should baseball just be left alone?