So Far So Good on Pace of Play Rules

The 2015 season has only just begun and still has that new car smell but if the first couple of opening series are any indication of how the entire season will go it looks like Commissioner Rob Manfred and company succeeded in speeding up the game without really a noticeable difference in the game itself.

Through just the first 35 games of the season the average time of a MLB game is 2:51 which is down from the 3:02 average from the 2014 season. While many won’t notice a difference or see what the big deal is in just 11 minutes but to a casual fan, which MLB is trying to attract more and more of, that could be an ice breaker.

The shorter times may coincide with the lack of offense that is running rampant around the league and may be counterproductive as 13 of those first 35 games ended in shutouts while the Yankees narrowly missed being shut out on Opening Day by a Brett Gardner home run.

Players are now subject to fines for intentionally slowing down the game and may even be dealt a strike from the umpire if they are intentionally delaying the game. It tough and it’s going to take some getting used to but the rules are there and they seem to be working, albeit in an extremely small sample size, and it’s hard to argue with that.