Believe it not, the new MLB 'pace-of-play' rules (such as they are) are having an impact. According to an analysis by
USA Today Sports, 2015
games have been shortened by eight minutes compared to the same period in 2014. The result is that the average MLB game this year is running 2 hours and 54 minutes. Even the players are noticing the difference. Said the estimable
Ian Kinsler,
"The big difference you see is all of the antics being cut out. You used to see the pitchers come in from the bullpen, walk around the mound, grab the rosin bag three times and then warm-up. Now, all that extracurricular stuff is wiped out. It's like, 'Let's go.'" Give new Commissioner
Rob Manfred credit—this is something
Bud Selig talked a lot about but never implemented.
