Bridge Ball

[Batting] Times, They Are A-Changin'

Ok, perhaps not in the major league level, but professional baseball is experimenting with quickening the glacial pace of the game. Starting this year in the minor leagues, a player will be required to keep at least one foot in the batter's box at all times. A batter can leave the box, but not the dirt area surrounding home plate, only under certain circumstances. What it comes down to is if you take a strike or a ball, you can't leave the box. Of course this experiment is meant to be deployed in the majors just as soon as it is proven that it quickens the game. Baseball has already made some strides in the pace of the game. Gametimes have fallen by 11 minutes from 2:58 in 2000 to 2:47 in 2004. Now only if we can do something about the human rain delay, Steve Traschsel, we'll be set.