Post by kinsm on Sept 11, 2014 15:48:55 GMT -5
www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-games-also-run-longer-used/
September 11, 2014 by Matt Eddy
At three hours and eight minutes, the average major league game in 2014 features a longer run time than The Godfather. Unfortunately, more frequent pitching changes, lengthy commercial breaks and other factors ensure that the typical game is not nearly so well-paced as the Hollywood epic.
In fact, the average major league game today is 17 minutes longer than it was a decade ago—but it’s not only big league fans who are subject to more idle time at the ballpark. Games in the minor leagues also take longer to complete than they once did, with the trend most apparent at the Triple-A level.
Nine-inning games in the International and Pacific Coast leagues were 18 minutes longer in 2014 than they were in 2005, the first year for which we have MLB Advanced Media time-of-game data. Specifically, no league in Organized Baseball has slowed like the IL, which has added 20 minutes to its average run time over the past nine seasons, going from a brisk two hours and 36 minutes in 2005 to two hours and 56 minutes this season.
Every level of the minors but one is playing longer games today than it did nine seasons ago. Double-A games take an additional nine minutes compared with 2005, while games at the two Class A levels, the short-season level and in the complex-based Rookie leagues take between four and six minutes longer. Only the Rookie-advanced Appalachian and Pioneer leagues are playing games at roughly the same pace, averaging one fewer minute per game compared with 2005.
September 11, 2014 by Matt Eddy
At three hours and eight minutes, the average major league game in 2014 features a longer run time than The Godfather. Unfortunately, more frequent pitching changes, lengthy commercial breaks and other factors ensure that the typical game is not nearly so well-paced as the Hollywood epic.
In fact, the average major league game today is 17 minutes longer than it was a decade ago—but it’s not only big league fans who are subject to more idle time at the ballpark. Games in the minor leagues also take longer to complete than they once did, with the trend most apparent at the Triple-A level.
Nine-inning games in the International and Pacific Coast leagues were 18 minutes longer in 2014 than they were in 2005, the first year for which we have MLB Advanced Media time-of-game data. Specifically, no league in Organized Baseball has slowed like the IL, which has added 20 minutes to its average run time over the past nine seasons, going from a brisk two hours and 36 minutes in 2005 to two hours and 56 minutes this season.
Every level of the minors but one is playing longer games today than it did nine seasons ago. Double-A games take an additional nine minutes compared with 2005, while games at the two Class A levels, the short-season level and in the complex-based Rookie leagues take between four and six minutes longer. Only the Rookie-advanced Appalachian and Pioneer leagues are playing games at roughly the same pace, averaging one fewer minute per game compared with 2005.
