Major League Baseball isn’t the only one upset with the slow pace of Yankees and Red Sox games. Umpire Joe West called the teams “pathetic and embarrassing” before they played last night’s game (an extra-inning game that was shorter than the two prior).
“They're the two clubs that don't try to pick up the pace. They're two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It's pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play. The commissioner of baseball says he wants the pace picked up. We try. And [Tuesday night's game] still almost went four hours . . . This is embarrassing, a disgrace to baseball.” – Hardball Talk
In Tuesday night’s game, umpire Angel Hernandez wouldn’t grant time to Marcus Thames or Jorge Posada in separate incidents, according to this report.
“Ask Angel. I have no idea what that was all about,” Posada said.
Woah! Has this gone too far? Unfortunately this reporter didn’t or couldn’t ask Hernandez about this, but I find this very interesting.
Everyone knows the games are dragging on too long, but until MLB puts some rules in place I don’t see games slowing down considerably.
West, the one who went way out of line with those comments, couldn’t even offer a solution.
“I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what to do,” he said. “I don't know how to make them pick up the pace.
“It's sad when school kids can't watch the end of the game because it ends too late.”
Smart, West. Really smart.
Something to keep in mind: Nick Johnson certainly won’t be helping this pace of play matter. It looks like he’s ready to lead the league in walks this year.
