Toucher & Rich: While MLB Slows Down, NHL Wants To Speed Things Up
BOSTON (CBS) - The National Hockey League is in discussions right now to improve their game at the general manager meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, and some of the topics include hybrid icing, the trapezoid, goalie equipment, officiating standard and coach's challenge.
While the coach's challenge seems like a great addition to the game, the general managers are worried that, at an average of 2.31 hours, the games are already too long as it is.
2.31 hours for a game is too long? The Red Sox and Yankees are still in the fifth inning at that point!
Now while it is an apples-to-oranges comparison, this topic segued into a discussion Tuesday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Show about the dichotomy of the two leagues, where one is concerned about the length of games and the other is not.
The expansion of instant replay and the introduction of manager challenges to Major League Baseball will undoubtedly slow the game down, which should be concerning for fans everywhere.
"I know baseball is much more popular than hockey, but if you don't think that this instant replay situation is going to dragggg, draggggg, dragggg these games, it's going to put to the test just how much you care," Fred said to open the discussion. "It's going to test your patience, and in the playoffs I don't care. Enough is on the line and you want everything to be correct, but when it's an early August day and you're watching at home you're going to say 'this is enough already.'"
The viewing experience at home will be worsened, and so will the in-game experience in Jon Wallach's mind.
"Or if you're a fan. It's April and it's 35, 40 degrees in Boston, or you're in Texas and it's 105 degrees in the shade, and these umpires are in no hurry to get anywhere - that's going to get annoying," said Wallach.
The MLB says that it will be a streamlined process, but based on what's already occurred in spring training it will be at a snail's pace and a work in progress - especially if the broadcasts cut to commercials every single time an instant replay or challenge is called.
Fred doesn't understand what the big deal is of human umpires getting things wrong every now and again.
"I don't need a pitch clock. I never said they needed that. All I'm arguing about is them making the game slower. Things even out. As a baseball fan, that's part of the great thing about the game. If your team loses it's okay. Things even out during the course of a season. I don't think it's necessary to get every single call right and perfect in a Major League Baseball game."
Listen below for the full discussion:
NHL Speeding It Up, MLB Slowing It Down
MORE FROM TOUCHER AND RICH
