Strikeouts are killing baseball

Yeah, the five or so minutes that could possibly be cut out of games without cutting into commercial time would make a little difference for writers on deadline and writers counting the minutes until work is done for the night. But I really shouldn't conflate "length of game" with "pace of play," which bears examination (but probably not nearly all the hand-wringing it's received) in terms of fan engagement.

A baseball game is a three-hour event. Plan accordingly.

 

Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs Box Score, May 17, 1979 | Baseball-Reference.com

The best game ever.

 

Looks like one of Arrieta's starts this year.

 

Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics Box Score, May 17, 1979 | Baseball-Reference.com

On that same day, 1,634 people packed into Alameda CoCo to see the ChiSox score a paltry 5 runs to defeat the Swingin' A's.

 

Looks like Dick is all caught up on what he missed during his self-imposed walkabout.

 

Heaven was watching Jake Westbrook and Mark Buehrle pitch against each other. Both were raring to throw a pitch the second the batter's name was announced.

Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox Box Score, April 4, 2005 | Baseball-Reference.com

 

Your favorite player is Ross Gload.

 

Not since '88 has someone stolen 80 bases (Rickey, Coleman).

 

Which was just about the time the first wave of sabermetrics, keyed by Bill James, gained pretty widespread exposure.

Although part of it probably was also the fact the early-80s speedsters (Rickey, Raines, Coleman, etc) were getting old.

 

I was at the last two (didn't even remember the first one, but Google did). The third is one of the favorite White Sox games I've seen in person.

Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland Athletics - Box Score - May 6, 2003

Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox Box Score, August 8, 2003 | Baseball-Reference.com

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago White Sox - Box Score - July 6, 2015

 

Buehrle's perfect game was in 2:03 and on a getaway day.

 

Hamilton is on pace for 80+ last I looked.