Require Relievers to Face More than 1 Batter? I think I like this.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If I were to guess what the #1 reason for the games taking forever these days, it's all the pitching changes. 

A contributing factor in the historical view, but not really all that important to the recent explosion in game times:

 

http://www.captainsblog.info/2014/10/25/for-love-of-the-game-mlb-should-go-slow-with-time-saving-measureslength-of-game-pitch-clocks-average-time-of-baseball-game/22197/

 

 

 

Since 2011, the average length of a baseball game has increased by over 10 minutes

...

Replay and more relief pitchers have combined to add approximately two minutes per game, but that barely scratches the surface of the recent time increase.

[Dman]

Personally I think the pitch clock angst is overblown.  So you have a man on first and still have to pitch within say 20 seconds.  If the runner see's the clock run down and believes the pitcher has to throw it and takes off but the pitcher holds it takes a ball and throws him out isn't that strategy as well.  Isn't a pitch-out essentially conceding a ball to take a chance on throwing out the runner?   I think baseball strategy just evolves with the pitch clock.

 

That being said the larger issue is that there appears to be no issue with the length of the game and baseball's popularity. So do you want to risk that in order make the sport slightly more appealing with the downside of potentially losing baseball purists?  I guess that is the larger question.  I know my boys don't watch and I have to beg them to go to games so in my mind there is some truth to the younger generation not being as interested.  In the end it would seem odd to mess with a good thing.

[Taildragger8791]

Personally I think the pitch clock angst is overblown.  So you have a man on first and still have to pitch within say 20 seconds.  If the runner see's the clock run down and believes the pitcher has to throw it and takes off but the pitcher holds it takes a ball and throws him out isn't that strategy as well.  Isn't a pitch-out essentially conceding a ball to take a chance on throwing out the runner?   I think baseball strategy just evolves with the pitch clock.

 

I believe the clock is only in effect when the bases are empty.