MLB should eliminate the 6th inning. Yup, once the 5th inning is complete, two zeros go on the scoreboard in the 6th and the game moves immediately to the 7th inning. Honestly, except for die-hard fans and Pedro Strop, who needs the 6th inning anyway? I bet half the crowd wouldn’t even notice. Personally, I cannot recall of anything memorable that has ever happened in the 6th inning. MLB has been struggling with extended game times, less balls in play and a season that is way too long to hold our attention in the year 2020. So how do they inject some value back into the product? Shorten the games by one inning.
Okay, I can already feel the heat from the Facebook Baseball Discussion & Debate page, but hear me out..
If we can learn to live without the sixth inning the benefits are tangible.
- Let’s start with the most important factor. Revenue stays the same. The schedule remains at 162 games. Beer taps can run until the 8th inning. The owners will never agree to less revenue so this takes that problem off the table.
- Since I started watching the Big Red Machine in 1975, average game times have grown from 2:29 to 3:10 in the year 2019. That increased length combined with decreased balls in play have made the game pace extremely boring to all but the most psychotic and/or unemployed fan. This simple change will address the time problem directly.
- By eliminating one inning, the game gets to the drama zone quicker. Or as music fans say, “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.“ This is especially important in the postseason when games routinely run 4 hours and end after midnight. Meaningless regular season games do not build your brand for the future. Tense 9th inning action in front of as many eyeballs as possible does. The NFL still plays playoff games in the afternoon and has the Super Bowl kick off at 6:40. I guess MLB just knows better despite what the ratings say.
- And….. no other changes need to be made. Forget the new three batter rule or limited mound trips, both of which DO NOT SHORTEN game length. The game stays the same, we just take out the 6th inning. Even the scoreboards and verbiage stay the same. Nothing needs to change except our mindset. Elevators skip the 13th floor and daylight savings literally moves time. 5pm magically becomes 4pm the next day. We can name the innings whatever we want. The important part is that the 9th inning is the LAST inning.
On a personal note, AAA baseball games play seven inning games when a double header is scheduled. I can tell you from first hand experience, a seven inning game has much more excitement than a nine inning game. Pitches and at-bats have way more value. I am not proposing that solution, but I’m telling you, the game feels way better at that length than the current sloth-like pace of MLB games.
Okay, I can hear you old-timer’s chomping cigars, looking like the banker from Monopoly hitting your fist against the table and sputtering, “BUT WE HAVE TRADITION!!!!”.
Ah yes, the grand old game. The way it used to be. White guys without batting helmets playing World Series games in the afternoon. Back when relief pitchers weren’t forced to face a minimum of three batters. Old school. Yes, we must at all costs protect the integrity and tradition of the game.
As for it’s impact on the historical record books and statistics, that problem has already been solved thanks to Barry Bonds and the 2018 Houston Astros. At this point, the majority of the numbers are subjective anyway.
Yes, one less is more. Goodbye 6th inning. Don’t let the clubhouse door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Colin Gawel founded Pencilstorm and wrote this at Colin’s Coffee. He plays in the band Watershed and his solo song “Dad Can’t Help You Now” is a damn fine baseball tune.