Seven Innings
The Washington Nationals manager, a Boston pitcher who had the best years of his career years after most athletes reach their physical peak, and a former Yankees' pitcher who once pitched a perfect game, have called for the Baltimore first baseman's records to be struck from the record book. The Boston pitcher called the Baltimore player a liar, in what may be a potential case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Once again, just like Mighty Mouse, the Commissioner of Baseball has come to the rescue. Playing seven inning games forces baseball to create a new record book. All records before 2006 will simply be referred to as "The Nine Inning Record Book." All the questions about the Baltimore first baseman, the New York first baseman, the San Francisco outfielder, and the former New York pitcher who retired to pitch in his home town of Houston all become irrelevant. They are merely part of the old record book that existed before baseball's Period of Enlightenment.
The Commissioner of Baseball is certain that the fans who count, that is, the fans who attend games and spend money, will love the new format. Older fans, derisively referred to as purists, are a dying breed and provide a much less lucrative market for sponsors. Separating records into before and after 2006 will assuage them and provide closure. Older fans can reminisce about the good old days when there used to be nine inning games, but anyone who wants to be a part of baseball fandom must accept the changes.
Baseball will once again have pitchers with twenty or more complete games a season. Games will take less time since fewer pitching changes will occur. There will be fewer players suspected of using banned substances since fewer home runs will be hit in seasons that consist of seven inning games.
If a player approaches the 50 home run mark, it will not stand out as the 73, 70, and 66 home run marks once did. After a while, fans will forget that the player who hit 50 home runs accomplished the feat in seven inning games, and that 50 home runs in the new game are equivalent to 60 or more in nine inning games.
But there is one negative, and it a huge one, for the owners. Fans will be available as customers for food and drinks for two innings less. Not to worry. The Commissioner of Baseball
Latest Articles