Okay, let's talk baseball. America's pastime, right? But let's be honest, sometimes it feels like America's...longtime.
The Nine Inning Standard
The "official" answer is nine. Nine innings. That's what the rulebook says. Nine long, drawn-out innings.
But do we *really* need nine? I'm just asking the tough questions here. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate strategy. I appreciate the athleticism.
But my attention span? Not so much.
The Extra Innings Enigma
And then there are extra innings! When a tie just *isn't* enough. It's like the baseball gods are punishing us for not declaring a winner sooner. It's baseball...forever!
Suddenly, a three-hour game stretches into four, maybe five. My snacks are gone. My couch is calling. My social life is fading away.
Don't even get me started on the *intentional walks* during extra innings. I mean...seriously?
An Unpopular Opinion (Maybe?)
Here's my controversial take. Maybe… just maybe… seven innings would be enough. Hear me out!
We'd get all the key action. The big hits. The amazing catches. But in a more condensed, easily digestible format.
Think of the possibilities! Shorter games. More time for activities! More time to binge-watch shows! It's a win-win! Unless you're a purist, that is.
The Seven-Inning Solution
Seven innings feels like the sweet spot. Enough baseball to satisfy the die-hards. But not so much that the casual fan zones out.
Maybe it could be the regular season length, and we keep nine for the playoffs? Just a thought. I'm spitballing here!
I know, I know. I can hear the traditionalists screaming already. But change can be good! Remember when they added the DH? (Okay, maybe that's not the *best* example.)
The Reality of Baseball Time
The thing is, baseball isn't just about the number of innings. It's about the pauses *between* the action. The pitching changes. The mound visits. The constant adjustments of batting gloves.
It all adds up! It's a slow burn. Sometimes, *too* slow of a burn.
We need to speed things up. Less time between pitches. Fewer commercial breaks. Maybe even robots umpires! (Okay, getting carried away again.)
Is Change Even Possible?
Probably not. Baseball is steeped in tradition. Changing the number of innings would be like… changing the color of the baseball. Unthinkable!
But a guy can dream, right? A shorter, snappier baseball game. More excitement, less downtime. It's a beautiful vision.
So, nine innings it is. But I'll keep hoping for a seven-inning revolution. And maybe, just maybe, baseball can be even better than it already is. Go [Insert Your Favorite Team Here!]
Or, you know, just go home after seven. I won't judge.
