How many innings does it take?

[radness]

How many innings does it take
to actually call it a game?
This weekends 3 game friendlies were


How about just play two full games of 1:50?

 

[Rolling Hard]

If you are playing a DH, yeah I get it. But in reality, schedulers are trying to get in as many game times as possible. I know the 1:15 Drop Dead games feel so short. Umps play an important role in moving the game along. Hustle in, hustle out. Balls in, coming down!
Can't wait for more sunshine and the 1:40 No New games.

 

[sluggers]

How many innings does it take
to actually call it a game?
This weekends 3 game friendlies were
View attachment 21055

How about just play two full games of 1:50?

What is the shortest game you ever witnessed?

My shortest is 55 minutes for a 7 inning 1-0 game. Of course, that was 18U with the pitcher at 40 feet, white balls, and no super bats.

 

[radness]

What would be more efficient and effective?
Little 75 minute game'ettes
Or
Actually playing full games which are FAR MORE possible in 1:50.
Or
Does it matter?

High school and College play full games....
Sooo whats the consensus here?

imo 75 min gamettes are not doing the sport a favor, someones pocket yes....
But that we already know.
Plus add the extra cheesy time sitting around waiting for the next gamette while teams shuffles.
Then the gamette break to wait through for the next gamette.
*Not about that tho!

Question is
Is it really a game if its not a full length competition?
Would you coach differently if they said
"All teams get 4 complete innings"
Does 7 innings matter?
Or No?

What ya'all think?

 

[Towny9]

Great topic @RADcatcher. Tournament directors can call it a 4 game guarantee, but if you only play 12 innings in those 4 games did you really play 4 games? I would rather spend 4 hours on a Saturday and play 2 full games than spend a whole weekend playing 4 “gamettes”.

 

[Rick M]

I think there’s room for both. In the OP example, it’s a three-game friendly. In that case, I think it’s fine to play 75 minutes. The whole point is to get reps against different pitchers and hitters, to see different levels of competition.

The same is true of a typical tournament Saturday. The real purpose of pool games is to set matchups for Sunday, and a bunch of four-inning games is probably enough to determine who belongs in the A bracket vs the B bracket.

That said, teams should absolutely look to play scrimmages that go the full seven. That’s what players are ultimately preparing for in HS and college play.

I don’t see it as a money thing. If a tournament advertised a seven-inning format but only three game guarantee, teams would sign up. They’d even save money on ump fees


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Strike2]

I normally hate any "drop dead" format, but for a friendly, it's no big deal.

See three different teams and pitchers...get some reps...all good.

BTW, you're out playing...it's five degrees and snowing where I am. I'll hear no complaints about game format today!

 

[Lobster Birch]

Drop dead revert to the score of the last completed inning is the worst.

 

[Towny9]

Drop dead revert to the score of the last completed inning is the worst.

I hate drop dead but if you were going to do it I feel like you have to revert because they guarantee you it’s an equal number of outs.

Drop dead is just awful though it’s like choosing the lesser of two evils

 

[marriard]

What would be more efficient and effective?
Little 75 minute game'ettes Or
Actually playing full games which are FAR MORE possible in 1:50.
OrDoes it matter?

It doesn't matter. 7 innings is as arbitrary as any other system - whether it be timed, innings or any other system. Rules change, games adapt. No sport looks like it did even 20 years ago. Why is it 7 innings? Why isn't it 5 or 9 or 11?

No one does drop-dead tournaments in our area; it is always end-the-inning. I wouldn't play in any timed-drop dead.

imo 75 min gamettes are not doing the sport a favor, someone's pocket yes....

I've played/umpired/run tournaments of every format out there. It really isn't a money thing. The cost is pretty much the same to run a tournament whatever you do. The money aspect is what are people willing to pay for what you are offering. What you see out there right now is what experience has shown works the best based on what people most want to sign up for. Seriously - this is what has been proven people want (no matter what they say).

In a weekend/week long tournament format, timed games most sense because it at least minimizes the waiting time and gets you as many different opponents as possible. It also allows lots of teams to play and a bracket day with a winner.

There are other multiple issues with 7 inning games where you get 1 or MAYBE 2 games a day:
- 7 innings games can go 50 minutes or 3 hours. For teams waiting that means they have to be there - a lot - that is no fun. Add in a run rule here and there... yeah. These pre-season college tourneys even on one field are ALWAYS behind time - sometimes by multiple hours. One game that goes long can ruin the schedule
- If you get a mismatch you wasted the day for both teams.
- If you get a walk-fest... ugh...
- Frankly 10U-12U at even at a medium level don't have 7 innings in them.
- More girls & teams get to play.

HS and college - 99% of the time you have one game or a dh and two teams. No one waiting for the other teams to be done. Different scenario.

And while a GREAT 7 inning game is awesome, there can be a lot of boring in 7 innings.

Is there a place for a 7-inning tournament? Absolutely - but you are going to pay about 2-3x what you pay for a 75min/end the inning tournament because there are going to be less teams per field. How many are willing to pay for that - not many it turns out.

Question is
Is it really a game if its not a full length competition?

Yep, of course it is a game. And a timed game IS a full-length competition as defined by the rules of that game.

And for many, timed games may be all they ever know. They may not play HS or college. I would not diminish their experience by saying that they 'never played for real'

And yes, of course you coach differently to the different format.