Game 6 = 3:28

The 2020 World Series* has come to an end with the average game lasting three hours and 37 minutes.  Game six was won by the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 over the Tampa Bay Rays and clinched the 2020 World Series*.  The Dodgers did not bat in the ninth and still the game,  lasted three hours and 28 minutes.  I missed on my original prediction by 12 minutes per game.  I had initially said the average 2020 World Series Game would last 3:25.

Part of the reason for yet another long boring game was that the Dodgers made six pitching changes.  This is not to criticize Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.  It is unfortunately, the way the game is being played with too many specialists that have ruined the flow of games and removed the sport as America's past time.  Overnight TV ratings for this World Series were down from last year when the Nationals beat the Astros.  In Game 5, less than eight million people watched the Sunday night game aired by Fox TV.  That compares to more than 12 million viewers who watched a mid-season regular season NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals which aired at the same time on NBC.

Baseball is an exciting game when played with a flow and at a good pace.  But, this bastardization of the game we have seen for the past too many years and this COVID shortened season has left it behind the growing fan base of the other big three professional sports.  Wake up MLB!

Game 5 = 3:30

Image Courtesy MLB

This was another long boring game played at a snail's pace.  Game 5 lasted three and a half hours and featured nine pitchers. The Dodgers beat the Rays 4-2 behind the pitching of Clayton Kershaw, who failed to last six innings. The Rays also hurt themselves with poor base running. The average time of game for the 2020 World Series* is now three hours and 36 minutes per game. Game 6 is scheduled for tomorrow night in Arlington, Texas. For some reason MLB in its infinite wisdom has decided to have another travel day today. This despite the fact all of the 2020 World Series* games are being played in Arlington at the same ballpark.

Game 4 = 4:10

The average length of game jumped to 3 hours and 37 minutes with this exceedingly long game that lasted four hours and ten minutes. Outside of a few seconds of excitement the evening was tedious. It appeared the Los Angeles Dodgers had this game won with their ace Kenley Jansen coming in to close it out. But, poor defense by Chris Taylor in the outfield and catcher Will Smith in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Rays to come back and tie the series at two games each. Game Five is scheduled for Sunday night.

Game Three = 3:14

The average time of game dropped slightly to 3 hours and 26 minutes each. My original prediction was the average length of game for the entire series would total 3:25. The Dodgers won this one 6-2 and both teams used a combined nine pitchers, which is one reason this one was much shorter than game two. The Dodgers now lead the Rays two games to one.

Game Two = 3:40

Image courrtesy MLB.

Game Two of the 2020 World Series lasted three hours and 40 minutes.  For the record it was won by the Tampa Bay Rays over the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4.  With the first two games played this year the average time of the games equals 3:32.  I forecast earlier this week the average length of game for the entire series would average 3:25.

Up next its game three tomorrow night from Arlington, Texas.  Oh, wait, that's where all the games are being played because of the pandemic.  So, MLB why was today a travel day when no one traveled?  My guess is Fox TV had something it thought might be less boring, like say, a presidential debate. 

The 2020 World Series*

Major League Baseball can call whatever this postseason experiment is whatever it wishes.  But this is not the World Series.  Thus, anything associated with the 2020 MLB post season should have an asterisk placed next to it. Perhaps, instead of giving the winner of this series of games a World Series trophy they should receive a COVID - 19 trophy shaped like an image of the virus.

The entire season has been a joke and made a mockery of the game known as "America's Past-time."  The reason MLB is selling this farce as the World Series is so it gets paid hundreds of millions of dollars from its TV partners headed by Fox Sports.

Personally, I don't have a dog in the fight, but am not a fan of the Dodgers so by default I'm pulling just slightly for the Tampa Bay Rays.  And I hope the series ends quickly so this farce leaves the stage of the sports world to more legitimate games and competitions.

I won't have much to say about the games outside of writing about them the same way I have the past two years.  I will be keeping track of the time of the games since they are very long and frequently become incredibly boring.  Based on the last two seasons my guess is the average length of game for this series will be about three hours and 25 minutes.  Time will tell.  Check back here after each game for an update.