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The Sunday Magazine·THE SUNDAY EDITION

Baseball honchos want to speed up the game. Are they right?

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has been making noises about changing the game, changes that would pick up the pace. While the baseball season is in full swing, we speak with Stacey May Fowles, author of Baseball Life Advice, and Jamie Campbell, former play-by-play commentator, now host of Blue Jays Central on Sportnet.
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Aaron Judge's fourth-inning home run, his 29th of the season, tied Joe DiMaggio's Yankees record for home runs by a rookie. (Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

Originally published on July 14, 2017.

For baseball fans, this is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy a game ... a scorecard on your lap, a cold drink, and some popcorn or a hot dog in your hand. The dog days of summer. Vacation. Kids off school. Hot, sticky weather.

But it can be hard to convince non-baseball fans that sitting for hours watching 18 men throwing and batting around a leather ball is "fun".

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista, left, and pitcher Roberto Osuna, right, celebrate at the end of a game against the Kansas City Royals. (Colin E. Braley/The Associated Press)

"Baseball is boring" is a refrain almost as old as the game itself. But recently, the games seem to be stretching longer and longer. With batters either striking out or hitting home runs, it also seems like there's less action when the ball is actually in play.

It's not an illusion. Games are almost 20 minutes longer than they were just a few years ago. 

Some people — including Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred — believe it's time to pick up the pace.

Guest host Kevin Sylvester asks two lifelong baseball fans whether they agree. 

'Baseball Life Advice' author Stacey May Fowles, Sunday Edition guest host Kevin Sylvester and Blue Jays Baseball host Jamie Campbell at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. (Talin Vartanian)

Stacey May Fowles is a novelist, journalist and essayist. Her most recent book is Baseball Life Advice: Loving the Game that Saved Me. 

Jamie Campbell was a play-by-play announcer for the Blue Jays for several years. He is currently the host for Blue Jays Central on Sportsnet.

Click 'listen' above to hear the panel. 

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