Among other things, Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is reportedly considering limiting the number of timeouts that can be called during the course of any given contest in order to 'speed up' the game. It was bad enough that the dreaded designated hitter rule was seriously being contemplated to become a regular feature in the National League but now the element of time in baseball is under official scrutiny.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of this great game of ours is its relationship to the concept of time...in baseball it hangs suspended until all twenty seven outs are recorded. When at the yard, you will not find a shot clock or a two minute warning. Instead, one will be introduced to an environment wherein a game can theoretically last forever. It is precisely this timeless element that separates baseball from its inferior rivals and is why we are proud to call it our national pastime...it remains, literally, past the constraints of mechanical time.
The heresy of imposing a limit to the amount of timeouts is to miss the point regarding these seemingly 'dead' moments in the game. Much of the charm, appeal, and majesty of the game revolves around the various strategic machinations employed by managers, players, and coaches alike. There is no limit to the myriad of occasions where strategy will need to be discussed. In order to accommodate this need, a limitless system of timeouts is essential to the smooth internal functioning of the game. Baseball is a glorious display of athleticism but it is equally a cerebral undertaking requiring moments of reflection, collaboration, and contemplation. Timeouts are vital to this process and to the successful enactment of the complete game of baseball in all of its glory. Please, Mr. Commissioner...don't tempt fate by interfering with perfection!
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