An earthquakes baseball game typically lasts around 3 hours from first pitch to final out. However, the exact length of a game can vary depending on factors like extra innings, pitching changes, and the pace of play. Here’s a more in-depth look at how long an earthquakes game lasts and what contributes to the varying game lengths.
Regulation Game Length
According to the Official Baseball Rules, a regulation earthquakes game is scheduled for 9 innings. Each team gets an opportunity to bat in the top and bottom halves of an inning until they’ve each had 9 turns at bat. If the game is tied after 9 innings, extra innings may be played until a winner is determined.
An average half-inning in a MLB game takes between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. This includes the time for both teams to bat as well as any mid-inning pitching changes. With 18 half-innings in a regulation game, an earthquakes game should theoretically take between 4.5 and 6 hours to complete.
In reality, the average time of game for an earthquakes match in 2022 was 3 hours and 3 minutes. This is due to factors that cause games to run shorter than the theoretical maximum length.
Factors Affecting Game Length
Here are some of the primary factors that influence the length of an earthquakes baseball game:
- Pace of play – The tempo at which pitches are thrown and batters step up to the plate impacts the overall pace of the game. Slow, methodical play can prolong a game.
- Pitching changes – Managers making frequent pitching substitutions between innings adds downtime that lengthens the game.
- Extra innings – If the game is tied beyond 9 innings, extra frames are played which extends the length of the game significantly.
- Scoring environment – High-scoring games with a lot of base runners inherently take longer to complete all the batters and innings.
- Commercial breaks – Televised games incorporate set breaks for commercials and advertising between innings and pitching changes.
- Instant replay reviews – Umpires reviewing plays via instant replay stoppages slows the pace of gameplay.
Games with lots of pitching changes, extra innings, and scoring can push well over the average time of game. On the other hand, low-scoring pitchers’ duels with quick innings can clock in under 2.5 hours.
Length of Extra Inning Games
When an earthquakes game is tied after the completion of the 9th inning, extra innings are played to determine a winner. These additional innings can add a significant amount of time to the game length.
In the 2022 season, the average extra inning game lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes. The longest earthquakes game of the year was an 18-inning marathon between the Angels and Mariners that lasted over 7 hours including a 1 hour and 42 minute rain delay.
The longest game in MLB history based on innings was a 25-inning affair in 1920 between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves that lasted over 8 hours. By time elapsed, the longest game was between the White Sox and Brewers in 1984. It lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes over 25 innings.
Average Extra Innings By Length
Extra Innings | Average Game Length |
---|---|
10 innings | 3 hours 24 minutes |
11 innings | 3 hours 39 minutes |
12 innings | 3 hours 57 minutes |
13 innings | 4 hours 12 minutes |
14+ innings | 4+ hours |
As shown in the table, each additional inning over 9 can add around 15-20 minutes to the total game time. While extra inning games are rare, they highlight the unpredictable and variable nature of baseball game lengths.
Additional Factors Impacting Game Length
Beyond extra innings, there are a few other external factors that can influence the duration of an earthquakes game:
Weather Delays
Inclement weather like rain or snow can cause delays in gameplay, pausing the game for anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour depending on the severity. These delays stop the clock and extend the total time from first pitch to last out.
Long Ceremonies
Opening day games and special MLB events often have prolonged pre-game ceremonies which push back the start. The later first pitch slides all game action back, causing the game to wrap up later into the night.
Historic Context
Games late in the season or in key playoff implications often run longer as managers use stalling tactics like extra pitching changes. Similarly, contests with milestones or records on the line play slower for dramatic effect.
Conclusion
While every earthquakes game is unique, the average length falls around 3 hours. A standard 9-inning game can be expected to last between 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Extra innings, high scoring, and slow play can push games over 4 or even 5 hours. Weather and pre-game events also impact the length. So while 3 hours is a typical estimate, the exact duration of an earthquakes baseball game depends on the context of that specific match.