Caution: slow-moving pitcher: conditions usually are hazardous with a dawdler on the mound; a grip-it-and-rip-it tempo keeps hitters off-balance, fielders alert—and pitchers in a groove

One pitcher who always looks ahead is Buehrle, who notices hitters trying a different strategy. Instead of stepping out of the box to slow Buehrle's pace, a few hitters--Detroit's Bobby Higginson is one--will stay in between pitches. Buehrle thinks they want to make it seem as if they're waiting for him. No problem, says the 25-year-old lefthander who works so quickly he rarely shakes off a catcher.

"When I get the ball back, look up and the hitter's not in the box, it's normal," he says. "But occasionally, they don't step out. They stay in there taking their practice swings like they're saying, 'Let's go.' It's almost like they're twing to show me up. So I try to hurry even quicker. I'm out there saying to myself, 'Come on, if you want to go that quick, I'll go even quicker.'"

Well, it sure beats working slower.

The long and short of it

Don't just blame starting pitchers for slowing down a game. Although slow-working starters Steve Traschel and Al Leiter are big reasons the Meta play the longest games in the majors, the Yankees are right behind--largely because of their offense. The Yankees take a lot of pitches and score a lot of runs, two factors certain to drag out a game. If the 17-minute, 24-second difference between the fastest and slowest average games doesn't seem that great, consider the impact over a 162-game season: The Mets end up being on the field nearly two days longer than the White Sox.

Each team's average time for a nine-inning game this season (through August 19):

Team           Time

Mets           2:57:38
Yankees        2:54:48
Phillies       2:53:56
Red Sox        2:53:32
Orioles        2:53:17
Giants         2:50:36
Cardinals      2:50:05
Reds           2:49:36
Astros         2:49:22
Rockies        2:49:02
Brewers        2:48:31
Indians        2:48:13
Mariners       2:48:09
Athletics      2:47:19
Angels         2:47:02
Braves         2:46:35
Rangers        2:46:00
Expos          2:45:50
Royals         2:45:06
Pirates        2:44:57
Dodgers        2:44:52
Marlins        2:43:46
Cubs           2:43:37
Tigers         2:43:09
Diamondbacks   2:42:48
Padres         2:42:09
Devil Rays     2:42:08
Twins          2:41:08
Blue Jays      2:41:02
White Sox      2:40:14
Average        2:47:08

Source: STATS Inc.

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