The between-inning breaks are longer than they used to be, fairly significantly so. Also, the way bullpen usage goes today, there are more pitching changes, each of which takes time.

But the pace of the game has also slowed. That has nothing to do with TV. The highlights between batters etc. etc. is a response to that, not a cause of it. The game isn't held up while Fox shows a highlight package between batters or a replay between pitchers. The whole game just moves slower. MLB has tried to address this in recent years by enforcing time limits on the pitcher, how long he has to throw the next pitch. A little success there.

You can see that it's the pace of the game because there are still quick games. Get two quick-working pitchers pitching well, so they stay in the game, and you can get a sub-two-hour game even now. The Cards and Pirates played one this year, Carpenter against Zach Duke. There were probably some others but I just happened to come across that one yesterday when looking to see whether Carpenter was a quick worker. I think both he and Robertson are, actually.

It's not the scoring, really. The '30s were high scoring and the games were quick.

I'd be surprised if the average playoff game time has increaed much more than that over the last 30 years or so.

Then I think you're going to be surprised. I'll figure it out when I have some time later.

King-Time is speeding up? It seems you have started posting your columns earlier in the day, King. Is this a new policy? Or just the past couple days? Or am I wrong? Or?

Just this week. I like to write overnight, rather than for the noon ET deadline, after World Series games, which is every day this week except today. So I wrote early today to keep things on roughly the same schedule. If that make sense.

- - - -

I didn't include the NFL in that parity comparison because the NFL's playoff system just didn't compare that easily. I've written quite a bit about parity in the NFL, and I think I've been pretty clear that I think it's one of the best things the league has going. I used to be against it, taking the position that dynasties are a good thing, giving everyone a rooting interest, for or against. I used to love to root against the Steelers and Cowboys. But I came around a few years ago. I'd be OK with dynasties, but the week-to-week craziness of the NFL is just fantastic.

Average time of game in the 1976 postseason (12 games, none extra innings): 2:39

Average this year: 3:07, not counting Monday's 3:03 game, so probably still 3:07. No extra-inning games.

'76 World Series average was 2:30

'75 World Series average was 2:38 (2 extra-inning games excluded)

'77 World Series average was 2:22 (1 extra-inning game excluded)

Average for this notably speedy WS: 2:57

'05 World Series average was 3:15 (excluding 1 extra-inning game)

'04 World Series average was 3:23

Definitely more than the extra minute between innings added.

That's a good story about Bowie Kuhn, except for the fact that during the entire time he was commissioner, the playoffs were the exact same length, one five-game series.

Thanks for the heads ups on CINCINNATI and the pound sign. Both fixed.

I would take issue with the idea that the normal walking speed is 5 mph. Is that right? Running 10-minute miles, which is pretty good, is running 6 mph. I thought the normal non speed-walking walking speed is more like 3 mph.

Not that the argument over running/walking to first base isn't completely silly.

I can not root for Eckstein or the team he's playing on if he's playing against my team, for one thing.

I tend to like Scrappy-do guys like him, and I like him fine, I guess, but I have to admit that there's something about his wind-up-and-throw changeups to first base that bugs me.

Also, I think he's one of those guys who's been talked about so much and for so long as being "underrated" that he is now vastly overrated. He's a nice little player. I think he should be a second baseman, not a shortstop, and I think there are about 20 shortstops I'd rather have on my team.

but no one on that team (including Pudge) has ever been a legitimate superstar at the plate.

Wow. Tough room. I'd say Pudge was a legitimate superstar at the plate in his prime. How many catchers in history have been his equal or better at bat? Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Ted Simmons, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett, Roy Campanella, Mike Piazza, Gary Carter. Who am I forgetting?

And I'd say that Magglio Ordonez, for three or four years there with the White Sox, if he wasn't quite a legitimate superstar at the plate, he was something pretty close to that. Consistently top 10 in batting average, slugging, OPS, extra-base hits, total bases. And he was fast. Magglio was a hell of a player before the knee injuries.

What this has to do with 2006 I haven't the slightest idea.

I do think that race often infiltrates these discussions of hustle.

Oh yes it does. Behold the MLB Holiday Inn Look Again Player of the Year.

The criteria: "Behind every great team on the diamond, lurking in the shadow of baseball superstars, live the role players who sacrifice for their team in often unrecognized effort. Which of these role players' best deserves recognition for their contributions as the Holiday Inn Look Again Player of the Year?"

The Web page: http://tinyurl.com/ylf8ul

The number of guys in the list of 30, one from each team, who are not white: 2

Guy 1:

.343 AVG .417 OBP, .483 SLG, 14 HR, 97 RBI, 34-39 SB, 138 OPS+

Guy 2:

.320 AVG .400 OBP, .519 SLG, 19 HR, 85 RBI, 20-29 SB, 137 OPS+

Guy 1 is Derek Jeter

Guy 2 is Carlos Guillen

Jeter had a better year, but it was close. Really close. Jeter's going to win the MVP. Guillen doesn't have his track record, but Guillen this year has been better than almost any Jeter year.