Baseball questions

[jdb in AZ]

Why do baseball games have a 7th inning stretch? Why don't they take a break after 4-1/2 innings?

Why do they have organ music playing the Mexican hat dance? What's the point?

Perspiring minds wanna know.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Why do baseball games have a 7th inning stretch?

Maybe here?

https://www.history.com/news/baseball-seventh-inning-stretch-origin

 

[tvguy]

From a practical standpoint, it warns fans that it is almost the end of the 7th inning, when most if not all stadiums end beer sales.
Although that may be changing because some concession operators have complained that all the steps baseball has taken to "speed up the game" have caused a decline in beer sales. Baseball is the only sport I have seen that out and out has made changes to give you less......a shorter game.....for your money.,

 

[hertamaniac]

I also thought it was for those fans that want a restroom break before the mass exodus from the stadium after the game is over.

Traditionally, I thought they played "Take Me out to the Ballgame" during the stretch.

 

[SpaceMan5]

I agree with you tvguy.

I am old school and have always enjoyed the game within the game of baseball even if takes 3+ hours. I will concede the fact that cyber metrics has slowed the pace of play by bringing in relief pitchers so often.

On the flip side, we are now much of the microwave experiences, get in and get out. Ppl like the idea of going to a ballgame to check it off their list so they can get back to all the social media stuff. Just my opin

 

[jdb in AZ]

I also thought it was for those fans that want a restroom break before the mass exodus from the stadium after the game is over.

Traditionally, I thought they played "Take Me out to the Ballgame" during the stretch.

Yeah, it's traditional to play "Take Me out to the Ball Game" during the stretch, or whenever, but it seems they just can't resist the Mexican Hat Dance at some point or the other. What does that have to do with basebrawl?

 

[sam_gordon]

Baseball is the only sport I have seen that out and out has made changes to give you less......a shorter game.....for your money.,

Really? Football has made all kinds of timing rule changes, especially at the college level, to shorten the game.

 

[kymom99]

I like the shorter games snd I’m a loyal baseball fan.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm not sure the 7th inning stretch is particularly longer than any other break. But it does signal the game is winding down -- only 2 more at-bats for the visiting team. It's always "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" here. I don't think I've ever heard the Mexican Hat Dance played at a game, maybe that's regional; here in NE it's "Sweet Caroline" that's always played.

 

[Moliphino]

I'm not sure the 7th inning stretch is particularly longer than any other break. But it does signal the game is winding down -- only 2 more at-bats for the visiting team. It's always "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" here. I don't think I've ever heard the Mexican Hat Dance played at a game, maybe that's regional; here in NE it's "Sweet Caroline" that's always played.

"Sweet Caroline" isn't played during the 7th inning stretch, it's in the middle of the 8th inning.

 

[robinb]

I'm not sure the 7th inning stretch is particularly longer than any other break. But it does signal the game is winding down -- only 2 more at-bats for the visiting team. It's always "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" here. I don't think I've ever heard the Mexican Hat Dance played at a game, maybe that's regional; here in NE it's "Sweet Caroline" that's always played.

I think you’re right. I’ve been to a lot of ballparks over the years. They always play “Take me out to the ballgame” plus sometimes another song. At Brewers games in Milwaukee they also play “Roll Out The Barrel”. I was at a Texas Rangers game years and years ago and they also played “Cottoneyed Joe”. I also seem to remember “sweet Caroline” played at Fenway.

OP, I think the Mexican Hat Dance song is played wherever you heard it because it’s a fun tune that keeps fans clapping and on their feet.

 

[RedAngie]

Red Angie suggestion to further reduce the time of games. When the pitch count has two strikes, the batter only gets two foul balls. The third foul is an out. I hate when there are like four or five fouls before something happens.

Or my family’s wiffle ball rules. One swinging strike or two fouls are an out.

 

[robinb]

Red Angie suggestion to further reduce the time of games. When the pitch count has two strikes, the batter only gets two foul balls. The third foul is an out. I hate when there are like four or five fouls before something happens.

Or my family’s wiffle ball rules. One swinging strike or two fouls are an out.

Um ... no. Fouls are an important part of the battle between the pitcher and the hitter. Many fouls intentionally done to get rid of a ball is not good enough to hit in the situation but would otherwise be called a strike if not hit.

I was at this game where Anthony Rizzo hit 14 balls, 11 of them fouls, to finally see the pitch he wanted and hit a game tying home run. It was one of the most masterful at-bats I've ever seen.

 

[tvguy]

Really? Football has made all kinds of timing rule changes, especially at the college level, to shorten the game.

I don't watch football* so I have no idea. The only NFL game I went to was a TV game so you had to watch the "Red Hat" who told the officials when they needed to take a commercial break and when it was over. So strange watching the players wandering around for a couple of minutes for no reason related to football. At least in baseball they don't stop the game just for a commercial break with a batter at the plate!

*I used to drive my son and his friends nuts playing Madden Football because I never used the running game or plays to just gain a first down. It was all about scoring and putting the ball in the air. They never could defend against me and I routinely beat them by 100 points or so.

 

[robinb]

Really? Football has made all kinds of timing rule changes, especially at the college level, to shorten the game.

I've been to a number of college games this year. I don't feel like the game has been shortened. It seems that they'll just made more time for more commercials. I always groan when I hear the words, "This is a full commercial time out." since I know that I will be waiting a long time for the game to restart.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been to a number of college games this year. I don't feel like the game has been shortened. It seems that they'll just made more time for more commercials. I always groan when I hear the words, "This is a full commercial time out." since I know that I will be waiting a long time for the game to restart.

https://theathletic.com/4805119/2023/08/25/college-football-clock-rule-changes/

1. The game clock will run after first downs (as it does in the NFL), except for the last two minutes of each half.

2. A team cannot call consecutive timeouts.

3. Untimed downs will only occur, as needed, in the second and fourth quarters. If there is a foul at the end of the first or third quarter, it will carry over into the next quarter.

Don't think #2 and #3 make a big difference, but #1 does.

 

[AppleDumpling]

At both of the NYC ballparks, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, God Bless America is still
played for the 7th inning stretch, followed by Take Me Out To The Ballgame. This started after 9/11, and while many/most other teams did it as well, most no longer do it at every game.

OP, I think the Mexican Hat Dance song is played wherever you heard it because it’s a fun tune that keeps fans clapping and on their feet.

Agree with this, and I’d say it’s a throwback to the era where all the stadiums had live organists (and no recorded music). Just like the Charge fanfare, Here We Go, Let’s Go (fill in team name)! and other tunes like Hava Nagila and the Beer Barrel Polka. Nowadays, apparently only about half the MLB stadiums have organs (though many NHL arenas still do).

 

[RedAngie]

At both of the NYC ballparks, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, God Bless America is still
played for the 7th inning stretch, followed by Take Me Out To The Ballgame. This started after 9/11, and while many/most other teams did it as well, most no longer do it at every game.

I thought the Yankees stopped playing God Bless America, or did they just dump Kate Smith’s version and replace it with another?

 

[SpaceMan5]

"Sweet Caroline" isn't played during the 7th inning stretch, it's in the middle of the 8th inning.

That song is one of the best traditions in baseball. We visited Fenway for the first time in 2017 and being a forever Red Sox fan from afar it was truly an amazing experience.

When I watch the video from that night while seated in our Green Monster seats it still gives me chills.

Here is the back story to how it all started -

"The song became a tradition because of a baby. That's right, a baby. During a game in 1997, a Fenway employee named Amy Tobey was in charge of the music played at the ballpark. She played “Sweet Caroline” over the speakers as an homage to a friend who had just given birth to a sweet baby Caroline."

 

[lanejudy]

"Sweet Caroline" isn't played during the 7th inning stretch, it's in the middle of the 8th inning.

Yes, I know. Is the Mexican Hat Dance actually played during the 7th inning stretch? I assumed not. Regardless, my point was music that is “tradition” in one park/stadium may not be common in another.