THE ATHLETIC's Jen McCaffrey writes MLB's new pace-of-play rule limiting mound visits is "likely one reason for an eight-minute decrease in Red Sox game times" this season. Last year, the Red Sox averaged 3 hours and 20 minutes per game, the "slowest in the majors by four minutes." Through 73 games this season, the Red Sox are "tied for second-slowest in the majors," but are down to 3 hours and 12 minutes per game. The team has "played an equal amount of extra-inning games as it had through this time last year (six), but has played 26 sub three-hour games and just two games over four hours" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/19).
ROCK THE HOUSE: In Denver, Kyle Newman notes despite MLB attendance being down, people are "still turning out to watch the Rockies," despite a "dismal 11-19 home record and a June swoon that's dropped them from first to fourth place in the division." The Rockies are one of 12 MLB teams that have seen an attendance increase, and that is "largely a credit" to Lower Downtown Denver's influence and the "easy-going, party feel of which has seeped into" Coors Field (DENVER POST, 6/19).
COMPANY MAN: In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise writes the tougher part of Pirates Exec VP & GM Neal Huntington's job is to "be the company man who must meet with the media and, with a straight face, explain that the Pirates really are trying to win," even though "it was clear he was given a shoestring budget to put together a roster this year." That is why, for the most part, Huntington "deserves the benefit of the doubt when he says things that make him sound like he lives in a fantasy world." Huntington has, for the most part, "been good at his main job" as GM. He has "not been so good as a company spokesman, and years of doing that part of his job has seemingly hurt his ability to deal in reality" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 6/18).
