Let’s break this down. A baseball game has nine innings, but extra innings are like that one friend who won’t leave the party. Each inning takes about 20 minutes, but commercial breaks make it feel like 40. And don’t get me started on pitching changes—they’re basically a halftime show for one guy jogging in from the bullpen.
I once timed a single pitching change during Game 5. It lasted almost as long as a short movie. The announcers talked about the pitcher’s high school GPA, his dog’s name, and his favorite sandwich. By the time the new guy threw his first pitch, the moon had changed phases.
Oh, and let’s not forget the delay when the stadium plays “God Bless America” during the seventh inning. That’s a solid five minutes of patriotic standing. By then, your legs are asleep, and you’re wondering if the game will ever end.
The 2018 World Series: A Special Case of “When Did the Sun Come Up?”
If you want a legendary late-ending game, look at 2018. Game 3 between the Red Sox and Dodgers ended at 12:30 AM Eastern Time. That’s late, but not crazy. But Game 4? Oh, baby. That game went 18 innings and ended at 3:30 AM Eastern Time. Yes, you read that right. 3:30 in the morning. By the end, fans were asleep in their seats, and the players looked like zombies with bats. The next day, everyone called in sick—including the umpires.
Dodgers Win Second Straight World Series Title - Metsmerized Online
Why does this happen? Because MLB loves drama. They want you to stay up until your eyes cross, just so you can watch a walk-off hit. It’s like a hostage situation, but with hot dogs and Cracker Jack. The league knows you’ll watch, because you’re a fan, and fans are gluttons for punishment.
