# The 7th Inning Stretch is dumb **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 25, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282 "2016-06-25T00:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/21 "2016-06-26T04:35:19Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > One unsuccessful pickoff attempt allowed per at bat. Fail a second time and it’s a balk. Three such balks results in ejection. Horrible rule. After one unsuccessful pickoff attempt, runner immediately runs for second as soon as the pitcher steps on the rubber, then on the next pitch he runs for third. There’s no way to stop him. > [@DKW](#): > > Pitch clock. 20 seconds from receiving ball to get the next pitch off or make a pickoff attempt. Balk if time runs out. This is almost the rule except the penalty is a ball not a balk which makes more sense. > [@DKW](#): > > Leaving the batter’s box during the at-bat for any reason other than substitution, automatic out. There is a rule, but it sensibly has some more exceptions. Batter may obviously leave the batter’s box after hitting a foul ball – often you have to run on these as you don’t know they’ll be foul. Batter can leave the batter’s box when trying to avoid being hit by a pitch or if his swing takes him out of the box. Batter can ask for time and if granted leave the batter’s box. I will admit they don’t enforce the rule they have > [@DKW](#): > > Some consequence…ANYTHING…for hitting a foul ball with 2 strikes. That there isn’t is just ridiculous. Name one other sport where you can flail wildly at the ball all day long and _not_ murder your team. How many other team sports can you name where you can flail at the ball at all with something like a bat? The only one that comes to mind is cricket. There are no foul balls in cricket, but you can hit the ball and decide not to attempt to advance. It happens often. One batter can in fact literally, by the rules, do that all day long. The longest at bats in cricket are measured in hours. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/22 "2016-06-26T14:40:44Z")
Come watch a Mariners game, you get Louie Louie for the 7th inning stretch. Everyone thinks they know the lyrics, very few do. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/23 "2016-06-26T17:04:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I haven’t been to a baseball game since around 1992-93. Is everyone singing this during the 7th inning stretch? Were we 20+ years ago? It basically became mandatory after 9/11, but teams seem to be phasing it out lately, which is about 10 years too late IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/24 "2016-06-26T18:27:48Z")
The 7th inning stretch is an abomination. When I get my time machine working I’m going back in time to when this tradition started and do whatever is necessary to make sure it never happens. Right after that, if I have time, I’ll go kill baby Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/25 "2016-06-27T19:06:48Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I don’t think most churches have “God Bless America” in their hymnals either. I’ve never been to a Mass on/near Memorial Day, Independence Day or Veteran’s Day where we _didn’t_ sing God Bless America. Is that just a Catholic thing? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/26 "2016-06-27T19:51:42Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > I’ve never been to a Mass on/near Memorial Day, Independence Day or Veteran’s Day where we _didn’t_ sing God Bless America. Is that just a Catholic thing? Nope, I’ve sung it in the Episcopal church on July 4. There’s a special service sheet so I’m not sure if it’s in the 1982 Hymnal or not. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/27 "2016-06-27T20:04:20Z")
I don’t mind the stretch, I hate the baby Jesus loves America song, which is usually only sung on Sundays, but I like the goofy Take Me Out to the Ball Game. My wife and I have a stupid ritual while we sing. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/28 "2016-06-28T05:45:14Z")
The stretch needs to be when the home team is coming to bat. Otherwise, the mood won’t be right. I hadn’t realized GBA was still ubiquitous, though I suspected/feared it was still at Yankee Stadium. I had hoped moving into the new stadium would be seen as a golden chance to quietly gracefully retire it. Oh well. Are they still chaining fans into their boxes to sing it? The tradition was to play Frank’s “New York, NY” when the team won and Liza’s when they lost. Pretty disrespectful toward Liza, especially with Frank’s having embarrassingly blown a verse (“A-number one” twice and no “cream of the crop”. He didn’t want to do another take). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/29 "2016-06-28T12:18:12Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Who is pushing this god bless song? I haven’t heard it or anything pseudopatriotic at a ballgame in a long time (seems like that was a post-9/11 blip). I was at Indians and Reds games earlier this year and they both featured “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”. The Reds still single out random servicemen for recognition and standing ovations, but at least the 7th inning song is traditional. “Sweet Caroline” is abominable. And yeah, get a pitch clock going. Works fine in triple-A (although something also needs to be done about batters who fall apart if they can’t readjust their batting gloves after every pitch). ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/30 "2016-06-28T14:01:35Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I haven’t heard it or anything pseudopatriotic at a ballgame in a long time (seems like that was a post-9/11 blip). I was at Indians and Reds games earlier this year and they both featured “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” (snip). At Coors Field, _God Bless America_ is only sung on Sundays (thankfully) – is that the case for other ballparks? Put me down for loving \*Take Me Out to the Ballgame \*and loathing _God Bless America_. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/31 "2016-06-28T14:57:32Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Some consequence…ANYTHING…for hitting a foul ball with 2 strikes. That there isn’t is just ridiculous. That. Oh how I remember my fury (throwing shit around) at watching Pete Rose hit foul tip after foul tip after foul tip. Sure, there are other things you can disparage about him, but that one really gets me. > [@OldGuy](#): > > There is a rule, but it sensibly has some more exceptions. Batter may obviously leave the batter’s box after hitting a foul ball – often you have to run on these as you don’t know they’ll be foul. Batter can leave the batter’s box when trying to avoid being hit by a pitch or if his swing takes him out of the box. Batter can ask for time and if granted leave the batter’s box. I will admit they don’t enforce the rule they have. Barring those exceptions you stated, the rules for leaving the batter’s box should definitely be enforced more strongly so that it’s not happening, oh, just about every single fucking at bat? Almost killing the game for this fan. Why can’t they just sing the chorus of “One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater” during the 7th inning stretch? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/32 "2016-06-28T16:17:16Z")
In Cleveland it’s only on Sundays. We do “Hang on Sloopy” in the 8th inning, too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/33 "2016-06-28T19:29:50Z")
I’m pretty sure they sing God Bless America on Sundays across MLB and probably on the 4th of July. I always make sure I’m out of my seat getting a beer when they do. ---
**Author:** ![CAMJAY77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@CAMJAY77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAMJAY77)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/34 "2016-06-28T20:11:33Z")
The 7th inning stretch won’t be going away. Been around since the 1800’s. Yes, the games are usually too long. Longer than they should be anyhow. Games were way shorter on average many many years ago. In 1952 the games average time was 2:25:50. In 2011 it was 2:56. A few pitchers I know of in the 2000’s that usually had quicker than average games were Greg Maddux, Charles Nagy and more recently Mark Buehrle. Pitching pace through the tears: [http://www.hardballtimes.com/pitching-pace-through-the-years/](http://www.hardballtimes.com/pitching-pace-through-the-years/) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/35 "2016-06-28T20:35:23Z")
Gordon Urquhart: > [@](#): > > At Coors Field, God Bless America is only sung on Sundays (thankfully) – is that the case for other ballparks? I would have hoped that at least the Rockies, who play in the definition of “purple mountain majesties”, would have the sense to play “America the Beautiful” instead. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/36 "2016-06-28T22:33:18Z")
At Arlington, they play “Cotton Eyed Joe” and there’s a little dancing in the stands by those who wish. There’s your stretch. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/37 "2016-06-29T01:46:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The 7th inning stretch is an abomination. When I get my time machine working I’m going back in time to when this tradition started and do whatever is necessary to make sure it never happens. Right after that, if I have time, I’ll go kill baby Hitler. After you’re done with Der Führer, can you get rid of the designated hitter? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/38 "2016-06-29T07:38:04Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’m pretty sure they sing God Bless America on Sundays across MLB… Well, not across the entire MLB. I’ve never heard “God Bless America” at Toronto Blue Jays games, for example. I lived in Toronto for years, and attended many games at the old Exhibition Stadium and later, Skydome (aka Rogers Centre), and never heard “God Bless America” on any day of the week. What we Toronto fans got during the seventh-inning stretch at home games was “[OK Blue Jays](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag6w_Tp50A).” No longer living in Toronto, I’m not so sure what happens today; but I’m pretty certain that “God Bless America” is not sung in Canada at Toronto Blue Jays home games. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/39 "2016-06-29T08:54:10Z")
Fair enough, but what do they sing at Expo games? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282/40 "2016-06-29T10:22:44Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > After you’re done with Der Führer, can you get rid of the designated hitter? > > Thanks. That will come right after I get rid of the stretch. Priorities you know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-7th-inning-stretch-is-dumb/758282.md?page=3)