In the time it takes to down a double cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink, fans now can watch a McBaseball game. Call it fast-food sports. Major League Baseball began selling “condensed games” this season at $4.95 a month, about the same as a No. 3 combo meal. MLB doesn't have every game available yet (no games from Cinergy Field, for example), but it should in about a month.

        The games, viewed from a computer on mlb.com, run about 20 minutes each.

        Gone, for example, are the down time between innings, the batters gesticulating and all pitches unrelated to an out, hit or play in the field.

        MLB.com advertises the service as, “Not just baseball — fastball!”

HOW IT WORKS

Condensed games are produced by MLB Advanced Media, a part of MLB.com. A freelancer will attend each game at a particular stadium and compile data from the game on a laptop computer.   Because condensed games are supposed to be available on the Web site about 90 minutes after the actual games end, freelancers must watch intently and code their information so it can be quickly passed on to video editors at MLB.com offices in New York.   Cory Schwartz, stats manager for MLB.com, said stringers report about 300 “events” per game, such as hits, outs, steals — anything of significance to match up with the videotape.   “To the average fan, baseball is a very easygoing game,” Schwartz said. “But to our (freelancers), the game goes pretty fast. Still, we really emphasize accuracy vs. just speed.”   Meanwhile, Schwartz said, satellite feeds of the games' television broadcasts are downloaded and watched by freelancers hired by New Media Technology Corp., who also mark the “events.” Software links all the information. MLB.com video editors then take over, checking the quality of the audio and video.

        The idea of viewing video of sporting events online isn't new. All the nation's premier professional sports leagues offer highlight clips on their Web sites.

        But NASCAR is the only other major pro sport to offer condensed versions of events. Even the NFL, which would seem a natural fit for condensed games because time spent between snaps could be eliminated, isn't going condensed.

        “We don't have any plans to do it,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarty said.

        Other leagues, such as the NBA and NHL, could eliminate timeouts, but those are continuous-motion sports and would be harder to condense.

        The pace of baseball, however, is unique. Baseball doesn't have basketball's shot clock or football's play clock. To purists, baseball is the national pastime. Seasoned fans can talk to friends, order hot dogs and not miss a play at the plate.

        No wonder MLB doesn't appear worried that condensed games will cut into attendance and television ratings. The ballpark still offers the ambience and total experience of baseball. And even televised games offer the between-pitch tension, contemplation of strategy and real-time freshness that will be lost in the condensed game.

        Still, even for traditionalists, it is hard to schedule their lives so they can watch all 162 games.

        “Even if you're a die-hard fan, you can't go to every game, unless you're wearing a uniform,” said Bob Bowman, chief executive officer of MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media company of Major League Baseball. “And you can't watch every game on TV.”

        Bowman said the service is for fans who aren't able to watch their favorite teams because of conflicting plans — and because of geography.

        Bowman admitted it can be “tough” to get used to watching condensed games at first, because the pace is so different. But viewers can go back and replay the scenes of their choice.

        Even SportsCenter can't offer that. Is that a concern?

        “We're keeping our eye on this, and we're proceeding with regular business,” ESPN spokeswoman Diane Lamb said.

        No reason to panic yet. Bowman says only about 5,000 people have subscribed for condensed games so far. He expects about 20,000 this season and hopes to start turning a profit by the end of the year.

        If MLB does indeed turn a profit, and condensed games are a success, other premier sports might just jump on the big league bandwagon.
       

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