Hey, batter batter

Take us out to the ball game

A big, green field spreading out from home plate.

The pop of the ball as it zips into the catcher’s mitt.

The crack of the bat.

The campaign for Omaha begins. Fans of Coach Dave Van Horn’s Diamond Hogs get some long-anticipated relief starting today as the University of Arkansas squad opens the college baseball season against the University of Texas (TEXAS!) in the College Baseball Showdown.

Undoubtedly, many fans would like to be offering up scarf-muffled Hog calls at Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend, but those lucky enough to see games in person will be in the comfort of Globe Life Field in Arlington (assuming the roof is closed). Don’t worry: Baseball at Baum is but a few days away. The Hogs play Grambling in the home opener in Fayetteville on Tuesday. The predicted weather is mostly sunny and 66 degrees. Glorious.

Our sports pages tell us the Southeastern Conference has put in place several rules designed to quicken the pace of play this year. Baseball may be romantically described as America’s pastime, but some folks believe it’s past time to avoid nine innings turning into four-hour wars of attrition.

People go to games — or tune into games — to watch players actually play, not step out of the batter’s box to adjust a glove for the fifth time or leave the pitcher’s mound between every pitch.

So, when conference play starts in March, batters and pitchers will face a 30-second clock between batters. Coaches will be on a 30-second timer for mound visits. New pitchers will get 2 minutes, 30 seconds to warm up. And a 10-run mercy rule will be enforced after completion of seven innings.

Some purists may frown at such tinkering, but many of these changes are designed simply to eliminate dawdling on the field of play. Even with timers, the pace of play will still allow for the dramatic, developing tension baseball specializes in delivering.

Still, we’re pleased SEC coaches balked (see what we did there?) at automatically putting a runner on second base to start extra innings, a move Van Horn opposed. Tightening up game play is fine; fundamentally shifting how it’s played for expedience strikes out on us.

The good news is baseball is back and the roar of the crowd will soon return to Baum-Walker Stadium (shouldn’t that be “ballpark?”). We’re ready to get back into the swing of things.