How Long Are New York Mets Games?

Baseball may be thought of as one of the more complicated sports in America. However, the rules of the sport are generally quite simple and straightforward. Nonetheless, baseball, unlike other popular sports such as basketball, soccer, hockey, and football, has no set time limit.

This means that, theoretically, a baseball game could last as little as half an hour to as long as eight hours. However, generally, most baseball games start and end within a similar amount of time.

But if you are wondering just how long a New York Mets game is, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below, we will take a look at how long a New York Mets game is and what you can expect when you go to a Mets game at Citi Field.

Attending a New York Mets game? Find out what to wear to Citi Field!

Things to do Around Citi Field

Let’s be honest, in the heart of the Queens in New York City, there are a plethora of options and things to do both before and after a Mets game.  Whether you’re getting to Citi Field by foot, taxi, or the subway, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.

• Queens Zoo – the Queens Zoo is a mere .8 miles from Citi Field and is a great, family friendly activity to do before the Mets game.  You can experience animals from both North and South America and even partake in some live animal feedings.  With tickets starting at under $10 for adults and under $7 for kids, it’s a practical and fun experience for everyone involved!
• New York Hall of Science – the New York Hall of Science, also known as NYSCI, is a science museum located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.  Close to Citi Field, it occupies one of the last remaining structures from the 1964 New York World’s Fair and is the only hands-on science and technology museum in New York City.
• Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt – Flushing Meadows Golf Center is located in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens and is right next to Citi Field and the United States Tennis Center.  Consisting of an 18 hole “pitch & putt” golf course and a modern mini-golf course, it’s a great option for both experience and novice golfers from around the world.
• Blue Smoke – Blue Smoke is a restaurant near Citi Field which serves up mouthwatering barbecue, sides, and homestyle baked goods.  Known for their warmth and hospitality, Blue Smoke is led by executive chef Bret Lunsford and draws inspiration from the southern US.

How Many Innings Are in a Baseball Game?

Unlike basketball, football, soccer, or hockey, which are governed by individual time limits by quarter, half, or periods, baseball is divided into innings. And, in order for an inning to be completed, there must be six total outs with each team being afforded three outs before the end of an inning half.

The completion of an inning is determined when six total outs have been completed against both teams combined.

However, there are a few different ways a team can accrue an out against the opposing team.

• A batter strikes out, wherein they attempt to hit the ball but are unable to, in three separate chances
• The batter flies out, wherein they strike the ball but it is caught before landing on the field
• The batter is tagged out, wherein they are touched by an opponent who has the ball in hand and while they are not safely standing on a base

In terms of innings played, it is dependent on the level of play and individual league to determine the total number of innings. However, below’s table, speaks to the general number of innings you can expect per baseball game.

League Level	Number of Innings	Average Time
MLB	9	3 hours
Minor League	9	3 hours
College Baseball Games	9 or 7	3 hours
High School Baseball Games	7	2 hours
Youth Baseball Games	5 or 6	1-1.5 hours

Why do Baseball Games Take So Long?

While there is no official time limit in a baseball or MLB game, the MLB has steps in recent years to shorten the overall length of their games. In addition, the MLB has instituted rules to quicken the pace of the game, including MLB Rule 8.04, which states:

“When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call ‘Ball.’ The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire.”

However, many umpires do not enforce this rule and allow pitchers to take as much time as they need between pitches.

Below, we’ve listed a few additional reasons why MLB games take so long.

• Time between pitches – perhaps the greatest reason why MLB games take so long is that pitchers take, on average, 40-seconds between pitches. And with 146 pitches thrown per game, these seconds can add up quickly

• Errors in baseball – when an error occurs, that is when a fielder misplays the ball, it adds more time to the one play and delays the completion of the game.

• Umpire reviews – similarly, the MLB utilizes instant replay reviews to allow for league officials to review certain types of plays in order to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the umpires on the field. These reviews take several minutes and take away from the time spent on the game.

• Pitcher warmups – in addition, when taking their position at the beginning of an inning or when relieving another pitcher, pitchers are permitted to throw as many warmup pitches as they want within the countdown parameters set forth by Major League Baseball.

• Commercials – similarly, the MLB and its network broadcasters have begun to implement more commercial breaks between innings. These commercial breaks add several minutes to the game between innings and lengthen the overall time that a game is played.

How Long Are Mets Games?

While baseball technically has no time limit, each team tends to play at their own pace and style. And for the New York Mets, the average game length ranges from 2.5 hours to over 4 hours. However, looking at the average, most Mets games take just over 3-hours to complete.

In referencing the above mentioned average game length for the New York Mets, and utilizing data for the 2021 MLB season, we can see that the average length of a Mets game was 3-hours 12-minutes and 24-seconds.