Saw this item in an interview with Bud Selig that Adam Rubin filed at ESPNNewYork.com:

Although the commissioner keeps close tabs on the length of games, he does not think it is a problem.

“They’re not getting longer,” Selig said. “We’re the same as last year. We’re right at three hours. Actually, this year, we’ve had an interesting group of 2:30, 2:40, 2:45, which proves to me it can be done.

“People talk about the length of the game, and all sporting events, by the way, take much longer. But the fans are turning out in record numbers. When we do a lot of polling, we don’t get that from a lot of our fans. However, having said all that, you bet I’m concerned. I monitor it on a weekly basis.”

OK, who is MLB surveying? It can’t be avid fans. Everyone I talk to complains about the slow-play issue.

Yes, fans are coming to the games in record numbers. I contend that has more do with the ballpark experience. There is an amusement park element of attending a game. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

However, Selig neglects to point out where slow play has its biggest impact: watching games on TV. Ratings, especially for the post-season, are at historic lows.

As I have written many times, much of the decline has to be about what were once 2:30-2:40 games stretching to 3:30-3:40 or more. The long, tedious games become brutal to watch. Viewers, especially the younger demo, are tuning out.

If MLB needs more input for its surveys, I’ll be glad to provide some names.