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D-backs averaging longest game times in NL

'Sometimes our pitchers are not the quickest,' Hale says

PHOENIX -- At 3 hours, 9 minutes, the D-backs have averaged the longest games in the National League and manager Chip Hale realizes that his team needs to pick up the pace.

Hale speculated that the high number of pitching changes they've made as well as the late comebacks in games have resulted in longer game times.

"Sometimes our pitchers are not the quickest of workers," Hale said. "So that's something we're trying to get better at also."

The Tigers also average 3 hours, 9 minutes for their games, but the next closest NL team is the Pirates, who average 3 hours, 5 minutes.

"The league is not very happy about that," Hale said of the team's slow games. "So I'm sure our guys are getting some fines. I'm sure we're not their favorite right now."

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Inside the D-backs, and follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB.
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