WSJ: "Why Kids Aren't Watching Baseball".

[packs]

It seems like the game is growing globally still.

[Mark]

Regarding tv viewership, it's important to pay attention to the numbers for local broadcasts of local games. They can make up for a drop in national tv ratings. As for national games, they are a problem. I recommend that they start televising them at 6:30 eastern. Regarding Little League, that's a big drop. But it will be mitigated some by the explosion of travel / club teams over the last 15 years that take kids away from the Little League program.

Hope for the future? Baseball's new slogan: Play Baseball, Where There Are Few if Any Concussions!

[Hot Springs Bathers]

We have seen a tremendous rise in youth baseball in Arkansas. As a longtime Boys & Girls Club board member we have been scrambling to meet the need. Our largest groups are in T-Ball, we are in the process of raising funds for turf fields t avoid the missed game times during the Summer.

What I am hearing from parents is that they feel a team sports is a positive in their child's development and it is very obvious that they are directing their sons away from football. I think the most curios fact here is that is happening in a southern state where most of us were raised with football in our DNA mix.

Of course travel baseball or as I like to call it "buy your kid a position" baseball is strong but the economy is tough on travel team parents right now.

[CaramelMan]

There will soon be a baseball renaissance when the known but long withheld brain damage information comes out....

NFL players are killing themselves slowly due to Repeat trauma ...brain disease is found in ALL dissected NFL player brains.....

Soon it will be a no-brainer (no pun intended) for a world class young athlete to choose baseball over football...

Pro football players are finally admitting the don't want their kids to play football.

Add in the fact that baseball has GUARANTEED contacts vs football non guaranteed contracts and baseball becomes more attractive...it really should be the opposite way....

Things run in cycles and baseball will have its upswing (from increased international players and from potential football players choosing baseball)

So collect away!

[Texxxx]

I think there are a lot of factors that have contributed to the decline. There are so many thinks for the kids today to do hands on. Watching is boring compared to doing. Even if its just texting. Another reason is the sheer number of channels on TV to chose from. I have like 250 on mine right now. When I was growing up I only had 3 and so when baseball came on it was great. Even if it was in black and white. At least I missed the radio era.
I think the game is going through a bad time also with all the PED problems. That turns kids off also.

[ValKehl]

I agree with "Bugsy" - the excessive time between pitches is the primary reason games are too long, which is a major turnoff for many folks. And, the blame is not just with the pitchers - too many batters feel the need to step out of the batter's box after each pitch to adjust their batting gloves, take a practice swing, etc. Just as there is a 24-second clock in basketball, there needs to be a maximum time between pitches - and, if the allotted time elapses before a pitch is made, the home plate ump decides who to penalize by calling a "phantom" strike or ball on the batter, depending on whom he deems to be the culprit.
Val

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by packs

It seems like the game is growing globally still.

I love it!

Hey, who needs punctuation?