Baseball Is Dying

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Pat R

That's one of the main problems with most pro sports today it's more about being a business instead of a sport.

I agree. A purpose of the article is to disentangle the sport's profitability from its popularity.

"Casual observers may assume that despite this lack of popularity, baseball is still somehow insanely valuable. This is an illusion. Major League Baseball generated around $11 billion in revenue in 2019, but this figure does not accurately reflect the demand for its product. The astronomical salaries that continue to be enjoyed by the sport’s stars (if that is the mot juste) are a result not of the game’s nonexistent popularity but of the economics of cable television providers, who bundle regional sports networks alongside dozens of other channels so that anyone with cable TV is buying baseball whether he likes it or not.


Because baseball makes much of its money from cable, rather than ticket sales and concessions, etc. it must continue to keep games extremely long, by milking lengthy advertisements. This perpetuates its lack of popularity as most people don't want to sit through a 3 hour plus game, especially in our current ADD/instant gratification society.

If current rates of "cord cutting" continue and cable packages become less of a financial windfall, baseball may need to adjust its business model to thrive.

However, it should be noted that as of 2020, MLB estimated that it still made "40% of revenue comes from tickets, concessions and other gate-related income" according to this Jeff Passan article. As one might suspect, much of that revenue disappeared with the pandemic. So a lot depends on if things bounce back this year at the parks.

[egri]

I've observed in my age group (mid to late 20's) there isn't a whole lot of interest in baseball anymore. Out of about two dozen people in my office, me and another guy, who was from Atlanta, were the only ones who watched the World Series. I also don't buy the argument that the game is fine because Besos et al are pouring money into it. The history of the game is littered with businessmen who were successful in other endeavors but flopped when they tried to run a baseball team. Boxing used to be huge too, but I don't think I could name a more recent boxer than George Foreman, and only because of his grills. The Simpsons joked that baseball was as much fun as doing taxes, but at least when I got done with those I got a check!

[D. Bergin]

Most of the recent rules changes (and extended commercial breaks) I hate, but being forced to watch another $20 million pitcher creating a hole in the lineup and weakly wave at a fastball or muffing another bunt, or hurting himself on the base paths is not something I will ever miss in the slightest.

This is the stat line for pitchers in 2021: .103 BA, .135 on-base percentage, .141 slugging percentage and 48.0 strikeout percentage. Successful sacrifice percentage 7.1%.

If you somehow have an Ohtani and you want to voluntarily put him in the lineup, fine....but otherwise, I can't wrap my head around the idea that so many people embraced this absolutely self-defeating practice for so long.

Flame away!

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Most of the recent rules changes (and extended commercial breaks) I hate, but being forced to watch another $20 million pitcher creating a hole in the lineup and weakly wave at a fastball or muffing another bunt, or hurting himself on the base paths is not something I will ever miss in the slightest.

This is the stat line for pitchers in 2021: .103 BA, .135 on-base percentage, .141 slugging percentage and 48.0 strikeout percentage. Successful sacrifice percentage 7.1%.

If you somehow have an Ohtani and you want to voluntarily put him in the lineup, fine....but otherwise, I can't wrap my head around the idea that so many people embraced this absolutely self-defeating practive for so long.

Flame away!

Totally fair point, although I will miss watching the pitchers that could actually hit a little bit, like deGrom and Greinke.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Totally fair point, although I will miss watching the pitchers that could actually hit a little bit, like deGrom and Greinke.

How about pitchers who went 9 innings, let alone 6+??? I remember marveling at Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott (I am not an Astros fan), who would pitch 9 innings, strike out a ton of batters, and then come back and do it all over a few days later. Middle relievers and pitch counts are two things that have killed the sport for me.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

How about pitchers who went 9 innings, let alone 6+??? I remember marveling at Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott (I am not an Astros fan), who would pitch 9 innings, strike out a ton of batters, and then come back and do it all over a few days later. Middle relievers and pitch counts are two things that have killed the sport for me.

Absolutely, I agree. Let starters go deeper into games!

Remember 2020 WS game 6? Tampa pulled Blake Snell after 5 1/3 shutout innings and 73 pitches...of course the next guy in blew the game.

[Scocs]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

How about pitchers who went 9 innings, let alone 6+??? I remember marveling at Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott (I am not an Astros fan), who would pitch 9 innings, strike out a ton of batters, and then come back and do it all over a few days later. Middle relievers and pitch counts are two things that have killed the sport for me.

Facts.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

How about pitchers who went 9 innings, let alone 6+??? I remember marveling at Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott (I am not an Astros fan), who would pitch 9 innings, strike out a ton of batters, and then come back and do it all over a few days later. Middle relievers and pitch counts are two things that have killed the sport for me.

I get your point, but I also remember Mark Fidrych being completely worthless by his age 22 season, after throwing nearly as many complete games in his Rookie season as Justin Verlander has had in his entire career.

I really don't care much about pitch counts, but pace of games has gotten ridiculous. They can try to figure out a way to quicken pitching changes or limit roster spots for pitchers so they have to try to pitch smarter and not harder, but the biggest issue will always be selling commercial space so television networks can justify paying as much as the do for the prestige of having a major sports league under contract...and it's faaaaaar worse during the playoffs.

I attend plenty of minor league games...and the pace of play in those leagues is, shall I say, still pretty brisk.

Sometimes I get annoyed I haven't even had the time to enjoy a 2nd beer before the 7th inning comes around and concessions start to close down.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I get your point, but I also remember Mark Fidrych being completely worthless by his age 22 season, after throwing nearly as many complete games in his Rookie season as Justin Verlander has had in his entire career.

He was even better his age 22 season before tearing his rotator cuff. Probably Rhee best pitcher in the majors, in fact. 6-2, 1.83 ERA. Then he gets hurt and it wasn't diagnosed properly until 1985. Had it been treated properly, he would have continued being successful.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Totally fair point, although I will miss watching the pitchers that could actually hit a little bit, like deGrom and Greinke.

Well teams still can insert their pitchers into the lineup if they think it's to their advantage...but even modern pitchers who are considered competent at the plate may have a season here and there where they exceed expectations (think Degrom, Syndegaard, Grienke), but if you look at their lifetime totals, even those guys are pretty abysmal, so unlikely you'll see very many pitcher at bats from anybody outside of another Ohtani level talent from this point on.

[Eric72]

I enjoyed the strategy which tended to accompany having pitchers in the batting lineup.

The sentiment above was expressed with brevity, out of respect to those for whom anything more than highlights would be too long and involved.

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by d. Bergin

most of the recent rules changes (and extended commercial breaks) i hate, but being forced to watch another $20 million pitcher creating a hole in the lineup and weakly wave at a fastball or muffing another bunt, or hurting himself on the base paths is not something i will ever miss in the slightest.

This is the stat line for pitchers in 2021: .103 ba, .135 on-base percentage, .141 slugging percentage and 48.0 strikeout percentage. Successful sacrifice percentage 7.1%.

If you somehow have an ohtani and you want to voluntarily put him in the lineup, fine....but otherwise, i can't wrap my head around the idea that so many people embraced this absolutely self-defeating practice for so long.

Flame away!

+100