Happy Opening Day! (even though MLB hates it's fans)

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by jingram058

MLB, or any major sport for that matter, doesn't give a damn about fans. It's all and only about money. It's been that way for decades now. I collect "the good old days". I don't watch or even care about watching millionaires (some many, many times over). They can't relate to or even comprehend fans.

Jim, love your posts, but you realize that news papers were full of editorials in the 1920s about how much Babe Ruth made and how outlandish and outrageous it all was, right?

The public turned on Gehrig when he held out for a raise and it was for way less that Ruth made. Way less.

[parkplace33]

Things change, times evolve, I am just glad baseball is back.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Jim, love your posts, but you realize that news papers were full of editorials in the 1920s about how much Babe Ruth made and how outlandish and outrageous it all was, right?

Keep in mind that Babe Ruth's reply when asked why he believed he should earn more than the President was "I had a lot better year than he did." Well then let's compare the ratio of Ruths salary to the President's back then and the ratio of Juan Soto's salary to the President's in 2025. The ratio is exponentially higher these days. That's what has caused many fans to shake their heads in disgust.

[jingram058]

Yes, everything changes. I am not that far gone. Yet. But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both. But that's it. I can't and won't watch on TV. My wife does, and I go hide in my man cave bedroom. It's just obscene to me what ballplayers make. I don't care what the owners make; they either have the wherewithal to put a team on field, like the Dodgers Steinbrenner-like approach, or they don't, like the Pirates, who haven't won anything in decades. One wonders how teams like that survive. But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime. And of course, with all the money comes the worry over getting a hangnail and having to miss the season. Read about Lou Gehrig and what he put up with before ALS finally stopped him. Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal. Even now I could time my swing to that. But if it breaks at that speed, well... But throwing that fast inevitably leads to breakdown, sooner rather than later. But like Leon, I have washed my hands of all the idiotic rule changes that had to be put into place.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by jingram058

But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both.... But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime.

Indeed. Maybe it's also a function of age, but it's almost impossible for me to really root for the hired mercenaries on the field these days. It's also partially a function of free agency turning baseball into a game of musical chairs. I could more readily empathize with players when a Pirate or a Cardinal or a Tiger or an Indian (where are those Indians anyway?) stayed that way for some time.

Originally Posted by jingram058

Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal.

I agree. I'd rather see knuckleball pitchers any time!

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Yes, everything changes. I am not that far gone. Yet. But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both. But that's it. I can't and won't watch on TV. My wife does, and I go hide in my man cave bedroom. It's just obscene to me what ballplayers make. I don't care what the owners make; they either have the wherewithal to put a team on field, like the Dodgers Steinbrenner-like approach, or they don't, like the Pirates, who haven't won anything in decades. One wonders how teams like that survive. But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime. And of course, with all the money comes the worry over getting a hangnail and having to miss the season. Read about Lou Gehrig and what he put up with before ALS finally stopped him. Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal. Even now I could time my swing to that. But if it breaks at that speed, well... But throwing that fast inevitably leads to breakdown, sooner rather than later. But like Leon, I have washed my hands of all the idiotic rule changes that had to be put into place.

When the players lived in your neighborhood they were being screwed by the owners under the reserve clause. I assume you’d rather go back to the days when Al Kaline had to work for a car dealership in the off season?

How old are you, anyway? Did you stop watching in 1979 when Nolar Ryan got a million bucks per year for four years? Were you watching in 1966 when Sandy Koufax got $125,000 - equivalent to over a million dollars today.

Were you watching in 1941 when Hank Greenberg got 55,000 - also over a million bucks in today’s money?

I’m generally interested in when baseball was such a fantastic pastime compared to today? Take any era in baseball history and your exact complaints could be cut and paste into articles written back then - you just have to adjust for inflation.

Right now I can get two Tiger tickets for $12 each on stub hub. That’s pretty much the same price I would have paid in 1984, adjusted for inflation, for my $4 bleacher seats at Tiger Stadium. By comparison, it cost me $100 for a Red Wing ticket this Winter - same evil owner too.

Baseball today is just as good as it ever was. If you liked the game in 1970 I don't get why you wouldn't like it today.

[Snapolit1]

Seems like most stadiums now, at least in big cities, have stupid $900 seats to sporting events. But like someone said, you can by $10-$20 tix to many games if you make an effort to look.

And the beers are $12 and the waters at $8. Stupid prices that you see in a lot of places now, not just the baseball stadium.

[mortimer brewster]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Keep in mind that Babe Ruth's reply when asked why he believed he should earn more than the President was "I had a lot better year than he did." Well then let's compare the ratio of Ruths salary to the President's back then and the ratio of Juan Soto's salary to the president's in 2025. The ratio is exponentially higher these days. That's what has caused many fans to shake their heads in disgust.

I am more disgusted with the Fans than the players/owners in regards to player salaries. The fan have never said "enough is enough". They keep buying tickets and licensed merchendise no matter how rediculous the price is.

They accept increased commercial breaks on telecasts. Increased streaming services Bla Bla Bla. The owners know they have the fans hooked.


Our young people are now putting more money in their gambling accounts than 401k. They have a "You Only Live Once" mindset. Aslong as today they're happy, they don't care with tomorrow, since tomorrow is tomorrow, it's still not happened yet.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

I remember when opening day was always in Cincinnati to start the season.