The Decline Of MLB

[SPTO]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Well I guess no one cared to respond to my 4 AM scribblings LOL

To touch on the foreign aspect, i'm not about to get into racial conversation but a lot of that is poppycock IMO. It's not like most of these guys have totally unpronouncable names or can't speak good english (the problem with euro players in the NHL) In fact, most of the best hitters in the league are guys from other countries. Are people so xenophobic that they'd lose interest because of THAT?!

No, what i think the problem has been is the '94 strike. That cut out a whole generation of fans and while a lot came back the whole disillusionment of the PED/Steroid Era chopped some of that down as well. There is still a great deal of interest from US baseball players unfortunately like it or not the sport is getting "whiter" then ever before but at least this time it's not by any dictate but by fate.

[ODogg]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

I think it's #2 that kills it mostly. Baseball is fun as anything at the park but on TV there is too much stop time and horsing around. At the ball park you can look around and do other stuff but at home you're forced to sit and watch some guy fiddle with his helmet for 45 seconds.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Really?

Would you care to elaborate?

Because the sabremetric people are usually snobs who look down their noses at people who don't care to look at what someone's WATSEF rating is or don't know what the hell WPAER means. Much of it is just a bunch of over-analyzed manufactured garbage that's hard to gauge with there being no real reference point and historical basis. It alienates people big-time. The stats have completely overshadowed the game, its ridiculous. Almost like an exclusive club where if you don't know every single thing about every single player and say something "archaic" , you're just shunned.

Whatever, thats just my opinion. Sometimes, it's best to keep things simple.

[snepp]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

JJLinn would be proud, that's a fantastic display of poormeism.

You could take some of your own advice, keep it simple, and just watch baseball rather than venturing into armchair analysis if it's such a traumatic experience.

[Jgainsey]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Because the sabremetric people are usually snobs who look down their noses at people who don't care to look at what someone's WATSEF rating is or don't know what the hell WPAER means. Much of it is just a bunch of over-analyzed manufactured garbage that's hard to gauge with there being no real reference point and historical basis. It alienates people big-time. The stats have completely overshadowed the game, its ridiculous. Almost like an exclusive club where if you don't know every single thing about every single player and say something "archaic" , you're just shunned.

Whatever, thats just my opinion. Sometimes, it's best to keep things simple.

I dunno man, I think you're blowing it out of proportion. Sure, there are PLENTY of SABR snobs out there, but they are hardly overshadowing the game. Sabermetrics have gained a decent amount of support over the last decade, but an overwhelming majority of fans, and probably even a good amount of people inside baseball, could really care less about most sabermetric measurements.

Personally, I find the subject of sabermetrics pretty interesting. And while I'm hardly an expert in the subject, the little that I've learned about it is pretty hard to argue against. I've only started to learn about these stats over the last year or so, but it seems to me that the main goal is simply to find better ways to evaluate the performance of baseball players, and the stats that they produce. Like I said, I'm no expert, but I hardly have a problem with people taking a different approach to statistics. Especially with a game like baseball that has so much to offer in the way of numbers.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Baseball was my first love.

The use of PED's in MLB has pretty much killed off my interest. Seeing A-Rod win a title last year was sickening to me. That is quite a message that is being taught to our young people. Roid up, then "confess your mistake", and get a slap on the wrist, then come back and win a championship. No thanks.

If you enjoy the NFL, that statement is completely hypocritical.

Steroids are even more rampant in football, yet no one bats an eye to it.

[spit_bubble]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Baseball was my first love.

The use of PED's in MLB has pretty much killed off my interest. Seeing A-Rod win a title last year was sickening to me. That is quite a message that is being taught to our young people. Roid up, then "confess your mistake", and get a slap on the wrist, then come back and win a championship. No thanks.

Quoted for truth.

I haven't been interested in MLB for about 15 years now, and will only occasionally watch my local team with mild interest.

They didn't take care of the game like they should have... It seems after the strike of '94 they tried to gain the whole world but only ended up losing their soul. Not taking care of PEDs like they should have really hurt the game.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

JJLinn would be proud, that's a fantastic display of poormeism.

You could take some of your own advice, keep it simple, and just watch baseball rather than venturing into armchair analysis if it's such a traumatic experience.

Not poor-me-ism at all. I'm speaking for a lot of people I know who feel the same way. It's like when a video game gets simply TOO complicated to play, with left-stick, down-stick, whatever. It becomes a chore to keep up with everything to be "knowledgeable" or whatever.

Whatever. I still watch baseball, it's still my favorite sport overall, and nothing will change that.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Sabremetrics have absolutely destroyed baseball.

WTF.

[Jgainsey]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Speaking of sabermetrics...

Someone sent me this video yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3zuwF15Ios&feature=player_embedded

[wrigleyville33]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Excellent points WazzuRC.
The only counter-point I can make to that is that by-and-large, the majority of consumers who buy into MLB are Caucasian American's.

When I watch the Tigers, it's mostly a white crowd despite being in the heart of Detroit.

Looking back at what I've said, I agree though that my argument might be a very small portion for the reason for low ratings and attendance.

Many members here have already pointed out the main reasons:

1. Steroids.
2. Slow pace of game.
3. Lack of playoff drama. Everyone pretty much knows who's playing beyond 162 games.

The problem with #3 is, ratings are always much better when prime cities like NY, Boston, Philly, LA, OH AND CHICAGO are in the playoff dance.
I don't see that ever changing. It'd be nice if they modified the luxery tax so that all that money goes to the teams in your own division.
The Yankees might think twice about spending so much if that $40M goes to the Blue Jays and Orioles.

I can see why steroids blew people off. But honestly, I fell in love with baseball at a young age during the steroid era. The slow pace of the game? Meh, I mean all sports have their negatives-I mean, I can't watch the players in the nba go back and forth up a court 200 billions times. There is drama in baseball. There are playoff races, especially in the wild card. I mean I personally love baseball playoffs, I could care less who is playing; I'm still watching. I think the short opening series is nice, unlike the nba's which takes forever. Can you not say that the mets vs cardinals game at shea a couple years ago wasn't drama? Or how about Pujols' moon shot against the Astros off brad lidge?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Speaking of sabermetrics...

Someone sent me this video yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3zuw...layer_embedded

Is this robot thing gonna be the new trend, lol.

[ChampN252]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

I'm not a hardcore fan like some of you guys, but I always thought it was the lack of youth and diversity holding baseball back. I saw the all-star game yesterday and realized that is not an issue. It's hard to compete with football point blank and the slow pace probably has a lot of do with it.

[p_rushing]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Weekend ratings are not good because all other games are on TV. You used to only get 1-2 games a week nationally.

Regional coverage has also killed some of the ratings. The Braves are on 1 of 3 stations and there is no reasoning for which games are on which station. For some people, it is just to hard to follow.

I miss TBS showing the Braves, but MLB killed that with their requirements on what can be shown. After that, TBS gave up and the Braves went to regional coverage. It's nice if you live in the broadcast area, but sucks if you don't.

[ehh]

Re: The Decline Of MLB

Weekend ratings are not good because all other games are on TV.

I'm sure that has something to do with it. Before you could only see some teams on the weekends in the GOTW, now you can see teams whenever you want.

It's also summer weekends. Nice weather, beaches, beer, BBQs and girls or sitting inside watching a damn near meaningless regular season baseball game? Hmmmm..........