MLB Off-Topic

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I've already read two books on Teddy Ballgame so I'm pretty familiar with his personal life, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for that.

It mentions The Kid: The Immortal Life...in there. Gonna add it to my list, almost 800 pages oof. I have a Mickey Mantle book I still need to read as well.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

MLB simply doesn't promote its product or its players. The league actually does the opposite.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I'm trying to understand what they do so differently than the NBA or NFL. The stars in those leagues are stars because of how they are covered in the media, the networks that broadcast their games, the morning/afternoon opinion shows, etc.

I don't see how they NFL promotes itself differently than MLB. They air both products on major networks, both have their own cable stations, etc. If anything, the NFL gets beat up regularly for how it treats its players, by comparison.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm trying to understand what they do so differently than the NBA or NFL. The stars in those leagues are stars because of how they are covered in the media, the networks that broadcast their games, the morning/afternoon opinion shows, etc.

I don't see how they NFL promotes itself differently than MLB. They air both products on major networks, both have their own cable stations, etc. The NFL gets beat up regularly for how it treats it's players, as a matter of fact.

I don't think the NFL does a good job either unless you're a QB.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Question: is there an MLB player currently playing with more Instagram followers than Mike Trout? I'm searching and the closest I can see is Stanton, at 1.1 mil.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Question: is there an MLB player currently playing with more Instagram followers than Mike Trout? I'm searching and the closest I can see is Stanton, at 1.1 mil.

Harper also has 1.4 mil. Kris Bryant also close at 1 mil.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It mentions The Kid: The Immortal Life...in there. Gonna add it to my list, almost 800 pages oof. I have a Mickey Mantle book I still need to read as well.

This one was my favorite. Leigh Montville is an incredible author.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Trout is just an example.

Judge plays for one of the biggest markets and has a distinct look that makes him easily marketable.

Yet, he is not pushed nearly as much as he should be outside of the games. During games, he might be reaching Jeter levels of infatuation. But where is this guy outside of it?

And even if Judge does blow up globally, he's still just one name. MLB simply doesn't promote its product or its players. The league actually does the opposite.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

One thing you need to market a player like Judge? The player. He wants to do what he wants to do with his free time. We can't help that, but he could be a much bigger star. But we're not gonna be able to passively market him (right, because a Big Mac for example is always out there marketing itself?). Manfred makes no sense and needs to be impeached, then sent to Siberia to think about things for a while.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like everything has been covered. But basketball and football are so much easier to just get games going with people.

You know, when you hoop. You just need a ball a hoop and a few people. Football- you need some people and a football.

Baseball is expensive. Baseballs aren't cheap. A good bat is not cheap. You have to have gloves for everyone. It's not close to as accessible as other sports.



Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like everything has been covered. But basketball and football are so much easier to just get games going with people.

You know, when you hoop. You just need a ball a hoop and a few people. Football- you need some people and a football.

Baseball is expensive. Baseballs aren't cheap. A good bat is not cheap. You have to have gloves for everyone. It's not close to as accessible as other sports.



Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

True but I'm just talking about the pros that are playing.

There are two discussions, or three.

There's MLB being interesting to potential fans. That's an issue I won't touch because I think the league is fine.

There's baseball being interesting to people. I won't touch that either but yes your comment touches on the limitations of the sport.

And there's players being interesting to existing fans. It's a regional league under a national umbrella. I think the national umbrella can do better and I don't think it requires the players being active.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like everything has been covered. But basketball and football are so much easier to just get games going with people.

You know, when you hoop. You just need a ball a hoop and a few people. Football- you need some people and a football.

Baseball is expensive. Baseballs aren't cheap. A good bat is not cheap. You have to have gloves for everyone. It's not close to as accessible as other sports.



Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

This is something the Play Ball movement is trying to fix. The idea that you can only play baseball with 18 people, baseballs, bats, gloves, and a field.

There are plenty of ways to play the game without having to be in an organized league or have a fully formed baseball game. I think MLB is doing a good job of marketing that recently.



Sent from my SM-G920V using Operation Sports mobile app

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There needs to be a more expansive pre game and post game show for the national games. MLB Network sort of has this going but it's not national enough. Right now, the blowout shows are in the post season. They need that during the season for national games. ESPN's baseball coverage is very team centric and their post game show doesn't exist as far as I know.

ESPN cut to the X-Games immediately after the Cubs-Cards game. This was the only game on in the entire league, but they felt it was more important to show some dudes skateboarding than even let Matty V, A-Rod and Jessica Mendoza wrap up the game with some closing remarks. Their baseball coverage really is crap

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

ESPN cut to the X-Games immediately after the Cubs-Cards game. This was the only game on in the entire league, but they felt it was more important to show some dudes skateboarding than even let Matty V, A-Rod and Jessica Mendoza wrap up the game with some closing remarks. Their baseball coverage really is crap

I wanted to put it in the gear grinders thread at the beginning of the season, but ESPN only gives a **** about baseball when it serves their larger agenda, which is mostly Opening Day and sole national broadcasts (no other teams playing), and of course the Home Run Derby. Otherwise they really couldn't give a crap whatsoever.

They weren't like this about a decade ago. Maybe it was around the time they opened their Los Angeles studio (and MLB Network also wasn't a thing, but it seems they dismantled their relationship with the sport even before these two things).

Does Baseball Tonight even air anymore?

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

ESPN cut to the X-Games immediately after the Cubs-Cards game. This was the only game on in the entire league, but they felt it was more important to show some dudes skateboarding than even let Matty V, A-Rod and Jessica Mendoza wrap up the game with some closing remarks. Their baseball coverage really is crap

ESPN's contract with MLB is their 3rd lowest (right ahead of tennis and soccer) which is why they spend their time on other sports. The NFL/NBA are at the top at 2 and 3 times as much as MLB, which is why they spend most of their time talking about those leagues.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

ESPN cut to the X-Games immediately after the Cubs-Cards game. This was the only game on in the entire league, but they felt it was more important to show some dudes skateboarding than even let Matty V, A-Rod and Jessica Mendoza wrap up the game with some closing remarks. Their baseball coverage really is crap

Cut to Rob Manfred...

I'd really like to see Mike Trout up there on a board with a helmet on. He could really be doing a lot for his brand by participating in these X-Games. It really depends on the player though.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

ESPN's contract with MLB is their 3rd lowest (right ahead of tennis and soccer) which is why they spend their time on other sports. The NFL/NBA are at the top at 2 and 3 times as much as MLB, which is why they spend most of their time talking about those leagues.

Is this something that Rob Manfred could try to change instead of critcizing the game's best player (perhaps rightly as we've already discussed)?