Woe is the game that once held America’s rapt attention.
It’s no secret that America’s favorite pastime has become just that–the game is ‘past time.’
Courtesy: Greene Gazette
MLB commissioners have tried different things to draw more interest to the game, but none of the fixes have worked.
For example, having the All-Star game winner decide home-field advantage in the World Series didn’t help the game. Extending the playoffs to four teams was a solid idea, but I think the 5th wild card team and a play-in game is ridiculous.
A one-game playoff can rip apart a season in just nine innings. A better team sometimes losses to an inferior team because it’s having a bad day. And the very concept of a one-day playoff runs counter to the basic structure of the game–a game that’s played in three-and-four game series.
What a change today from ‘the days’ when baseball was king! I remember asking (begging) my father to take me to Shea Stadium to watch the Mets play. My friends and I would go to at least half of Mets’ home games, and sometimes we’d hit the road to watch games.
Today, most kids don’t have any interest in going to the park. Worse yet, they aren’t very likely to turn on the TV or use other devices to watch MLB games.
The NFL is on top now–and has been for at least 20 years. The NBA, which had been #3 in popularity, clearly surpasses MLB today as this country’s second favorite sport. For some, it’s #1.
1998 HR Race, McGuire v. Sosa (photo, ESPN)
So what happened to baseball?
The answer is nothing. That’s the problem. The League hasn’t kept up with the times. The stark reality is that aspects of the game that once riveted attention–a player on pace to break the home run record or a pitcher going for twenty wins–have lost gravitas.
Opening Day used to be an American holiday of sorts. People would take off work. Kids would stay home from school. Today, neither of that happens much, if at all.
Sure, steroids and other PEDs played a part in baseball’s decline, but both the NFL and NBA have faced those very same issues. The fundamental reason for MLB decline is, I think that other pro sports (the NFL and NBA, in particular) are fun to watch.
Baseball, on the other hand, is boring and slow. Yes, it’s a game of strategy and in-game adjustments. But the game can put you to sleep. Games are too long and played with an excruciatingly slow pace.
Too slow. Too long. Not exciting enough.
To counter that, I see … nothing.
For starters, baseball isn’t marketed well. The big names of the game (e.g., Mike Trout) don’t grab you like NFL, and NBA stars do. If people are to love baseball again, they’ll need to start loving the players, and MLB must do a better job of marketing them.
And I’m in favor of technology helping sports get the calls right, but I think baseball has been slow to move in that direction, including using technology to call balls-and-strikes.
The human factor means that different umpires call pitches differently with the same pitcher on the mound and the same batter in the box. That’s ridiculous!
The NFL field is the same size–no matter which stadium you’re in. The NBA has the same court parameters in every arena in the country. But every baseball stadium has different dimensions and every umpire his own strike zone. Those characteristics once made baseball unique and endearing, but–let’s face it–those days are gone.
Here are some ideas that might improve baseball’s appeal.
–A “Moneyball” where a home run on a 3-and-2 count adds another run.
–A homer hit after the 7th inning gives your team an extra out.
–Eliminating all defensive shifts.
–Limiting the number of foul balls before a player is called out.
–Requiring a player to attempt a stolen base.
–Putting pitchers on the clock (throw a pitch every ten seconds).
–Putting a time-limit for a player to get into the batter’s box.
–Having a diving catch/leaping catch at/over the wall somehow count in the box score.
Yeah, I offer those ideas with tongue-in-cheek, even though some of them might even help. But at least I’m throwing out ideas.
But, then, again I’m not sure there’s much baseball can do to improve the game itself.
That’s where marketing comes in.
Players need to make more guest appearances on talk shows. Social media need to be mined to the fullest. And for goodness sake, MLB needs to use Fantasy Baseball to full advantage–just like the NFL.
At the end of the day, if MLB sits there and lets things play out, more and more fans will find sports enjoyment elsewhere–just as so many fans already have.
