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Subject: Baseball's slow death
Date: Sun Aug 28 08:52:53 2022
User: JackK
Message:
There seems to be little doubt that the interest in Major League Baseball is declining. People's thoughts on why?
User: JackK
Message:
There seems to be little doubt that the interest in Major League Baseball is declining. People's thoughts on why?
Date: Sun Aug 28 13:01:16 2022
User: Denny
Message:
Supplanted by basketball and NFL which are better suited to today's shorter attention span. Books are impacted, who has time to read an entire book anymore? Movies are hanging on because of the social experience. Baseball is certainly not in its heyday but it's still selling tickets at least based on my limited personal observations. "But M.L.B. cashes in on its sheer volume of games, vastly outperforming the N.F.L. and the N.B.A in ticket sales every year." -- from link below Denny
Link: baseball popularity
User: Denny
Message:
Supplanted by basketball and NFL which are better suited to today's shorter attention span. Books are impacted, who has time to read an entire book anymore? Movies are hanging on because of the social experience. Baseball is certainly not in its heyday but it's still selling tickets at least based on my limited personal observations. "But M.L.B. cashes in on its sheer volume of games, vastly outperforming the N.F.L. and the N.B.A in ticket sales every year." -- from link below Denny
Link: baseball popularity
Date: Sun Aug 28 13:08:54 2022
User: Denny
Message:
Here's granddad, son, and me at DBacks/Cards last week.
User: Denny
Message:
Here's granddad, son, and me at DBacks/Cards last week.
Date: Sun Aug 28 13:15:54 2022
User: JackStraw
Message:
I'm enjoying the Little League World Series. Pitcher gets the ball and throws it. Batter not allowed to step out of box.
User: JackStraw
Message:
I'm enjoying the Little League World Series. Pitcher gets the ball and throws it. Batter not allowed to step out of box.
Date: Sun Aug 28 14:35:32 2022
User: TNmountainman
Message:
Well, this issue has been well-trodden..............and there are a myriad of reasons.............but for me it was the two "s" words: strikes and steroids. Followed closely by the obscene amount of money that's turned baseball from more a sport into "entertainment". All the ads I see for minor league baseball are more about the giveaways, the associated music, etc. - not the game itself. And of course that rises from kids not playing it out on the sandlots every day possible, too. Soooo many other options/sports/electronica. The top 20 (or so) players on a local travel team are likely as good, or nearly so, as the local teams of 30 or 50 years ago - but the depth is incredibly shallow. Watched a local LL (not the W.S.) game lately? It's atrocious, for the most part, and it saddens me. But such is the world these days.....
User: TNmountainman
Message:
Well, this issue has been well-trodden..............and there are a myriad of reasons.............but for me it was the two "s" words: strikes and steroids. Followed closely by the obscene amount of money that's turned baseball from more a sport into "entertainment". All the ads I see for minor league baseball are more about the giveaways, the associated music, etc. - not the game itself. And of course that rises from kids not playing it out on the sandlots every day possible, too. Soooo many other options/sports/electronica. The top 20 (or so) players on a local travel team are likely as good, or nearly so, as the local teams of 30 or 50 years ago - but the depth is incredibly shallow. Watched a local LL (not the W.S.) game lately? It's atrocious, for the most part, and it saddens me. But such is the world these days.....
Date: Sun Aug 28 16:00:12 2022
User: BuzzClik
Message:
The good news is that US soccer is on the upswing. The quality of the kidsâ game is is really good, attendance for MSL is solid for both men and women. The growing success of soccer challenges the notion that slow, low scoring games wonât hold the attention of todayâs young audience.
User: BuzzClik
Message:
The good news is that US soccer is on the upswing. The quality of the kidsâ game is is really good, attendance for MSL is solid for both men and women. The growing success of soccer challenges the notion that slow, low scoring games wonât hold the attention of todayâs young audience.
Date: Sun Aug 28 18:33:15 2022
User: JackK2016
Message:
I think soccer would be more fun if there was no goalie
User: JackK2016
Message:
I think soccer would be more fun if there was no goalie
Date: Sun Aug 28 21:18:45 2022
User: BuzzClik
Message:
Monty Python had an interesting concept âŚ
Link: https://vimeo.com/618036100
User: BuzzClik
Message:
Monty Python had an interesting concept âŚ
Link: https://vimeo.com/618036100
Date: Mon Aug 29 16:28:46 2022
User: jimbarry45
Message:
When Baseball was in its so-called âHeydayâ, it was the only game in town, so to speak. Pro Football and Basketball werenât a factor occupying the publics attention. Factor 1: NFL plays one game per week per team. Factor 2: NBA games become monotonous. No defense. A bunch of giants still playing with a 10 foot basket when the average height of a person was about 5â9 at the time Naismith invented the game. An old saw from my youth was, you could show up or tune in for the last, stretched out 5 minutes of an average game and not miss a thing as the game is so repetitive. In short, the players are too good. Factor 3: What the hell else will sports fans have to bet on and talk about for the whole Summer? Horse Racing, Soccer?? It still makes a fortune for TV. It wonât stay the same, but as long as thereâs a buck to be made, it will probably never die.
User: jimbarry45
Message:
When Baseball was in its so-called âHeydayâ, it was the only game in town, so to speak. Pro Football and Basketball werenât a factor occupying the publics attention. Factor 1: NFL plays one game per week per team. Factor 2: NBA games become monotonous. No defense. A bunch of giants still playing with a 10 foot basket when the average height of a person was about 5â9 at the time Naismith invented the game. An old saw from my youth was, you could show up or tune in for the last, stretched out 5 minutes of an average game and not miss a thing as the game is so repetitive. In short, the players are too good. Factor 3: What the hell else will sports fans have to bet on and talk about for the whole Summer? Horse Racing, Soccer?? It still makes a fortune for TV. It wonât stay the same, but as long as thereâs a buck to be made, it will probably never die.
Date: Mon Aug 29 16:30:07 2022
User: WhoDatSayWhoDatWhenISayWhoDat
Message:
My humble opinion. Just like college, not worth the money.
User: WhoDatSayWhoDatWhenISayWhoDat
Message:
My humble opinion. Just like college, not worth the money.
Date: Mon Aug 29 16:42:43 2022
User: BuzzClik
Message:
Don't be hard on yourself WhoDat(etc) -- none of our opinions are worth much.
User: BuzzClik
Message:
Don't be hard on yourself WhoDat(etc) -- none of our opinions are worth much.
Date: Tue Aug 30 05:21:58 2022
User: Katya
Message:
St Louis may be somewhat of an exception currently. Busch Stadium has about 44,500 seats and before the pandemic average attendance at games was about 42000 even in years when the Cardinals didn't get into the postseason. This year it is about 40000 per game so far. There is an intense rivalry with the Cubs and when they are in town it is difficult to find a hotel room. St. Louis has not had a NFL team since the Rams left and previously did have the football Cardinals until they moved to Arizona, but I don't recall there being a passionate following of that team like there was for the Rams. St Louis also does not have an NBA team. The St Louis U BIllikens, the only Division I basketball team in town, have a good following and their games are generally pretty well attended. There is an NHL team - the St Louis Blues. However none of these teams seasons overlap too much with the baseball season. It'll be interesting to see what happens to baseball attendance when St Louis gets its major league soccer team since I think a younger demographic follows that whereas baseball attendance is driven by an older crowd which will gradually die out.
User: Katya
Message:
St Louis may be somewhat of an exception currently. Busch Stadium has about 44,500 seats and before the pandemic average attendance at games was about 42000 even in years when the Cardinals didn't get into the postseason. This year it is about 40000 per game so far. There is an intense rivalry with the Cubs and when they are in town it is difficult to find a hotel room. St. Louis has not had a NFL team since the Rams left and previously did have the football Cardinals until they moved to Arizona, but I don't recall there being a passionate following of that team like there was for the Rams. St Louis also does not have an NBA team. The St Louis U BIllikens, the only Division I basketball team in town, have a good following and their games are generally pretty well attended. There is an NHL team - the St Louis Blues. However none of these teams seasons overlap too much with the baseball season. It'll be interesting to see what happens to baseball attendance when St Louis gets its major league soccer team since I think a younger demographic follows that whereas baseball attendance is driven by an older crowd which will gradually die out.
Date: Tue Aug 30 09:16:22 2022
User: kateblu
Message:
I have several ideas on this: 1. Little kids play baseball very early on, starting with T-Ball etc. That creates an affection for the game. Also, great family activity for picnics, company outings etc. 2. Rotisserie (fantasy) baseball is a fantastic online sport. From experience, much better than fantasy football or fantasy basketball. 3. Baseball is played outside generally in good weather so it is fun to go to a game. 4. Players usually aren't badly injured while playing the game. 5. Players are more like ordinary people - short, tall, pudgy, thin - easier for identification. 6. Every player gets his moment in the spotlight. 7. Easier to become an afficionado, rules are pretty straightforward. 8. History and nostalgia are embedded in movies and literature.
User: kateblu
Message:
I have several ideas on this: 1. Little kids play baseball very early on, starting with T-Ball etc. That creates an affection for the game. Also, great family activity for picnics, company outings etc. 2. Rotisserie (fantasy) baseball is a fantastic online sport. From experience, much better than fantasy football or fantasy basketball. 3. Baseball is played outside generally in good weather so it is fun to go to a game. 4. Players usually aren't badly injured while playing the game. 5. Players are more like ordinary people - short, tall, pudgy, thin - easier for identification. 6. Every player gets his moment in the spotlight. 7. Easier to become an afficionado, rules are pretty straightforward. 8. History and nostalgia are embedded in movies and literature.
Date: Tue Aug 30 10:53:32 2022
User: Plumb-Bob
Message:
Why do we care about the games our state's or city's mercenaries play? I don't know, but kateblu gave me some possible reasons. I never figured out what was going on with football or basketball. I understand baseball. I would probably watch it if the players stopped spitting.
User: Plumb-Bob
Message:
Why do we care about the games our state's or city's mercenaries play? I don't know, but kateblu gave me some possible reasons. I never figured out what was going on with football or basketball. I understand baseball. I would probably watch it if the players stopped spitting.
Date: Tue Aug 30 10:59:47 2022
User: outskirts
Message:
George Carlin had a funny routine comparing football to baseball. There are lots of videos at youtube. This one is his SNL monologue, 4 minutes, the football/baseball starts at 2:00. Please don't be offended because there is laughter on here.
Link: https://youtu.be/5ebyLkCaAL0
User: outskirts
Message:
George Carlin had a funny routine comparing football to baseball. There are lots of videos at youtube. This one is his SNL monologue, 4 minutes, the football/baseball starts at 2:00. Please don't be offended because there is laughter on here.
Link: https://youtu.be/5ebyLkCaAL0
Date: Tue Aug 30 14:15:42 2022
User: Denny
Message:
Yeah they still spit an awful lot but they seem to have addressed the chronic crotch grabbing. So it's a pretty classy thing overall.
User: Denny
Message:
Yeah they still spit an awful lot but they seem to have addressed the chronic crotch grabbing. So it's a pretty classy thing overall.
Date: Wed Aug 31 06:06:32 2022
User: Klepp
Message:
Attending today's PIT@MIL game, 12:30 first pitch, primo seats (field level, handful of rows behind the plate)...ahhh...go Garret Mitchell! Gotta enjoy something when playoff chance slims and slims on down to <1/3...
User: Klepp
Message:
Attending today's PIT@MIL game, 12:30 first pitch, primo seats (field level, handful of rows behind the plate)...ahhh...go Garret Mitchell! Gotta enjoy something when playoff chance slims and slims on down to <1/3...
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