Ex-Sox

[Orange Juiced]

I understand everything you guys are saying about revenue, intensity, etc. I just find it weird that we use the label "market size" to describe that. It should be some other term.

 

I mean, take Pittsburgh. The city (and its surrounding metropolitan area) is what it is. And yet look at how the team supports its baseball and football and hockey teams. Vastly different from sport to sport. It would be considered a major market in football (sellouts every game, huge national fan base, etc.), but a very small market for baseball. Why? Because the passion is there for football, but not for baseball.

 

So some other term besides "big market" or "small market" should probably be used. But since it isn't likely to change, I guess I'll have to go along with you guys on this.

[SoxSport]

This is the 2012 revenue generated by each team (LINK HERE):

 

http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5154a429eab8ea8670000014-608-457/untitled-2-200.jpg

 

The Sox, at $336mm, are a top dog in terms of generating revenue, and that's with a park that fills ~10k less than most other ballparks.

 

There's just a ton more interest in Boston than other teams. As a700 pointed out, revenues coincide with the term "big market". This is a perfect example of that.

 

Without looking at the graph, I would think the Sox, Yanks, Phils, and Cubs have the biggest markets, and that's confirmed by the revenues generated.

 

If you back to the original article, it says LOCAL TV REVENUES EXCLUDED.

 

The local cable TV revenues are not distributed, and are what distinguishes the big NY and LA markets from everybody else.

 

The data are useless unless the local TV money is included. The Fox West TV contract with the Angels and Dodgers brings them revenues equal to or surpassing the Yankees. It's why they have become the big FA spenders.

[Bellhorn04]

What it really means is that Boston - a relatively small city - has a *GREAT* baseball fan base.

 

It is indeed a great fanbase. It's also a stone cold crazy one, we prove that here every day.

[Thunder]

I understand everything you guys are saying about revenue, intensity, etc. I just find it weird that we use the label "market size" to describe that. It should be some other term.

 

I mean, take Pittsburgh. The city (and its surrounding metropolitan area) is what it is. And yet look at how the team supports its baseball and football and hockey teams. Vastly different from sport to sport. It would be considered a major market in football (sellouts every game, huge national fan base, etc.), but a very small market for baseball. Why? Because the passion is there for football, but not for baseball.

 

So some other term besides "big market" or "small market" should probably be used. But since it isn't likely to change, I guess I'll have to go along with you guys on this.

 

You take Pittsburgh as an example. Not the best choice. They lean towards football and hockey because the Pirates have sucked for 20 years. Not rocket science.

Take LA: Plenty of teams to choose from, but they are a basketball town until Kobe retires or the Dodgers or Angels win more than 2 World Series combined.

Another example:

Washington DC: Hockey and college basketball town until the Nationals won over 90 games last year. Now that they are set to be contenders for the next 10 years, the fan base has switched passions.

[seabeachfred]

LA is a much bigger market than Boston.

 

Population of the two cities' metropolitan areas (according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas):

 

LA: 13.1 million

Bos: 4.6 million

 

(New England in its entirety has 14.4 million people in it, while according to this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Los_Angeles_Area), LA has 18.1 million people in it....so different sources have the numbers a little different, but you get the point.)

 

LA may be more laid-back and their fans less intense and their media less troublesome, and that may be what you mean by Boston being a bigger market, but LA is a vastly bigger market than Boston is. By, like, a lot.

 

LA has become more intense the past few years compared to their laid-back and dull countenance for decades, but for intensity they can't hold a candle to Boston. That's the point you made and it is on the mark. Most players can play in LA with their flunky press that seldom criticizes anyone and is in the pocket of the team, and many fans go there just for the giveaway days. In Boston you better have thick skin and play your ass off or you will hear it from press, media and the fans.

[Behindenemylines]

Remember that Boston is not an easy place to play in. Some of these guys will put up big numbers in their low pressure situations that they couldn't never put up in Boston.

[seabeachfred]

Remember that Boston is not an easy place to play in. Some of these guys will put up big numbers in their low pressure situations that they couldn't never put up in Boston.

 

It doesn't seem to be working in LA either. Some of the averages are good but they have scored the fewest runs of any team in baseball save the Marlins---47 in 17 games. I heard that tonight driving home from Mass. So the hits may be coming but the runs aren't. We, OTOH, seem to get enough hits when they count to pull games out in the early going, but truth be told some of our guys must start hitting better. Clay could have used a couple of extra runs earlier today.

[italstallianion]

As much as I don't like to see Baltimore win, I'm happy that Beckett caught another L.

[VA Sox Fan]

As much as I don't like to see Baltimore win, I'm happy that Beckett caught another L.

 

Beckett didn't pitch today

[User Name]

He did VA. He got lit up to the tune of 6 ER in 5+ in the second game of the double-header against Baltimore.

[SCM33]

Crawford was never gonna succeed here

 

Adrian was still a solid player when we dealt him but his departure was a fair price for what we got from LA.

 

Odd year Beckett in the pitcher friendly NL West

 

Lowrie, I guarantee, will get hurt at some point.

 

Punto's not even worth mentioning.

 

Youk is aging and has had injury issues since 2009. His health remains a question mark.

 

Josh Beckett was a cancer. I don't give a s*** what his numbers look like........he was a piece of crap that dragged the rest of the team down.

[VA Sox Fan]

As much as I don't like to see Baltimore win, I'm happy that Beckett caught another L.

 

He did VA. He got lit up to the tune of 6 ER in 5+ in the second game of the double-header against Baltimore.

 

My bad. Thanks UN! Apologies ital.!

[italstallianion]

No worries VA. You can correct me anyday.