Mike Napoli's power

[a700hitter]

I'll do something else unless Ortiz is in it.

[a700hitter]

I guess the HR Derby holds a certain appeal for the pink hats and casual baseball fans when there is nothing else on the tube.

[jung]

God the HR Derby is terrible IMO. I would be much more interested in a well conceived and implemented skills competition...especially one that did not have any more inherent chance of injury than the AS game itself. I think that could be some fun. In fact, the casual fan may gain something from it. I am not sure that casual fans can recognize much of a difference in talent levels. Not sure that big guys hitting BP pitches tells you much outside of who is stronger and has quicker wrists. It will never happen though. It would take some thought and HR Derby is easy.

[mvp 78]

MLB cares about ratings. Pink hats and casual fans will always drive the product rather than overly obsessed people ranting on messageboards. The sport is dying a slow death. It needs casual fans now more than ever.

[Bellhorn04]

MLB cares about ratings. Pink hats and casual fans will always drive the product rather than overly obsessed people ranting on messageboards. The sport is dying a slow death. It needs casual fans now more than ever.

 

In what way is baseball dying a slow death?

[a700hitter]

MLB cares about ratings. Pink hats and casual fans will always drive the product rather than overly obsessed people ranting on messageboards. The sport is dying a slow death. It needs casual fans now more than ever.

As long as it makes money, they will have it. The sport is just reflecting the slow death of the economy that has been dying for years.

 

Watching games around the country, it seems to me that attendance is down all over. Maybe the figures show otherwise, but there seem to be many more empty seats than in past years.

[Bellhorn04]

Baseball attendance may be down, but TV revenues are way up and market values of teams are way up.

[mvp 78]

In what way is baseball dying a slow death?

 

Have you seen the WS ratings the past few years? People don't care about it anymore, especially people under 30. It's probably the 3rd most popular sport across the country. It used to be 1st.

 

Selig talks about how attendance is up, but that's really attributable to newer stadiums, a fad that ends a few years after a stadium opens.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

In what way is baseball dying a slow death?

 

It's not considered America's pasttime anymore. We're baseball fans so we love it, lots of people hate it. You get the "baseball is boring" from people who don't even take the time to watch it. Everyone is hooked on basketball and football.

[Bellhorn04]

But again, revenues are up. Just check out Forbes Business of Baseball reports. Or the price the Dodgers sold for.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Well MVP beat me to it lol.

[a700hitter]

But again, revenues are up. Just check out Forbes Business of Baseball reports. Or the price the Dodgers sold for.

It's hard to argue with the bottom line, but it looks to me like they may have crested with the revenue and the continued bad economy will cause a sudden and precipitous decline in revenue.

[User Name]

But again, revenues are up. Just check out Forbes Business of Baseball reports. Or the price the Dodgers sold for.

 

Overall increase in revenue numbers can also be attributed to an inflation/cost increase.

 

They are raking in more money by the numbers, but is the actual gain higher relative to, say, 20 years ago? With the ascension of football, i doubt it.

[Bellhorn04]

Forbes Magazine March 27, 2013

 

The average MLB team is valued at $744 million, 23% higher than last year.

[iortiz]

I thought baseball was the most popular sport in America.

[mvp 78]

But again, revenues are up. Just check out Forbes Business of Baseball reports. Or the price the Dodgers sold for.

 

Yeah, but that's 1 major market team. How does that help the Royals, Twins, Rays, Padres, etc? Unless the Dodgers are going to share 50% of those revenues, a league of haves and have nots will ruin the sport.

[mvp 78]

I thought baseball was the most popular sport in America.

 

NFL, by far.

[iortiz]

Somewhere I read, baseball in America is the #1 sport that generates revenue about 3 B. I'm not sure if this is accurate.

[iortiz]

NFL, by far.

 

By far? Really? Didn't know.

[Bellhorn04]

The accountants for Anibal Sanchez and B. J. Upton think baseball is doin' just fine.

[italstallianion]

Somewhere I read, baseball in America is the #1 sport that generates revenue about 3 B. I'm not sure if this is accurate.

 

 

It might be accurate, but when you play 162 games, it might be easier to bring in more money than if you only play 16 games.

[Bellhorn04]

It might be accurate, but when you play 162 games, it might be easier to bring in more money than if you only play 16 games.

 

Bingo...10 times as much product.

[Behindenemylines]

I knew Napoli was a strong guy but I didn't realize how strong. He can crush a baseball like very few hitters I've seen.

 

If Napoli's production stays like it is Papi will continue putting up big numbers with the protection that Napoli will give Ortiz. He has been better then the Sox could have hoped for.

[BSN07]

Ratings wise Football is far superior. The draft pulled in ratings pretty similar to some WS games in the last few years. Football is currently America's "game", while Baseball is America's "Pastime" imo.

[a700hitter]

Those who run football seem hell-bent on ruining the sport.

 

One former football player made the remark that if they want to take the head out of the game take away the face mask. No one would lead with the head anymore.

[BSN07]

Those who run football seem hell-bent on ruining the sport.

 

One former football player made the remark that if they want to take the head out of the game take away the face mask. No one would lead with the head anymore.

 

idk about that. Even with all the rule changes I don't find I feel like I'm less entertained or I'm missing something when watching the NFL. I like the QB rules as I want to see the top guys out there competing, not some Joe Blow career back up because the top QB got his head caved in or knees blown out.