Will there be a 2022 season?

[harmony]

This says more about the Mariners than it does about MLS vs MLB.

 

Terrible self own here.

That is one factor as the Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers have represented the Western Conference in the MLS Cup the past seven seasons while outdrawing the Seattle Mariners in per-game attendance most years.

[Elktonnick]

This says more about the Mariners than it does about MLS vs MLB.

 

Terrible self own here.

Atlanta United has better attendance than Seattle. Atlanta United has the 9th best attendance in the world (43000) just behind premier league West Ham but ahead of Athletico de Madrid.

 

The average value of an MLS franchise is now over 500 million, in 2019 it was 300 million. The Los Angeles franchise is worth nearly a billion. MLS is seeing rapid growth in franchise valuation.

Edited January 11, 2022 by Elktonnick

[mvp 78]

@JeffPassan

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association plan to hold a bargaining session Thursday, sources tell ESPN. MLB is expected to make a core-economics proposal at the session, which would be the first between the sides since the league locked out the players on Dec. 2.

[harmony]

Atlanta United has better attendance than Seattle. Atlanta United has the 9th best attendance in the world (43000) just behind premier league West Ham but ahead of Athletico de Madrid.

 

The average value of an MLS franchise is now over 500 million, in 2019 it was 300 million. The Los Angeles franchise is worth nearly a billion. MLS is seeing rapid growth in franchise valuation.

According to one source, football (soccer) worldwide has seven times as many fans as baseball has:

 

https://sportsbrowser.net/most-popular-sports/

 

Even cricket has five times as many fans as baseball.

 

This Portland resident could never envision Major League Baseball competing with soccer in the Rose City.

[Elktonnick]

I have Willow on my cable TV. Willow is the international cricket channel. Cricket is huge in India. The Indian cricket league is the next new big thing. Once this pandemic is over Cricket will explode. It will rival the NBA as the next international money maker. MLB simply does not have the marketing future and growth potential that these other sports have.

[harmony]

I have Willow on my cable TV. Willow is the international cricket channel. Cricket is huge in India. The Indian cricket league is the next new big thing. Once this pandemic is over Cricket will explode. It will rival the NBA as the next international money maker. MLB simply does not have the marketing future and growth potential that these other sports have.

Once in London I tried to attend a match in The Ashes, the famed cricket series between Australia and Great Britain, but the scalpers would not come down to this cheapskate's prices.

[notin]

I have Willow on my cable TV. Willow is the international cricket channel. Cricket is huge in India. The Indian cricket league is the next new big thing. Once this pandemic is over Cricket will explode. It will rival the NBA as the next international money maker. MLB simply does not have the marketing future and growth potential that these other sports have.

 

Yeah Cricket might one day move on from the Willow Channel and maybe get some airtime at 3am on HSN…

[S5Dewey]

Yeah Cricket might one day move on from the Willow Channel and maybe get some airtime at 3am on HSN…

 

That's harsh. True, but harsh. :D

[Bellhorn04]

Yeah Cricket might one day move on from the Willow Channel and maybe get some airtime at 3am on HSN…

 

That's harsh. True, but harsh. :D

 

 

I feel the same way as you two, but according to that article harmony posted, cricket has 5 times as many "followers" as baseball worldwide.

 

We are obviously narrow-minded old North American men LOL

[sk7326]

The owners are in a position to take the long view over the entire period of the CBA, where the players begin to hurt when their pay checks are not forthcoming. I doubt if the season begins on time with more of a May or June start after a protracted dispute period.

 

The top end players are doing incredibly well financially these days, its the new and marginal players that should be looking for concessions. Boosting the minimum salaries, finding ways around holding ready players back to delay arbitration eligibility are two things the union should pursue. Usually, when you bargain for something, you should be willing to cede some other point. The question will be how flexible will each side be in the negotiations.

 

Some on the site are blatantly anti-owner, but both sides are capable of helping to settle this for the good of the fans and the sport.

 

There is a ton of money going into the machine. Right now, the players get all the downsides of the salary cap without any of the benefits other sports have - a guaranteed slice of the pie.

 

But yes, the changes the players should be seeking are at the bottom of the pay scale. You hint at some of the good ones.

 

- Raise the minimum salary to at least $1M a year. You raise the minimum then the other pre-FA salaries will react accordingly.

- Any player who spends a day on a major league roster (ahead of the Sep 1 roster expansion) receives 1 months salary.

- Change service time to a season or month formula so teams are not manipulating service time by days.

- Universal DH. It's more jobs!

 

The owners want a 16 team playoff - so there is some trade space here.

[sk7326]

They will not lower ticket prices until absolutely necessary, but the notion that ticket prices are based on “as much fans are willing to pay” is equally incomplete and incorrect.

 

Teams have operating costs that figure into pricing to some extent. Players’ salaries are among those costs…

 

Operating costs determine minimums for sure - but given that owners are just going to charge what the fans will pay, full stop. And - all of these teams are swimming in cash anyway. The "operating cost" side of it is largely a non-issue. Like, the Pirates can afford their payroll without selling a ticket. (between competitive balance payments and share of the national media deals)

[notin]

I feel the same way as you two, but according to that article harmony posted, cricket has 5 times as many "followers" as baseball worldwide.

 

We are obviously narrow-minded old North American men LOL

 

Cricket will never catch on in America. Never.

 

First of all, they wear uniforms that look like they can right out of a J Crew catalog. Most American sports uniforms involve some sort of protective gear - padding, helmets, etc. That tells American fans someone might get hurt. Cricket uniforms tell fans that once the match is over, there’s actually a possibility of the bowler heading directly out for cocktails along the Miracle Mile with Daisy Lou.

 

Plus if American fans think a 3 hour baseball game is too long, a cricket match is typically THIRTY HOURS long. They play SIX HOURS A DAY for FIVE DAYS.

 

And pace of play? We just put rules into baseball that you can’t replace the pitcher too often or fans get bored. Well, cricket players break for lunch and again for tea!! Yes, they really do. If watching Alex Cora walk out to the mind twice in an inning is too much for our attention span, exactly how are we supposed to watch a bunch of J Crew sporting social fops drink tea for twenty minutes?!!??

[Bellhorn04]

Cricket will never catch on in America. Never.

 

First of all, they wear uniforms that look like they can right out of a J Crew catalog. Most American sports uniforms involve some sort of protective gear - padding, helmets, etc. That tells American fans someone might get hurt. Cricket uniforms tell fans that once the match is over, there’s actually a possibility of the bowler heading directly out for cocktails along the Miracle Mile with Daisy Lou.

 

Plus if American fans think a 3 hour baseball game is too long, a cricket match is typically THIRTY HOURS long. They play SIX HOURS A DAY for FIVE DAYS.

 

Holy crap, I didn't realize that. That's hilarious.

 

When you look at how popular the game is in other countries, maybe some Charlie Finley type will try to introduce a streamlined North American version.

[mvp 78]

Cricket will never catch on in America. Never.

 

First of all, they wear uniforms that look like they can right out of a J Crew catalog. Most American sports uniforms involve some sort of protective gear - padding, helmets, etc. That tells American fans someone might get hurt. Cricket uniforms tell fans that once the match is over, there’s actually a possibility of the bowler heading directly out for cocktails along the Miracle Mile with Daisy Lou.

 

Plus if American fans think a 3 hour baseball game is too long, a cricket match is typically THIRTY HOURS long. They play SIX HOURS A DAY for FIVE DAYS.

 

And pace of play? We just put rules into baseball that you can’t replace the pitcher too often or fans get bored. Well, cricket players break for lunch and again for tea!! Yes, they really do. If watching Alex Cora walk out to the mind twice in an inning is too much for our attention span, exactly how are we supposed to watch a bunch of J Crew sporting social fops drink tea for twenty minutes?!!??

 

Would I enjoy sports more if they took a break to have a meal? I don't know.

[notin]

Would I enjoy sports more if they took a break to have a meal? I don't know.

 

A televised meal? Watching people dressed like Omega Theta Pi brothers from Animal House drink tea for 20 minutes doesn’t fill my entertainment needs.

 

Unless Joey Chestnut became a cricket player. Then I’m on board with the meal breaks…

Edited January 12, 2022 by notin

[mvp 78]

A televised meal? Watching people dressed like Omega Theta Pi brothers from Animal House drink tea for 20 minutes doesn’t fill my entertainment needs.

 

Unless Joey Chestnut became a cricket player. Then I’m on board with the meal breaks…

 

The one true sport.

[sk7326]

Cricket will never catch on in America. Never.

 

First of all, they wear uniforms that look like they can right out of a J Crew catalog. Most American sports uniforms involve some sort of protective gear - padding, helmets, etc. That tells American fans someone might get hurt. Cricket uniforms tell fans that once the match is over, there’s actually a possibility of the bowler heading directly out for cocktails along the Miracle Mile with Daisy Lou.

 

Plus if American fans think a 3 hour baseball game is too long, a cricket match is typically THIRTY HOURS long. They play SIX HOURS A DAY for FIVE DAYS.

 

And pace of play? We just put rules into baseball that you can’t replace the pitcher too often or fans get bored. Well, cricket players break for lunch and again for tea!! Yes, they really do. If watching Alex Cora walk out to the mind twice in an inning is too much for our attention span, exactly how are we supposed to watch a bunch of J Crew sporting social fops drink tea for twenty minutes?!!??

 

This is sorta true. The legacy match for cricket is the 5-day Test Match

 

BUT the official World Cup are a series of one-day matches ... each match takes 6 hours

 

And the top professional league in the world (the India Premier League) is a T20 league ... 20 overs (120 balls) per side. That fit within the 3 hour TV window. Cricket is actively trying to catch on in that way. There is a certain purist joy in the 5-day match, but the sports knows the T20 matches are the ones which are going to sell.

[moonslav59]

There are several cricket and polo fields near me.

 

The land of diversity- welcomed or not.

[Elktonnick]

Cricket will never catch on in America. Never.

 

First of all, they wear uniforms that look like they can right out of a J Crew catalog. Most American sports uniforms involve some sort of protective gear - padding, helmets, etc. That tells American fans someone might get hurt. Cricket uniforms tell fans that once the match is over, there’s actually a possibility of the bowler heading directly out for cocktails along the Miracle Mile with Daisy Lou.

 

Plus if American fans think a 3 hour baseball game is too long, a cricket match is typically THIRTY HOURS long. They play SIX HOURS A DAY for FIVE DAYS.

 

And pace of play? We just put rules into baseball that you can’t replace the pitcher too often or fans get bored. Well, cricket players break for lunch and again for tea!! Yes, they really do. If watching Alex Cora walk out to the mind twice in an inning is too much for our attention span, exactly how are we supposed to watch a bunch of J Crew sporting social fops drink tea for twenty minutes?!!??

 

What you don't know about cricket is breathtaking. First of all, what you are describing are the traditional 5 day test matches between countries such as the annual Ashes match between England and Australia. That is red ball cricket. Today there is white ball cricket which are limited over matches that can last anywhere from 2 to three hours. (An over consists of six balls or pitches) These matches are very spectator friendly and are widely popular in the cricket world which is most of South Asia and the Commonwealth countries with a combined population of nearly 2 billion people. Since the introduction of white ball cricket there has arisen several cricket professional leagues including the Indian Premier League as well as the introduction of the ODI or one day international a limited over match of anywhere between 20 or 50 overs.

 

As to ODI cricket's worldwide television appeal, Forbes magazine noted that the match between India and Pakistan was outdrawn by only the England Italy European Cup final in 2020 and would outdraw the Super bowl.

 

Cricket may never appeal to an American audience, but it has become big television business drawing huge audiences around the world. Once the pandemic is over who knows I wouldn't be surprised if John Henry and Fenway Sports group doesn't try to add an IPL franchise to their portfolio to go along with their other properties. I think the IPL has greater growth opportunity than MLB.

[Elktonnick]

This is sorta true. The legacy match for cricket is the 5-day Test Match

 

BUT the official World Cup are a series of one-day matches ... each match takes 6 hours

 

And the top professional league in the world (the India Premier League) is a T20 league ... 20 overs (120 balls) per side. That fit within the 3 hour TV window. Cricket is actively trying to catch on in that way. There is a certain purist joy in the 5-day match, but the sports knows the T20 matches are the ones which are going to sell.

 

I agree. Cricket is going to be the next big thing because the cricket power structure has the imagination to make their game more viewer friendly.

 

BTW since the lockout, I have been watching a lot of cricket on Willow. I have gotten to appreciate the game a lot more.

 

MLB could learn a lot from cricket especially the way cricket handles its video reviews.

Edited January 12, 2022 by Elktonnick

[dgalehouse]

Cricket is gaining a lot of popularity around the world. A fine sporting event. Well , except for the occasional sticky wicket. That can sometimes be a major turnoff.

[Elktonnick]

Cricket is gaining a lot of popularity around the world. A fine sporting event. Well , except for the occasional sticky wicket. That can sometimes be a major turnoff.

Not as much as a Yorker off stump for a duck!

[Bellhorn04]

One thing I might need to put on my bucket list is to learn the rules of cricket. I'm not necessarily interested in watching in games, but it's kind of embarrassing not even knowing the rules.

 

Hell, if this baseball season gets f**ed up, I might have to go all in on cricket.

[Elktonnick]

My father who was a very good ballplayer in his day in the 1920s and 30s told me of a game they used to play when there were not enough players to field two teams. It was called scrub. It was a variant of cricket and baseball. There were only two bases. Edited January 13, 2022 by Elktonnick

[sk7326]

I agree. Cricket is going to be the next big thing because the cricket power structure has the imagination to make their game more viewer friendly.

 

BTW since the lockout, I have been watching a lot of cricket on Willow. I have gotten to appreciate the game a lot more.

 

MLB could learn a lot from cricket especially the way cricket handles its video reviews.

 

I like the video replay. Though MLB will adopt automated balls and strikes NLT 2024, so I don't worry too much on THAT.

 

I am incredibly intrigued by the Power Play rule in ODI - where basically the fielders have to play "in" for the first and last bit of the match. I don't believe in outlawing shifts the whole game for sure.

[jad]

One thing I might need to put on my bucket list is to learn the rules of cricket. I'm not necessarily interested in watching in games, but it's kind of embarrassing not even knowing the rules.

 

Hell, if this baseball season gets f**ed up, I might have to go all in on cricket.

 

The rules of cricket are essentially those of soccer, except the games go on for three days or so instead of 8 hours.

[sk7326]

The rules of cricket are essentially those of soccer, except the games go on for three days or so instead of 8 hours.

 

I will admit the pandemic got me very into the Premier League. The thing with soccer games are that they are short and very consistent - 45 minutes without stoppages, a quick halftime and then 45 more minutes, you're done in 2 hours. The entertainment level varies a lot by team (Liverpool is extremely entertaining) but it's hard not to get into it when the fans get it going.

 

Cricket is like baseball except with 1 inning (for the IPL format) with 120 pitch limit.

[mvp 78]

@JeffPassan

Baseball labor update: There is no deal. There never was going to be one today. MLB made a proposal. The reaction among the players was not positive. Few on either side expected it to be. The question is how soon the MLBPA counters. Spring training starting on time is in peril.

[S5Dewey]

Per USA Today:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/01/13/mlb-lockout-news-players-union-not-impressed-thursday-proposals/6515436001/

 

Am I violating any copyright laws, etc by posting this link here?

[Elktonnick]

Per USA Today:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/01/13/mlb-lockout-news-players-union-not-impressed-thursday-proposals/6515436001/

 

Am I violating any copyright laws, etc by posting this link here?

If you did, that ain't cricket.