Interest in baseball dwindling?

[MUsoxfan]

Managers are over-managing.

Too many mound visits, too many pitching changes, too many long replay challenges.

Pitchers take too much time on the mound too. Don't think, meat; just throw

[Dr. Blackheart]

A number of reasons.  Pitching changes.  Back in 1974 and that era, starting pitchers pitched longer and the number of pitching changes were fewer.  Setup men, 8th inning guy, closers, pitch counts, most of that stuff has been put into overdrive in the last 15 years.  Yes, there were closers back then but not used like they are today.  Situational pitching matchups add time. 

Every game is on tv now, that wasn't the case back then.  TV means commercials and commercials add time to the game.

Replay added time starting this year for replay reviews, etc. 

Add in the DH as well.  More so, IMO stats have slowed the game with an emphasis now  on OBP (taking more pitches, walks) and the digital grading of umpires that has tightened the strike zone.

[4everwarriors]

Too much spittin' and yankin' at the crotch for me, hey?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Too much spittin' and yankin' at the crotch for me, hey?

I pegged you for more Morganna the Kissin Bandit.

[Benny B]

The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball.  And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.

If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards.  But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.

[MU82]

I always have to wonder when people say baseball games are too long.  They typically are about 3 hours, (ok longer if the yanks or red sox are involved).  NFL games, also run about three hours long.  There have been several studies I've seen that time the amount of actual game play, and the NFL is always last, the game is predominantly waiting to get plays in and started.  The last 2 minutes of a basketball game last a half hour and can be excruciatingly dull.  Most every sport is full of downtime and mental gamesmanship.  But people really can't stand the time in baseball.  I don't really get it.  A batter stepping out for 5 seconds is intolerable, but waiting 40 seconds for a play to begin is the most exciting game ever.  It is just odd to me. 

Football, especially the NFL variety, has a certain cadence to it.

QB at the line, barking signals, announcer says a few words, the snap, the play, the color commentary, the replay, the replay from another angle, the slo-mo replay, various comments by the announcers, then the QB back at the line.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

While a 9-inning baseball game can last anywhere from 2 hours with Mark Buehrle pitching to 4+ hours with the Red Sox playing, one can pretty much bank on an NFL game lasting just about 3 hours.

Unlike baseball, which has let games get longer and longer, the NFL actually addressed the issue successfully. Some might not remember, but the NFL was being criticized awhile back for its games being too long. It listened to focus groups and had its competition committee draft changes. Halftime is only 12 minutes. The clock keeps running in many instances where it used to stop. Officials are encouraged to keep the clock moving if forward progress was stopped a nanosecond before a ballcarrier is knocked out of bounds, etc.

I like each sport for the unique features it brings, but I confess that I now have trouble watching any game in any sport from beginning to end. I much prefer using the DVR and then watching an NFL game in, say, an hour or a baseball game in even less. Even Marquette games ... if I'm not out at a bar with friends, if I'm just watching by myself or with my wife, I will DVR it and zip through the commercials and halftime and injuries and replay stoppages.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball.  And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.

If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards.  But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.

Wow. You've just summarized everything I hate about television today.

Let's admit it: entertainment in 2014 is driven by white trash tastes.

[Benny B]

Wow. You've just summarized everything I hate about television today.

Let's admit it: entertainment in 2014 is driven by white trash tastes.

Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14

1    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    09:00P-10:01P    13801
2    NFL REGULAR SEASON      L    ESPN    Mon    08:15P-11:38P    13275
3    TALKING DEAD    AMC    Sun    10:01P-11:00P    5320
4    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESPN    Sat    07:15P-10:55P    4952
5    American Horror Story    FX    Wed    10:00P-11:23P    4439
6    Sons Of Anarchy    FX    Tue    10:00P-11:31P    4285
7    NASCAR SPRINT CUP       L    ESPN    Sun    01:30P-06:03P    4083
8    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    09:00P-10:00P    3864
9    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    10:00P-11:11P    3631
10    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    3589
11    NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL    NFLN    Thu    08:26P-11:15P    3365
12    NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS    NFLN    Thu    11:15P-11:32P    3276
13    Gold Rush    DISC    Fri    09:00P-10:00P    3249
14    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    08:00P-09:00P    3220
15    SPORTSCENTER:           L    ESPN    Mon    11:38P-01:00A    3211
16    COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT    L    ESPN    Sat    12:00P-03:14P    3061
17    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Wed    08:00P-09:00P    2952
18    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Thu    08:00P-09:00P    2926
19    19 Kids and Counting    TLC    Tue    09:00P-10:01P    2829
20    Pawn Stars    HIST    Thu    09:31P-10:03P    2699
21    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    2696
22    Project Runway    LIFE    Thu    09:00P-10:31P    2629
23    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESP2    Sat    07:30P-11:02P    2589
24    Big Bang Theory, THE    TBSC    Wed    09:00P-09:30P    2549
25    COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD    L    ESPN    Sat    03:14P-03:30P    2547

With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR.  Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.

[Coleman]

Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14

1    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    09:00P-10:01P    13801
2    NFL REGULAR SEASON      L    ESPN    Mon    08:15P-11:38P    13275
3    TALKING DEAD    AMC    Sun    10:01P-11:00P    5320
4    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESPN    Sat    07:15P-10:55P    4952
5    American Horror Story    FX    Wed    10:00P-11:23P    4439
6    Sons Of Anarchy    FX    Tue    10:00P-11:31P    4285
7    NASCAR SPRINT CUP       L    ESPN    Sun    01:30P-06:03P    4083
8    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    09:00P-10:00P    3864
9    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    10:00P-11:11P    3631
10    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    3589
11    NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL    NFLN    Thu    08:26P-11:15P    3365
12    NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS    NFLN    Thu    11:15P-11:32P    3276
13    Gold Rush    DISC    Fri    09:00P-10:00P    3249
14    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    08:00P-09:00P    3220
15    SPORTSCENTER:           L    ESPN    Mon    11:38P-01:00A    3211
16    COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT    L    ESPN    Sat    12:00P-03:14P    3061
17    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Wed    08:00P-09:00P    2952
18    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Thu    08:00P-09:00P    2926
19    19 Kids and Counting    TLC    Tue    09:00P-10:01P    2829
20    Pawn Stars    HIST    Thu    09:31P-10:03P    2699
21    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    2696
22    Project Runway    LIFE    Thu    09:00P-10:31P    2629
23    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESP2    Sat    07:30P-11:02P    2589
24    Big Bang Theory, THE    TBSC    Wed    09:00P-09:30P    2549
25    COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD    L    ESPN    Sat    03:14P-03:30P    2547

With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR.  Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.

I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.

[Coleman]

The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball.  And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.

If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards.  But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/tlc-producer-wants-list-of-100-unnatural carnal knowledgeedup-families-o,37282/

EDIT: Our mod's Puritan censoring policies have messed up the link. You have to fix it in your browser.

[Groin_pull]

I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.

And I'm sure your TV is always tuned to PBS and Masterpiece Theatre, right?

[Coleman]

And I'm sure your TV is always tuned to PBS and Masterpiece Theatre, right?

No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.

For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR.  Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.

The irony in all of this is if you break it down by geographic regions, this is hardly southern, hardly white trash (or simply just white).  Stereotypes in abundance on this one.

You also excluded broadcast which changes those ratings configurations dramatically. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.

For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.

Actually, I'd argue that there is a lot of character development.

I'd never argue that Walking Dead is highbrow entertainment, but a big portion of the show is watching the characters evolve/devolve as they are forced into moral dilemmas. Killing zombies is an easy-to-solve moral dilemma, but everything else they do to survive is a rationalization, and that's a big part of the show.

I would NOT say that it's groundbreaking television, but the show is good entertainment.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.

For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.

Yup. Haven't checked out Boardwalk Empire, but it looks good. Thinking about getting the DVD's (my usual exposure to TV). I just went through the Shield this year, as well. Excellent show. Loved the ending.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14

1    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    09:00P-10:01P    13801
2    NFL REGULAR SEASON      L    ESPN    Mon    08:15P-11:38P    13275
3    TALKING DEAD    AMC    Sun    10:01P-11:00P    5320
4    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESPN    Sat    07:15P-10:55P    4952
5    American Horror Story    FX    Wed    10:00P-11:23P    4439
6    Sons Of Anarchy    FX    Tue    10:00P-11:31P    4285
7    NASCAR SPRINT CUP       L    ESPN    Sun    01:30P-06:03P    4083
8    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    09:00P-10:00P    3864
9    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    10:00P-11:11P    3631
10    WWE Entertainment    USA    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    3589
11    NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL    NFLN    Thu    08:26P-11:15P    3365
12    NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS    NFLN    Thu    11:15P-11:32P    3276
13    Gold Rush    DISC    Fri    09:00P-10:00P    3249
14    Walking Dead    AMC    Sun    08:00P-09:00P    3220
15    SPORTSCENTER:           L    ESPN    Mon    11:38P-01:00A    3211
16    COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT    L    ESPN    Sat    12:00P-03:14P    3061
17    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Wed    08:00P-09:00P    2952
18    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Thu    08:00P-09:00P    2926
19    19 Kids and Counting    TLC    Tue    09:00P-10:01P    2829
20    Pawn Stars    HIST    Thu    09:31P-10:03P    2699
21    THE OREILLY FACTOR    FOXN    Mon    08:00P-09:00P    2696
22    Project Runway    LIFE    Thu    09:00P-10:31P    2629
23    COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME  L    ESP2    Sat    07:30P-11:02P    2589
24    Big Bang Theory, THE    TBSC    Wed    09:00P-09:30P    2549
25    COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD    L    ESPN    Sat    03:14P-03:30P    2547

With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR.  Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.

Talking Dead at #3 is pretty interesting too.........

[🏀]

I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.

I'm going to argue it doesn't. Considering it garnered it's early base from Breaking Bad, I bet the demographics are similar.

[buckchuckler]

Well, people that may like sports but didn't watch that game really missed out.  Just a great game.  High drama, high intensity, and a historical performance by a great player.  Everything you could want out of a championship game, well unless you are a royals fan. 

[jsglow]

Well, people that may like sports but didn't watch that game really missed out.  Just a great game.  High drama, high intensity, and a historical performance by a great player.  Everything you could want out of a championship game, well unless you are a royals fan.  

+1.  

It was a game that will go down in history.  One of the greatest pitching performances I have ever seen, certainly for two days rest following a 117 pitch shutout performance on Sunday.  When they start putting up graphics that include Cy Young from well over 100 years ago........  

It was all that is great about baseball although ESPN Sportscenter highlights for the casual fan were few and far between.

[GGGG]

I'm watching game #7; chick isn't.  At least I got the good TV tonight.

In all seriousness, I enjoy baseball differently than the way I enjoy other sports.  It's a game to be experienced in person on a slow afternoon or on the radio while doing something else in the backyard.  I rarely watch on TV.  But the long flow of the season, taken a series at a time, and followed via the morning paper still has much charm for me.  This year's absolute highlight for me was an August camping trip with my son.  We listened to all 3 Brewer/Dodger games in what had to be the high water mark of the season as we split wood, drank Leine's, cooked over the fire, and dodged raindrops during a poor weather weekend in the northwoods.  We discussed everything from the offseason trade of Aoki to my seeing Hank Aaron play as a Brewer in my own youth. 

It's "America's Pastime."  It is a sport that is perfect for the summer.  It's outdoors.  It's got a leisurely pace. 

But when the weather changes and people get busy, a lot of people stop paying attention.  Football is played once a week, almost always on the weekends, so they don't have to devote a great deal of attention to it. 

[brandx]

Yup. Haven't checked out Boardwalk Empire, but it looks good. Thinking about getting the DVD's (my usual exposure to TV). I just went through the Shield this year, as well. Excellent show. Loved the ending.

The Shield was outstanding. Changed the landscape of television.

[Benny B]

The irony in all of this is if you break it down by geographic regions, this is hardly southern, hardly white trash (or simply just white).  Stereotypes in abundance on this one.

You also excluded broadcast which changes those ratings configurations dramatically. 

Who said anything about regions?  I would bet there's just as much white trash in California as there is in Mississippi.

[CTWarrior]

I love baseball for all the traditional nostalgic reasons.  Connection with my grandfather, my dad and my son.  Playing backyard catch with Dad and with my son are very fond memories.  Taking baseball trips to different cities with my wife and son are great memories that I hope to continue with grandchildren some day.

I played baseball and basketball through high school, and though I was much better at basketball, I loved baseball way more.  There is nothing in sports quite like really crushing a well-pitched baseball.  It was too rare for me as a player and very thrilling.

As for the current state of baseball, I agree that pace of play is a problem.  There is just too much diddling around not playing baseball.  Stuff like stepping out of the box, pitchers holding the ball forever when runners reach, conferences on the mound, multiple pitching changes in a half-inning, too much commercial time between innings.  The game itself is as wonderful as ever when they're actually playing it.

Besides pace of play, the one thing I'd like to see is less strikeouts.  I think when they started with Questec and grading umpires, they thought they may be increasing offense by eliminating those Greg Maddux 6 inches off the plate strikes.  They have eliminated those to a large degree, but they have traded that for more (accurate) low strikes, actually increasing the called srike zone, speeding up the trend of increased strikeouts.  Baseball (to me) is at it's best when the ball is put in play and fielders and baserunners are all moving around.  There's not enough of that.  If offense continues to tumble, that will be rectified by having more speedy contact hitters and less lumbering sluggers.

[Groin_pull]

I love baseball for all the traditional nostalgic reasons.  Connection with my grandfather, my dad and my son.  Playing backyard catch with Dad and with my son are very fond memories.  Taking baseball trips to different cities with my wife and son are great memories that I hope to continue with grandchildren some day.

I played baseball and basketball through high school, and though I was much better at basketball, I loved baseball way more.  There is nothing in sports quite like really crushing a well-pitched baseball.  It was too rare for me as a player and very thrilling.

As for the current state of baseball, I agree that pace of play is a problem.  There is just too much diddling around not playing baseball.  Stuff like stepping out of the box, pitchers holding the ball forever when runners reach, conferences on the mound, multiple pitching changes in a half-inning, too much commercial time between innings.  The game itself is as wonderful as ever when they're actually playing it.

Besides pace of play, the one thing I'd like to see is less strikeouts.  I think when they started with Questec and grading umpires, they thought they may be increasing offense by eliminating those Greg Maddux 6 inches off the plate strikes.  They have eliminated those to a large degree, but they have traded that for more (accurate) low strikes, actually increasing the called srike zone, speeding up the trend of increased strikeouts.  Baseball (to me) is at it's best when the ball is put in play and fielders and baserunners are all moving around.  There's not enough of that.  If offense continues to tumble, that will be rectified by having more speedy contact hitters and less lumbering sluggers.

Clearly, I must be in the minority, but I struggle sitting through a football game. The endless commercials...injury timeouts....official reviews that take forever. A 3+ hour game has what, about 12 minutes of action? It's even worse sitting inside a stadium. There are so many breaks in the "action" that I struggle to stay awake. Luckily, I can always count on being surrounded by obnoxious, vulgar drunks to keep me from dozing off.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Who said anything about regions?  I would bet there's just as much white trash in California as there is in Mississippi.

Probably more, we also have more communists, left-handers, guys on pogo sticks, the richest of the rich, the poorest of the poor, etc.   Forgive me for jumping to a conclusion with "Bubba" "Nascar" "Duck Dynasty" and assuming you meant the south. 

By the way, "rednecks" is very offensive and shouldn't be used.  Progress.  Moving forward.