Interest in baseball dwindling?

[GooooMarquette]

I'll admit I haven't followed baseball closely for many years (think Teddy Higuera as my last "favorite Brewer") because I prefer several other sports.  But I was surprised a few minutes ago when I went to the ESPN homepage on the eve of Game 7...and found way more space being given to college football (Gurley suspension, Auburn-Ole Miss), NFL football (Romo, Manning), NBA hoops (LeBron, Kobe, Julius Randle) and other sports (including Roy Williams' concern about the UNC cheating scandal).  Yes, there's a tab for a "Game 7 Preview" and some other small boxes...but you'd be hard-pressed to convince any casual observer that the most important game of the season for "America's Pastime" is about to occur.

It used to be that we had the "big 3" sports.  Is baseball fading so far that it belongs in a lower tier, well behind football and hoops?  If not, why the seeming lack of coverage?  Is it just a "no east coast team" thing?

[warriorchick]

I'll admit I haven't followed baseball closely for many years (think Teddy Higuera as my last "favorite Brewer") because I prefer several other sports.  But I was surprised a few minutes ago when I went to the ESPN homepage on the eve of Game 7...and found way more space being given to college football (Gurley suspension, Auburn-Ole Miss), NFL football (Romo, Manning), NBA hoops (LeBron, Kobe, Julius Randle) and other sports (including Roy Williams' concern about the UNC cheating scandal).  Yes, there's a tab for a "Game 7 Preview" and some other small boxes...but you'd be hard-pressed to convince any casual observer that the most important game of the season for "America's Pastime" is about to occur.

It used to be that we had the "big 3" sports.  Is baseball fading so far that it belongs in a lower tier, well behind football and hoops?  If not, why the seeming lack of coverage?  Is it just a "no east coast team" thing?

I used to be a HUGE baseball fan as a kid, especially the Reds.  I was pretty cocky about my broad baseball knowledge, routinely showing up my male classmates (hence the lack of romantic interest shown from said young men).  This is despite growing up in a city that didn't have any professional baseball (minor leagues came in the late '70's) and never seeing a live game until my family road-tripped to Atlanta when I was 14. As luck would have it, it was halter-top night.  Thanks, Ted Turner!

Not any more.  Baseball is simply too damn boring.  The games last too long and there are very few interesting personalities.  The constant stepping out of the box, throws to first base, and switching pitchers every 2/3 of an inning is maddening.  And when was the last time there was anyone truly fun to watch, such as Mark Fidrych, Luis Tiant, pre-Jane Fonda Ted Turner or pre-gambling addiction Pete Rose?

In my day, baseball was entertaining.  Now get off my lawn.

[MUfan12]

It's not unique to baseball. I think that all sports are becoming too sterile. That's why I always loved guys like Rasheed Wallace. The media would give them crap for being over the top, but at least they were interesting/entertaining. Hell, that's part of the reason I liked Buzz so much when he was here. It was something different.

The pace of play is a huge issue, though. I love baseball, but 3.5 hour games are tough to sit through.

[Eldon]

It's because ESPN doesn't own the television rights (Fox does)

I'm half joking here

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Baseball is beautiful game, but it is a game that many people in today's day and age just simply cannot endure.  Yes, the games are long.  Yes, the season is long.  Yes, the players are generally more mundane that other major sports.  But that is part of what makes it such an awesome game.  Baseball is a marathon. 

I have been a die-hard baseball fan my entire life.  I probably watch 140+ of the 162 games my favorite team plays...and I watch a lot of other games too.  I spend way way way too many hours playing fantasy baseball.  My dad was and is the same way, which is probably largely why I like it so much. But I also get that your generic person in 2014 cannot sit down for 4 hours and appreciate the game...it is all about instant gratification.  But that's the thing...it is so much sweeter when your team actually has success...it wasn't some 30 game season that earned them a spot in the playoffs..it was a 162 game battle of attrition. 

[GGGG]

Baseball is doing fine as a regional sport.  (ie, people follow their teams)  Not doing so well on a national level though.

[warriorchick]

Baseball is beautiful game, but it is a game that many people in today's day and age just simply cannot endure.  Yes, the games are long.  Yes, the season is long.  Yes, the players are generally more mundane that other major sports.  But that is part of what makes it such an awesome game.  Baseball is a marathon. 

I have been a die-hard baseball fan my entire life.  I probably watch 140+ of the 162 games my favorite team plays...and I watch a lot of other games too.  I spend way way way too many hours playing fantasy baseball.  My dad was and is the same way, which is probably largely why I like it so much. But I also get that your generic person in 2014 cannot sit down for 4 hours and appreciate the game...it is all about instant gratification.  But that's the thing...it is so much sweeter when your team actually has success...it wasn't some 30 game season that earned them a spot in the playoffs..it was a 162 game battle of attrition. 

I didn't know George Will was a Scooper.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League.  Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game.  From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.  
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc.  Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change

[Silkk the Shaka]

Baseball is doing fine as a regional sport.  (ie, people follow their teams)  Not doing so well on a national level though.

Someone caught Frank Deford on  NPR this a.m....

[GGGG]

Someone caught Frank Deford on  NPR this a.m....

Naw.  My mornings are reserved for Bob & Tom.  Read this a few weeks back:

http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/if-local-baseball-tv-ratings-are-so-strong-why-are-world-series-all-star-game-numbers-so-low/

[buckchuckler]

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. 

[buckchuckler]

My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League.  Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game.  From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.  
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc.  Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change

There is also a rule in place that says how much time the pitcher has between pitches.  This is the biggest culprit to me.  There are so many pitchers that take forever to pitch. 

I know MLB is trying out some new approaches during the Arizona Fall League, including a pitch clock.  It will be interesting to see if anything happens. 

[warriorchick]

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. 

Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974.  And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action.  If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?

[ChicosBailBonds]

My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League.  Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game.  From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.  
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc.  Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change

I hate the Intentional walk speed up, they should be forced to throw those pitches.  Plenty of wild pitches and passed balls over the years have occurred while a pitcher tries to throw an intentional walk. PLUS, it sometimes throws the pitcher off after throwing 4 wide ones to then be forced to throw strikes, especially if the intentional walk loaded the bases. 

Reducing the number of pitches, the players union is going to scream about that one as a safety issue in warming up.  Scioscia is on the competition committee, they are working on some things but I don't think a shot clock is happening any time soon...it would turn off so many people.  Having said that, rule 8.04 is in existence and known as the 12 second rule.  If the bases are empty, the pitcher is required to pitch the ball within 12 seconds to the batter upon receiving the ball AND the batter is in the box.  This is one they could enforce to cut some time.


Overall, baseball is doing fine at the gate, fine on tv when the numbers are properly viewed in context.  People that are complaining about the time, this sport isn't for you.  It's a timeless game for a reason.

[buckchuckler]

Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974.  And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action.  If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?

I'd be curious to know how much of that time is during innings and how much is between innings.  I would guess a big part of that is more ad time between innings, but maybe not.  

For example, with a quick search, the average time of an NBA game last year (regular season) was 137 minutes, the average time of a playoff game was 160 minutes.  An additional 23 minutes.  How about that. 

[brandx]

MLB is thriving.

[warriorchick]

I'd be curious to know how much of that time is during innings and how much is between innings.  I would guess a big part of that is more ad time between innings, but maybe not.  

For example, with a quick search, the average time of an NBA game last year (regular season) was 137 minutes, the average time of a playoff game was 160 minutes.  An additional 23 minutes.  How about that. 

Baseball doesn't need any "TV timeouts" because there is already plenty of dead time built right into the game. Between switching sides and pitching changes, that's at least 20 extended opportunities to run ads in a 3-hour game. 

And comparing NBA regular season and playoff games isn't exactly apples to apples.  I wouldn't care how long they took to play the game if I was watching the World Series.  But a regular season game between basement dwellers?  Forget it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974.  And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action.  If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?

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. 

[77ncaachamps]

Kids can multi-task nowadays...if the game is on (and is boring) they'll be on their phones/tablets with the game on in the background.

Baseball is not a game for people with ADD.

[buckchuckler]

Baseball doesn't need any "TV timeouts" because there is already plenty of dead time built right into the game. Between switching sides and pitching changes, that's at least 20 extended opportunities to run ads in a 3-hour game. 

And comparing NBA regular season and playoff games isn't exactly apples to apples.  I wouldn't care how long they took to play the game if I was watching the World Series.  But a regular season game between basement dwellers?  Forget it.

Just an example of how more commercials really adds up in that average game time. 

[GooooMarquette]

It's because ESPN doesn't own the television rights (Fox does)

I'm half joking here

I actually pondered that possibility...but ESPN is all over the Super Bowl, even though they've never owned the rights to  it.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I hate the Intentional walk speed up, they should be forced to throw those pitches.  Plenty of wild pitches and passed balls over the years have occurred while a pitcher tries to throw an intentional walk. PLUS, it sometimes throws the pitcher off after throwing 4 wide ones to then be forced to throw strikes, especially if the intentional walk loaded the bases. 

Reducing the number of pitches, the players union is going to scream about that one as a safety issue in warming up.  Scioscia is on the competition committee, they are working on some things but I don't think a shot clock is happening any time soon...it would turn off so many people.  Having said that, rule 8.04 is in existence and known as the 12 second rule.  If the bases are empty, the pitcher is required to pitch the ball within 12 seconds to the batter upon receiving the ball AND the batter is in the box.  This is one they could enforce to cut some time.


Overall, baseball is doing fine at the gate, fine on tv when the numbers are properly viewed in context.  People that are complaining about the time, this sport isn't for you.  It's a timeless game for a reason.

These were just a few of the trial things from this season.  Not sure if they are keeping all of them.  The preliminary review showed it cut 14 mins out of a game and an average under 3 hours.

[muwarrior69]

Back in the day there were only three networks and most households were lucky to get 7 TV stations. Now you have over 200 choices. Though I still love the game and my Yankees still win more than their fair share I started loosing interest after free agency. When I was a kid I could name every player and their position on the Yanks, Dodgers and Giants when they all played in New York and Brooklyn. I miss the 20 game winners and more than half were complete 9 inning games. The thing I miss most of all is the doubleheader. Today the game is more science than art. I know. I'm an old fart nostalgic for the good old days.

[brandx]

Back in the day there were only three networks and most households were lucky to get 7 TV stations. Now you have over 200 choices. Though I still love the game and my Yankees still win more than their fair share I started loosing interest after free agency. When I was a kid I could name every player and their position on the Yanks, Dodgers and Giants when they all played in New York and Brooklyn. I miss the 20 game winners and more than half were complete 9 inning games. The thing I miss most of all is the doubleheader. Today the game is more science than art. I know. I'm an old fart nostalgic for the good old days.

I get ya. Guys used to go up to the plate and hit the ball. Now, every at-bat is an event.

[jsglow]

I used to be a HUGE baseball fan as a kid, especially the Reds.  I was pretty cocky about my broad baseball knowledge, routinely showing up my male classmates (hence the lack of romantic interest shown from said young men).  This is despite growing up in a city that didn't have any professional baseball (minor leagues came in the late '70's) and never seeing a live game until my family road-tripped to Atlanta when I was 14. As luck would have it, it was halter-top night.  Thanks, Ted Turner!

Not any more.  Baseball is simply too damn boring.  The games last too long and there are very few interesting personalities.  The constant stepping out of the box, throws to first base, and switching pitchers every 2/3 of an inning is maddening.  And when was the last time there was anyone truly fun to watch, such as Mark Fidrych, Luis Tiant, pre-Jane Fonda Ted Turner or pre-gambling addiction Pete Rose?

In my day, baseball was entertaining.  Now get off my lawn.

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.  

But I do agree with all those who believe that with each at bat magnified and too frequent pitching changes that the game has suffered.  I also generally hate free agency.  Yount was a Brewer; Banks a Cub, etc.  

And if you're not watching, tonight's game is a gem so far.  Been a great series even though I don't have a vested interest in either team.  At least it's not the Cardinals (I'm just jealous of their success.)