The 2020 Cleveland Indians

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

The Washington Times begs to differ.

MLB still vexed by longer games, shrinking attendance

More than a quarter of the way into the current season, nine-inning MLB games have lasted 3 hours and 2 minutes on average — up from an even 3 hours in 2018.

www.washingtontimes.com

They don't make a link between duration of game and fan engagement in that entire article.

The article is so poorly done that it's almost laughable. They posted about attendance being down over the first few weeks of the season... by comparing early-season attendance to the full season average of the previous year. That's not a mistake any of us would make, so for that reason alone I'm going to hold the opinion that Adam Zielonka and David Driver have no idea what they're talking about.

Show me a fan who says "You know, since the games take on average, three hours and 4 minutes, I just don't have time in my schedule for that. But, if you cut that down under three hours, to like two hours and 57 minutes, I'd care more about baseball"

It just doesn't happen. Baseball has refused to market their superstars, have refused to adapt to the modern entertainment world, and it's showing.

Everyone in the country can name LeBron. Everyone knows Tom Brady. How many people know Mike Trout?

You know the shots of Russell Westbrook walking into the arena before a game, showing off what he's wearing? When's the last time you saw the MLB advertise someone's individual personality like that?

This is a conversation we've had pretty in-depth just recently so I don't feel like digging up everything again. But baseball has really shit the bed when it comes to social media and access to video highlights as well. Bauer does a good job summarizing a lot of the points in this video:

 

[Derek]

NFL and MLB games are about the same length, and there's probably more downtime in football games.

The difference, besides personal preference, of course, is marketing.

Mike Trout is literally one of the greatest hitters of all-time (with an argument for the crown) and you see him absolutely nowhere.

 

[Gson]

The Washington Times begs to differ.

MLB still vexed by longer games, shrinking attendance

More than a quarter of the way into the current season, nine-inning MLB games have lasted 3 hours and 2 minutes on average — up from an even 3 hours in 2018.

www.washingtontimes.com

Professional sports, in general are seeing fewer and fewer attendees. The mere fact that a game goes from 180 to 182 minutes.. doesn't sound off alarm bells.. An 85 inch HD flat screen with surround sound and interfaced computer graphics is the enemy of spending an hour or more driving to the game.. sitting in a seat that was designed for a 17 year old who eats like a bird with no leg room.. waiting for the game to re-commence after the TV ads have run, etc.. etc.. I.O.W. creature comforts of a home theater costs less, you see more, the bathrooms are cleaner than a hound's tooth and you don't pay $ 12 for lousy adult beverages.. The teams do pretty well in the TV department.. so that's not going to change, ever...

Thoughts?..

 

[Gson]

Speaking of change...

It appears that the sequestering of baseball may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel. After the record setting TV ratings/viewership for the NFL draft proved to the world that "..any news is good news for professional sports..." (how else can you descibe that boring ass snooze fest over three days?)... Baseball schedule makers may be foisting trial balloons to see if the fans will buy a three site/location deal..

East teams in Miami/Tampa: 10 teams
Central teams in Houston/Dallas: 10 teams
West teams in Arizona/LA(?): 10 teams

A reformatted schedule and playoff round robin of some kind will be the next thing figured out..

Thoughts?

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

how else can you descibe that boring ass snooze fest over three days?

I always watch the NFL Draft.

I thought this year's coverage was actually better than most. Seeing the GM's, Head Coaches, and draftees in their homes was pretty cool. And, without everyone together on set (or maybe it was the NFLN/ESPN combined broadcast), it kept the voices refreshing. I know I didn't have the same level of Kiper fatigue I would typically have on day three.

 

[Derek]

I'm not betting on having baseball this summer. Even if they start, I imagine it ending rather quickly.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

After reading this thread, it just goes to show why baseball is the number 3 major sport, and how "unfair" or "non-competitive" the league is when it comes to finances and lack of equal revenue sharing and no salary cap. Unless they drastically change the rules, small to mid-market teams are going to risk going under, or having no chance to compete. It just sucks that the Indians happen to be a high point when this happened. It will be interesting what happens when the owners go to vote on plans to re-open and the terms they would agree to. I would almost think you would need the owners to agree to an even revenue split between all clubs this year, and maybe for the next few years until things get back to normal. I also hope it leads the baseball world finally breaking with tradition and make more modern changes.

 

[ncinthenext3]

How in the world can teams make enough cash without the gate$$ and concessions? Aside from the TV deals, what are the revenue streams?

 

[ncinthenext3]

Regarding viewership, look at how many people watched the draft and are actually tuning in to watch IRacing. I think we're all starving for live sports and whatever sport can get back to it safely is going to get a huge ratings bump. Here's hoping it can be done safely.

On a side note, it should be very interesting watching baseball when it comes back. Not to be gross, but think about how many times someone is spitting on camera or in the dugout. That's a legitemate behavior that has to be addressed isn't it?

 

[6.19.2016]

4

Speaking of change...

It appears that the sequestering of baseball may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel. After the record setting TV ratings/viewership for the NFL draft proved to the world that "..any news is good news for professional sports..." (how else can you descibe that boring ass snooze fest over three days?)... Baseball schedule makers may be foisting trial balloons to see if the fans will buy a three site/location deal..

East teams in Miami/Tampa: 10 teams
Central teams in Houston/Dallas: 10 teams
West teams in Arizona/LA(?): 10 teams

A reformatted schedule and playoff round robin of some kind will be the next thing figured out..

Thoughts?

Passan-bomb:


The reddit comments about the 1994 strike and the "details" thereof are a bit misleading/misunderstand the point; I don't know if "almost everyone...agree[d]" that there would be more baseball games that season.

Taiwan and South Korea - I know, I know, completely different situation - are providing a good blueprint for a start strategy for MLB, a blueprint that we had no data on just a few weeks ago but now do, not to mention that overall infection rates are well below most original expectations worldwide.

 

[Kiddo]

I'm not betting on having baseball this summer. Even if they start, I imagine it ending rather quickly.

I hope I'm wrong.

If Basketball starts back up around June/July i'd expect Baseball to also start up and play a short season.

 

[Derek]

If Basketball starts back up around June/July i'd expect Baseball to also start up and play a short season.

I'm not betting on having basketball either

 

[Gson]

Jonathan Mayo had a disjointed and mostly wrong MLB Mock Draft. The only information gleened from the article was who the Indians would NOT be taking with the # 23 overall pick..

Link: https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/mlb-pipeline-2020-mlb-mock-draft

There are several names that show up on the list from # 20 onward that could be better picks, imho.. What this kind of article now says.. the ratings/viewership success of the NFL draft gives MLB a segue to continue with the MLB Draft.. the money is decided (bonuses paid in increments over two years, maximum amounts for any signee above those drafted, etc..). Could be a useful tool to generate interest in the guys in the game along with the seque to the actual playing of games.. whatever that looks like...

thoughts?..

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

They don't make a link between duration of game and fan engagement in that entire article.

The article is so poorly done that it's almost laughable. They posted about attendance being down over the first few weeks of the season... by comparing early-season attendance to the full season average of the previous year. That's not a mistake any of us would make, so for that reason alone I'm going to hold the opinion that Adam Zielonka and David Driver have no idea what they're talking about.

Show me a fan who says "You know, since the games take on average, three hours and 4 minutes, I just don't have time in my schedule for that. But, if you cut that down under three hours, to like two hours and 57 minutes, I'd care more about baseball"

It just doesn't happen. Baseball has refused to market their superstars, have refused to adapt to the modern entertainment world, and it's showing.

Everyone in the country can name LeBron. Everyone knows Tom Brady. How many people know Mike Trout?

You know the shots of Russell Westbrook walking into the arena before a game, showing off what he's wearing? When's the last time you saw the MLB advertise someone's individual personality like that?

This is a conversation we've had pretty in-depth just recently so I don't feel like digging up everything again. But baseball has really shit the bed when it comes to social media and access to video highlights as well. Bauer does a good job summarizing a lot of the points in this video:

So it's a question of do we try and make the product better or do we try and market the product we have better?

Trevor wants to market it better. Make sure people can see Mike Trout highlights on Twitter. Let Clevinger wear colorful shoes. You suggested having shots of the best players walking into the ballpark wearing interesting clothes.

I guess I'm old school. I have no interest in what baseball players wear, either before or during games. I get the MLB package and I never watch an Angels game because I'm not an Angels fan. I don't care if Mike Trout is playing. He's not doing anything different than anybody else, he just does it more often. I'd rather watch Roberto Perez hit a home run than Mike Trout hit one.

I'm talking about making the product better by reducing the down time between the action. A lot has been done already (40-second clock, automatic intentional walks, 3-batter rule to limit pitching changes). Obviously baseball thinks this is important. I think they'll continue to look for ways.

Basketball put in a shot clock. Football has a play clock. Baseball is the only sport where players can stop the game for as long as they want, whenever they want. So can managers. Is that part of its appeal? Or is that getting to be a negative?

The best way to market baseball to young people is for their parents to take them to games. Get 'em hooked early. Worked for me.

We need a salary cap for sure. Would you be interested in following high school basketball if one school was allowed to recruit players from all over the conference and pay them to transfer, but the rest were not?

I'm for more competitive balance and a quicker game with less down time. If they get that the game will market itself. If you have a great product the customers will find you. If you build it people will come.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

What this kind of article now says.. the ratings/viewership success of the NFL draft gives MLB a segue to continue with the MLB Draft.. the money is decided (bonuses paid in increments over two years, maximum amounts for any signee above those drafted, etc..). Could be a useful tool to generate interest in the guys in the game along with the seque to the actual playing of games.. whatever that looks like...

thoughts?..

Fans like watching the NFL and, to a lesser extent, NBA drafts because they know the guys they watch their teams pick will be suiting up and contributing to those teams a few months later. Your average/casual baseball fan isn't going to care about a guy getting picked in the first round that they then need to wait multiple years, if ever, to see play for the team which drafted him.