Bryce Harper

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Filthy

... as the popularity of the game, will continue to dwindle...

Dwindling? 74,000,000 people went to MLB games last year...

Do you own the team? Then why do you care how many people are there?

A baseball game is a beautiful event meant to be enjoyed as it unfolds, whether there are 60 people in the stands or 60,000.

It's the only major professional team sport where the game isn't over until it's over, no matter how many runs you are getting beaten, it POSSIBLE for you to win. The 2004 Red Sox are a nice place to look.

Every other major professional team sport hits a point at nearly every game, where one team is done, and it is impossible for them to win, yet, the game continues.

[itjclarke]

Agree with response to comment about "dwindling", I think this is probably overstated. Baseball has never been better attended, has never been more regularly viewed in teams' local markets, and has never made more money. I do still stand by my comments about reasons I think postseason ratings have dropped off, but think baseball is on to something with the single game wild card, and a 5 game LDS series in which 0-2 deficits have been overcome several times. More potential elimination games, better viewing for those folks whose team may no longer be in it.

I consider myself an old school fan, who as others have commented, will love the game regardless... but at the same time, hope baseball continues to draw in more casual & national audiences, without fundamentally changing what makes it great.

[Jantz]

No matter what the sport, I say you let the scoreboard do the "talking".

Jose Bautista will fall in line with Robin Ventura.

When his baseball career is over, the only thing he will be remembered for was that bat flip. Just like Ventura is only remembered for the knuckle sandwich Nolan Ryan served him.

[Snapolit1]

I was at Robin Ventura's walk off grand slam single for the Metros. An amazing moment at old Shea.

[botn]

Seems Gossage is not too fond of the game today...
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/gossage...2369--mlb.html

[Mountaineer1999]

Originally Posted by botn

Seems Gossage is not too fond of the game today...
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/gossage...2369--mlb.html

Goose going off on just about everything

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Dwindling? 74,000,000 people went to MLB games last year...

Do you own the team? Then why do you care how many people are there?

A baseball game is a beautiful event meant to be enjoyed as it unfolds, whether there are 60 people in the stands or 60,000.

It's the only major professional team sport where the game isn't over until it's over, no matter how many runs you are getting beaten, it POSSIBLE for you to win. The 2004 Red Sox are a nice place to look.

Every other major professional team sport hits a point at nearly every game, where one team is done, and it is impossible for them to win, yet, the game continues.

As Earl Weaver said, you can't run a play into the line and kill the clock. You've got to pitch to the other team and give them a chance. And I think he added, that's what's so great about this game.

[Snapolit1]

. . . any minute someone will be quoting the old George Carlin Football and Baseball routine . . . .definitely a classic

[Snapolit1]

Kind of telling that Gossage came up with two Hispanic players.

Maybe Gossage is only offended when people with brown skin celebrate too much.

[packs]

To me if you win a game you have reason to celebrate. If you hit a homer in the third inning you can round the bases and sit down. I think a big moment deserves celebrating though and don't think there's anything wrong with it. When a closer wins the game I don't have a problem with some fist pumping.

[egbeachley]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Dwindling? 74,000,000 people went to MLB games last year...

.

That's a 3% drop from 10 years ago even though the US population has increased 8% during that time.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Dwindling? 74,000,000 people went to MLB games last year...

Yes, the overall interest of the game is dying. That's great that 74,000,000 people went games last year. The season ticket managers, and sports marketing teams, are doing a great job of getting local butts in the seats. But outside of the local markets that these teams play, there isn't much fanfare. You couldn't get kids these days to sit down and watch a game of baseball on TV...unless of course, you tempted them, with the newest Iphone or offered them money.

Do you own the team? Then why do you care how many people are there?

I don't care how many fans are in the seats whether its sold out....or just a handful of people....... good or bad, its not a true reflection of the current trend in lack of interest to the game. It's about National as well as and Global interest, TV/ratings, Revenues, and marketing. And yes..you mentioned, that the mlb, leagues, and individual teams are making record amounts of money....but so is every other one of the Big 3 sports.

A baseball game is a beautiful event meant to be enjoyed as it unfolds, whether there are 60 people in the stands or 60,000.

It's the only major professional team sport where the game isn't over until it's over, no matter how many runs you are getting beaten, it POSSIBLE for you to win. The 2004 Red Sox are a nice place to look.

Every other major professional team sport hits a point at nearly every game, where one team is done, and it is impossible for them to win, yet, the game continues.

That's awesome that you have this great emotional attachment to baseball being a "beautiful event." It sounds like you truly have an understanding of the game, and appreciate the intricacy's and strategies that really does make it a great game. But I'm confident in saying, that because its not fun and interesting to the younger generation, that less and less people are watching, year after year. Its been a slow transition, but its picking up momentum. So, since less and less people are watching......there are that many less people who don't ever have the opportunity to "fall in love" with the game as you have over the years. So people like yourself who love the game, for the game itself will always say that its still a great game, and that's its relevant, and that it will always be "Americas past time." Unfortunately, You and those like you that are proabably40+ 50+ years of age, and/or people living in a local MLB market where there is some emotional attachment to a team, and to MLB baseball are the only ones still saying that. The rest of the Country no longer cares.

And I think its sad.

[Louieman]

With my job I'm surrounded by young kids, and I can say with certainty across the board that baseball is absolutely in decline in terms of winning the attention of young people. Of course this is only my experience, but I feel confident in saying this observation is analogous to most of the country's youth.

That said, baseball is making so much money, I'm really not worried about it falling off the map anytime soon. But down the road is another story...

And with regards to what Harper said, I definitely agree that the sport needs to modernize, to ignite some more sparks. Speed up, even. But I don't think that acting like a douche like Harper does is the right way to do it. The dude doesn't even know how to pronounce "meme" correctly, how's he going to win over the youth?