Happy Opening Day! (even though MLB hates it's fans)

[jingram058]

MLB, or any major sport for that matter, doesn't give a damn about fans. It's all and only about money. It's been that way for decades now. I collect "the good old days". I don't watch or even care about watching millionaires (some many, many times over). They can't relate to or even comprehend fans.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by jingram058

MLB, or any major sport for that matter, doesn't give a damn about fans. It's all and only about money. It's been that way for decades now. I collect "the good old days". I don't watch or even care about watching millionaires (some many, many times over). They can't relate to or even comprehend fans.

Jim, love your posts, but you realize that news papers were full of editorials in the 1920s about how much Babe Ruth made and how outlandish and outrageous it all was, right?

The public turned on Gehrig when he held out for a raise and it was for way less that Ruth made. Way less.

[parkplace33]

Things change, times evolve, I am just glad baseball is back.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Jim, love your posts, but you realize that news papers were full of editorials in the 1920s about how much Babe Ruth made and how outlandish and outrageous it all was, right?

Keep in mind that Babe Ruth's reply when asked why he believed he should earn more than the President was "I had a lot better year than he did." Well then let's compare the ratio of Ruths salary to the President's back then and the ratio of Juan Soto's salary to the President's in 2025. The ratio is exponentially higher these days. That's what has caused many fans to shake their heads in disgust.

[jingram058]

Yes, everything changes. I am not that far gone. Yet. But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both. But that's it. I can't and won't watch on TV. My wife does, and I go hide in my man cave bedroom. It's just obscene to me what ballplayers make. I don't care what the owners make; they either have the wherewithal to put a team on field, like the Dodgers Steinbrenner-like approach, or they don't, like the Pirates, who haven't won anything in decades. One wonders how teams like that survive. But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime. And of course, with all the money comes the worry over getting a hangnail and having to miss the season. Read about Lou Gehrig and what he put up with before ALS finally stopped him. Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal. Even now I could time my swing to that. But if it breaks at that speed, well... But throwing that fast inevitably leads to breakdown, sooner rather than later. But like Leon, I have washed my hands of all the idiotic rule changes that had to be put into place.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by jingram058

But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both.... But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime.

Indeed. Maybe it's also a function of age, but it's almost impossible for me to really root for the hired mercenaries on the field these days. It's also partially a function of free agency turning baseball into a game of musical chairs. I could more readily empathize with players when a Pirate or a Cardinal or a Tiger or an Indian (where are those Indians anyway?) stayed that way for some time.

Originally Posted by jingram058

Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal.

I agree. I'd rather see knuckleball pitchers any time!

[SAllen2556]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Yes, everything changes. I am not that far gone. Yet. But there was a time in my youth when the ballplayers lived in the same neighborhoods as the fans. Even just a couple of years ago I bought bleacher seats at both Petco Park in San Diego and Yankee Stadium in New York for something like $15. I enjoyed both. But that's it. I can't and won't watch on TV. My wife does, and I go hide in my man cave bedroom. It's just obscene to me what ballplayers make. I don't care what the owners make; they either have the wherewithal to put a team on field, like the Dodgers Steinbrenner-like approach, or they don't, like the Pirates, who haven't won anything in decades. One wonders how teams like that survive. But I just can't rationalize watching multi-millionaires prance around in cricket pants, going through the motions of what was once a fantastic national pastime. And of course, with all the money comes the worry over getting a hangnail and having to miss the season. Read about Lou Gehrig and what he put up with before ALS finally stopped him. Sure, pitchers throw 100+ mph. Big effing deal. Even now I could time my swing to that. But if it breaks at that speed, well... But throwing that fast inevitably leads to breakdown, sooner rather than later. But like Leon, I have washed my hands of all the idiotic rule changes that had to be put into place.

When the players lived in your neighborhood they were being screwed by the owners under the reserve clause. I assume you’d rather go back to the days when Al Kaline had to work for a car dealership in the off season?

How old are you, anyway? Did you stop watching in 1979 when Nolar Ryan got a million bucks per year for four years? Were you watching in 1966 when Sandy Koufax got $125,000 - equivalent to over a million dollars today.

Were you watching in 1941 when Hank Greenberg got 55,000 - also over a million bucks in today’s money?

I’m generally interested in when baseball was such a fantastic pastime compared to today? Take any era in baseball history and your exact complaints could be cut and paste into articles written back then - you just have to adjust for inflation.

Right now I can get two Tiger tickets for $12 each on stub hub. That’s pretty much the same price I would have paid in 1984, adjusted for inflation, for my $4 bleacher seats at Tiger Stadium. By comparison, it cost me $100 for a Red Wing ticket this Winter - same evil owner too.

Baseball today is just as good as it ever was. If you liked the game in 1970 I don't get why you wouldn't like it today.

[Snapolit1]

Seems like most stadiums now, at least in big cities, have stupid $900 seats to sporting events. But like someone said, you can by $10-$20 tix to many games if you make an effort to look.

And the beers are $12 and the waters at $8. Stupid prices that you see in a lot of places now, not just the baseball stadium.

[mortimer brewster]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Keep in mind that Babe Ruth's reply when asked why he believed he should earn more than the President was "I had a lot better year than he did." Well then let's compare the ratio of Ruths salary to the President's back then and the ratio of Juan Soto's salary to the president's in 2025. The ratio is exponentially higher these days. That's what has caused many fans to shake their heads in disgust.

I am more disgusted with the Fans than the players/owners in regards to player salaries. The fan have never said "enough is enough". They keep buying tickets and licensed merchendise no matter how rediculous the price is.

They accept increased commercial breaks on telecasts. Increased streaming services Bla Bla Bla. The owners know they have the fans hooked.


Our young people are now putting more money in their gambling accounts than 401k. They have a "You Only Live Once" mindset. Aslong as today they're happy, they don't care with tomorrow, since tomorrow is tomorrow, it's still not happened yet.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

I remember when opening day was always in Cincinnati to start the season.

[Leon]

James- We are in the minority but I agree with you. I quit watching after the half of season, 1994.

"The 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, which began on August 12, 1994, and lasted until April 2, 1995, resulted in the cancellation of the 1994 postseason, including the World Series, and a shortened 1995 season"


That, and your reasoning, is why I could probably never collect/resell modern cards. I saw the new MLB HOF list of candidates. I literally didn't know 1 name out of about 25-30? Never heard of any of them, not an iota. I could not care less of MLB today, if I tried.
I think it's a small percentage of this forum but there are a few of us that feel this way, for one reason or another.

And a card.

Originally Posted by jingram058

MLB, or any major sport for that matter, doesn't give a damn about fans. It's all and only about money. It's been that way for decades now. I collect "the good old days". I don't watch or even care about watching millionaires (some many, many times over). They can't relate to or even comprehend fans.

[BioCRN]

One of the few times where having a career that involves being at work around 6-630am was a positive.

I'll take it even though the Cubs lost.

Also, we live in an era where I can watch almost every Cubs game, and up to 14 other games a day if I choose, for $100 a year (MLBAA $25 + half-off MLB.tv). Best deal in entertainment. I would have killed for this as a kid and it's easily obtainable as an adult.

[ASF123]

You guys who hate current MLB should really give it another chance - some of the players are really quite good! There’s this one guy from Japan who can hit *and* pitch!

[gonefishin]

Some interesting points of view.

However, if MLB had vanished - let's say in the steroid's era - because no one attended or watched a baseball game. The baseball cards that everyone cherishes would be absolutely worthless and would be exactly what they are - pieces of old cardboard.

The old saying "Throwing baby out with the bath water" is applicable in this case.

I for one support and love a good baseball game.

[molenick]

I can understand not watching today's game because of the pace, rule changes, the emphasis on analytics, etc. The one thing I don't understand is not watching because of how much money the players make.

They make what they make for the same reason baseball cards cost what they do...supply and demand. The players provide a skill that is in short supply and the owners acquire that skill to help them make money through attendance, concessions, sale of merchandise, viewership, etc. They bid in a free market system for the players services. Maybe they are not always smart about what they are paying so some contracts seem silly. But they are the ones offering to pay the players the money (the same way we are the ones bidding on/buying baseball cards and thus setting a price for them).

I also don't understand why, when we consume other forms of entertainment like movies, TV, music, etc. we don't say "I won't watch that movie, they paid the star too much." We just decide whether we think it will entertain us and then watch or not watch based on that. Not to mention drive cars, use computers and phones, and buy things online from companies owned by billionaires.

I would never tell anyone what to watch or not watch, and I am certainly not as invested in the current game as I was when I was twelve (I am much more likely to know who won the World Series 60 years ago as opposed to six years ago). But when I do see a game, I see some amazing athletes competing at a high level in a sport I enjoy watching.

And a card...

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by molenick

But they are the ones offering to pay the players the money (the same way we are the ones bidding on/buying baseball cards and thus setting a price for them).

Except when the owners decided not to, it was classified as collusion. Just shutting the whole enterprise down and walking away became their only alternative to anteing up again in bidding wars. They chose the latter.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

However, if MLB had vanished - let's say in the steroid's era - because no one attended or watched a baseball game. The baseball cards that everyone cherishes would be absolutely worthless and would be exactly what they are - pieces of old cardboard.

The old saying "Throwing baby out with the bath water" is applicable in this case.

I disagree. After all, the collectors of old baseball cards are not doing so because they're enamoured of the present day game. They collect old cards for other reasons of their own. See the other currently active thread for precisely those reasons.

[bmattioli]

Welcome back Baseball.. I missed it.. Redsox# 1

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I disagree. After all, the collectors of old baseball cards are not doing so because they're enamoured of the present day game. They collect old cards for other reasons of their own. See the other currently active thread for precisely those reasons.

Sure, you could still collect. But you wouldn't have many people to sell your cards to.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by BioCRN

Also, we live in an era where I can watch almost every Cubs game, and up to 14 other games a day if I choose, for $100 a year (MLBAA $25 + half-off MLB.tv). Best deal in entertainment. I would have killed for this as a kid and it's easily obtainable as an adult.

Hmmmm. Now you're tempting me to actually buy a TV! I have to keep telling myself though that watching a lot of TV kills too many brain cells.

[Section103]

The problem I have with criticizing players for money is that its short sighted in favor of the owners. The money is there - period. I'd much rather see every god damned nickel go to the players than the owners. Ive never been to any event with the interest of seeing the owners. Unless you have a plan to suck money out of the game (good luck!), its a complete non-starter in my book. The notion that these freak athletes should be able to relate to my fat ass accounting professional is laughable and arrogance of the highest order.

[BobbyStrawberry]

It is peak Rob Manfred to start the Japan games at the worst possible time of day for US audiences. (3 am start for the Dodgers' home market, lol)

[bk400]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

It is peak Rob Manfred to start the Japan games at the worst possible time of day for US audiences. (3 am start for the Dodgers' home market, lol)

I suspect that the growth market for the Dodgers and the Cubs may be Asia these days. Opening Day revenues for an Ohtani - Imanaga - Yamamoto start is probably better in Japan than in LA or in Chicago.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Section103

The notion that these freak athletes should be able to relate to my fat ass accounting professional is laughable and arrogance of the highest order.

Why then should your fat-assed accountant or other fans relate to these freak athletes? You're forgetting that professional baseball is for the fans and it's ultimately the fans on whom the game and the players' inflated salaries depend. The fans are after all the customers.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

When the players lived in your neighborhood they were being screwed by the owners under the reserve clause. I assume you’d rather go back to the days when Al Kaline had to work for a car dealership in the off season?

Actually I see NOTHING wrong with that situation at all. What's wrong with these seasonal workers actually preparing for the day when their skills have faded? What's wrong with them getting a start on building their careers outside of professional sports? That's how it was done until 40-50 years ago. CFL teams still encourage players to prepare for their post playing careers by becoming involved in the local community.

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by jingram058

MLB, or any major sport for that matter, doesn't give a damn about fans. It's all and only about money. It's been that way for decades now. I collect "the good old days". I don't watch or even care about watching millionaires (some many, many times over). They can't relate to or even comprehend fans.

The entire point of professional baseball since 1869 has been for club owners to make more money... The only thing that's changed is the amount of money and ways to acquire it. The idea that guys like Comiskey, Frazee, Navin would end TV blackouts, refuse to slap advertising on batting helmets, or chose not to tank if it was financially beneficial should they be owners now and not a century ago is pretty funny. Professional baseball has always and will always be about money.