This picture was shared on MLB Memes on Facebook right around the MLB playoff race. ESPN, of course, spent hardly anytime talking about MLB playoff race and was concerned with the same B.S. shown above. The picture summarizes a brief gist of the many problems that Major League Baseball is facing today.
The declining demand of Major League Baseball has never been more evident. The NFL has taken over cultural entertainment of sport. The start of MLB season is at high as people are in jerseys and watching opening day. Once the MLB gets into August, the demand goes into a deep abyss of depression. The World Series isn’t even at demand anymore. In fact, the World Series had some of the lowest television ratings in past eight years, according to baseb-alamanac.com.
The evidence that the MLB is now “America’s past time” sport is incontrovertible. Am I saying that Major League Baseball is going to die? No, that’s not it at all. As conflicting of a statement that this is, I actually think MLB is too popular to die. Baseball is a classic sport that is respected and loved by Americans. With that being said, I do believe the MLB needs to consider reconstruction.
Reconstruction can improve the league popularity. Certain aspects of MLB might need to be reconsidered to improve it popularity. Some things of these ways could turn it around immediately, but others may take some time.
Reconstruction of the MLB Network:
This package has shown to be very infective marketing plan. Instead of being able to watch a couple more games besides local MLB team, they have decided to produce the MLB network package. It cost a $110 and you get all the games of the team you want. The question is, are fans committed enough to buying a $110 package for a whole season?
Not the majority. Most want simple entertainment, which is comprised of MLB producing games on standard cable channel packages.
Reconstruction of game:
9 innings…enough said. Seriously, it’s so long. If people watching in a stadium start to get tired by the 7th inning, what do you expect from the fans watching it on TV at home? Shortening the game might actually be an effective way of gaining interest. Think about the fact there is a “7th inning stretch”. I don’t feel like the game is effectively entertaining people if they have to stretch out in order to make it through two more innings. Yes, many of you are thinking football, soccer, Basketball and hockey have breaks. However, that is for a good reason. In these half times, they allow not only the players to take a break, but also this allows fans to purchase items at team stores and snack/beer stand. In baseball, you have to stretch out just to insure you’re still awake for the last two innings. This might be something for the MLB to consider detrimental to the popularity.
Reconstruction on season:
An MLB season of constitutes as a 162 games. It's just too long. Yes, that's blunt, but it is so true. Most fans have given up on going to games, let alone watching them on tv, by the end of July. My Snapchat and Instagram feed is completely dissolved of any baseball post by the end of July. Why? Because people are tired of watching and want to move on to football. Why do you think NFL is so popular? It’s because its only 16 games on a season for a team. You don’t have to be super committed because its only once a week for a short amount of time.
Baseball is the most difficult sport to be a disciplined fan in. I do my best, but I sure don’t watch a 162 games. Who has the time for that? Shortening the season would be a tremendous help to all fans and would also work better for the organizations. That way, they could make more money off of tickets.
Overall, I love baseball and the MLB. I just see that a change is needed. Major League Baseball needs to move past the strides of tradition and push for change. Tradition is great, but what might have worked 20 years ago may not work today. Settling for mediocrity will be MLB's biggest enemy if they don’t push for a change soon.
