Fixing MLB

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

OK... It seems, from talking to people that don't watch, that the main culprit is the pace of the game and/or the length of the game.

While the pace of the game is A reason IMO, it's not the MAIN culprit.

IMO, the MAIN culprit is Cable specifically channels such as the YES network etc.

In order to compete, teams need their own cable deals. Unlike the NFL, baseball is a REGIONAL sport.

A good example is last weeks Monday night game between the Titans and the Jags which was up against the Phillies / Giants.

The Titans / Jags football game is Not a BIG game yet it still had better ratings than the baseball game. Yes the baseball game was on Turner compared to the football game which was on ESPN, but the point is football is KING.

The OTHER MAIN culprit is that baseball does NOT have a salary cap which means for the most part you can "pencil in" the Yanks every year for a playoff berth. Since 1995 the Yanks have only missed the playoffs once.

IMO, a system that allows one team to spend over a zillion dollars on players is a joke.

Just look at the Cleveland Indians. At one time the Indians had both Lee and CC on THEIR team. Those 2 F1's are no longer there.

At one time the Seattle Mariners had AROD, The BIG UNIT and Griffy Jr. (in his prime) all on the same team. Talk about a potential dynesty. They all left.

The Yankee infield alone is over $80 million.

Look at the Tampa Bay Rays. They will go through another transition year. They can't sign Crawford etc.

The Yanks will most likely sign Lee next year plus who knows. That's what is wrong with baseball. Many of the teams like the Pirates are no more than an advanced Triple A team who support the bigger clubs once a player can get arbritration or go through Free agency. It's an 'auction" once these teams know that cannot pay the player.

While the pace of the game etc might be a factor, IMO those are minor compared to what's really wrong with baseball.

Pete Booth