Category Archives: MLB

As Indians Win, Attendance Stays flat, Why?

JbSmooth84.com Indians v Tigers

Cleveland Indians Host the Detroit Tigers on May 4th, 2016

Photo courtesy of JbSmooth84.com

 

The Indians are currently in first place in the American league Central with a 71 wins to 51 losses, and barring a complete collapse, are a lock to make the playoffs. This is looking like one of those years where they won’t fade come September and they’ve been good since opening day. However, as the Indians keep winning, attendance numbers at the stadium hold steady to the ballpark being half full. Why so? Well the answer is neither simple nor complex, but takes some nuance.

 

First let’s look at baseball and what has changed about the game; everything! The game has changed, less steroids, fewer home runs. Baseball’s inherent problem is it’s slow, and in a day and age where getting everything as fast as you can is at a premium, waiting through 3 pitching changes, 3 meetings between the catcher and pitcher, a pinch hitter and pinch runner isn’t exactly the most exciting thing to watch anymore. So the Indians lack of interest at the stadium isn’t surprising to me. There’s a plenty things to do on a Wednesday night than sit in the sun or battle mosquitos and watch a .260 hitter go for the fences (to be fair Napoli is having a career year in home runs). The Indians lack a few things that would improve attendance; I’ll lay them out here.

 

The Indians have no recognizable star to the world. In the 90’s they had guys with multiple all-star and home run derby appearances and commercials. Parents viewed them as role models, kids saw them as heroes. The 00’s they had guys that were budding with potential that just never panned out, but there was at least a vision of guys that would be around for a while. Now, even without a salary cap, and only as recently had the farm system groomed guys to be every day contributors. But until those guys become household names, it’ll be hard to sell the fan base on a team of ‘Who’s that guy again?’

 

Joe Girardi’s Future Up in the Air

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Following a season of injuries and big stars departing one more might be leaving the ranks of the pinstripes for greener meadows. Reports from many media sources and Joe Girardi himself say that he is considering not returning to the Yankees as the team skipper.

Girardi managed the Bronx Bombers for 6 seasons and led them to the 2009 World Series championship. Speculations are that Girardi could go to the Cubs near his hometown to manage or even get back into broadcasting.

It is hard to believe that Joe would give up on the Yankees and not go out on top in the Big Apple, but with his children growing up and getting into sports more maybe a path back into the broadcast booth is even more appealing.

Time will tell what the former catcher will do. Either way a tough decision will be made and some feelings might get hurt.

Doug Day @YankeeBaller415

Alex Rodriguez is Ready to Play.

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Less than a week after being sent back to Tampa with a grade 1 quad strain, Alex Rodriguez says he is ready to play. This news comes following a second opinion by controversial Dr. Michael Gross. The Yankees have said that ARod is not ready to play and he will play when the Yankees say he is ready.

The conspiracy swirling around the Hall of Fame third baseman is that the Yankees are playing up the injury to avoid playing him before MLB officials invoke a possible lifetime ban. The lifetime ban would be brought down on the grounds of a close relationship with Bio-Genesis founder, Anthony Bosch, multiple violations of PED use, and possible tampering with evidence against him.

The only problem is if the Yankees are found to be working in cahoots with Major League officials more of punishment could be brought down on the club and ARod would receive the rest of the money owed on $275 million contract.

The decision will be made within the next few weeks.

Doug Day @YankeeBaller415

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9508989/alex-rodriguez-decries-mix-ups-new-york-yankees-lobbies-fri-play

Joba Chamberlain on the Move?

Yankees

 

 

The All-Star break is next week and the trade deadline is fast approaching as well. For the Yankees offensive struggles have forced them to begin to shop some of their pitchers including hard throwing reliever Joba Chamberlain. Many teams are interested but none have really named who they will give up until today.

The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly said they will send either 3B Michael Young or C Carlos Ruiz to the Bronx for Joba Chamberlain. This trade might make the most sense of any for the Yankees as either move would solve a problem and fill a position that has struggled for the Yankees.

Chamberlain this year has thrown 20.1 innings with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He filled a significant role early for the Yankees, but since the emergence of Preston Claiborne and Shawn Kelley Joba’s spot has become expendable. Time will only tell what the Yankees will do, but if they want to add a bat this could be their best chance to do so.

Douglas Day @YankeeBaller415

Source: Bleacher Report

MLB to Expand Instant Replay

Instant Replay Baseball

 

In 2008 groundbreaking technology was added to major league baseball, instant replay. From that point til now all umpires have been given the option to review home run calls whether they were fair or foul and if they cleared the fence. For the stubborn league that is baseball this was big. But now it is time for more.

The system has been used around 20 times in 5 years and has been used correctly almost all the time. (yes Angel Hernandez you screwed up) But in a year where more and more tag and plays on the bases are being blown it is time to help out the illustrious and unaccountable umpires that patrol America’s pastime.

To fix a failed system Bud Selig should take a page out of Little League’s book and copy their replay system. Give each manager 2 challenges to use during the game. If you win one of the first 2 then you receive a 3rd. Instead of running to a tunnel to check the replay. Have a 5th umpire at the ballpark sit in a camera well and then when a play is called into question the crew chief can go ask him and the call will be made quicker.

It would be easy to implement these new rules all around the game. The only thing that Bud Selig must do is admit that umpires are human and that make the changes that are necessary to make the game right.

Doug Day  @YankeeBaller415          http://hosted2.ap.org/RIPRJ/94df6789960948c2869c5b6429e1fe7d/Article_2013-05-18/id-7bee4e3369d00592c0d9f98c6f7b8b8e