Tag 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?’

 

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

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

Clay Buchholz: Cheater or Gamer?

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Over a week ago everyone around the country was talking about the great pitching of Clay Buchholz (6-0 1.01 ERA). Now they are discussing not about his pitching performance but the possibility of him being a cheater.

After his start in Toronto, Blue Jays broadcaster, Jack Morris, came out and said that he suspects Buchholz of throwing a “spitter”. The spitter is not an illegal pitch by rule, but is frowned upon due to the lack of control a pitcher can throw this pitch with. Maybe though we can’t look at Clay as a cheater but as a gamer.

A lot of what people call cheating now a days in baseball is just better gamesmanship. Some say stealing signs is cheating, but if you are smart enough to notice signs and pick up on them more power to you. Buchholz did say he had water on the hip of his uniform to enhance grip on the ball.

In a performance based industry that is professional sports, Every advantage must be taken and for Buchholz coming off a rough year last year he needs to make a statement. I applaud Clay for coming up with this idea, throwing the pitch, and owning up to it at the end. Buchholz will be deemed gamer not cheater.

Doug Day     https://twitter.com/YankeeBaller415

 

Change for the Yankees

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The team that wears the pinstripes is being questioned after being beaten up in the playoffs last year and now a plethora of injuries for the Yankees is causing everybody to question the team. Now after the news that Mark Teixeira may be out longer than expected it is now time to look at the move that the Yankees must make.

Since most teams at this point will not be looking to dump players or make trades with the regular season just 10 days away. One team though that is not expected to perform is the Minnesota Twins and they have a player in Justin Morneau that is very appealing to the Yankees.

He is in the final year of his contract so he is cheap and the Twins would not be looking to get a whole lot in return. The Yankees could use Morneau at first til Teixeira gets back, and then could bring him off the bench once Mark returns. The Yankees could get Morneau for Jayson Nix, a minor league reliever, and by paying his salary for this year. It is not a whole lot to give up and the gain could be huge. The only question is will Cashman pull the trigger. Time will tell.

Doug Day @YankeeBaller415