Why Baseball Sucks (and How I Would Fix It)
Baseball sucks. Now, I’m not against the game itself or most of the players that participate, but rather it’s about how baseball is run. The game has been taken away from the people and the players and placed in the hands of a few owners. Selig has done nothing to improve the game, and is currently running it into the ground. The only thing that has been improved is the talent of the players and even then there are either question marks about performance enhancers or the most talented play for the large market teams.
Now, what to do about all of these problems? There are some easy solutions that will never happen as long as the owners are in charge of the decision making and the power is not in the hands of a capable commissioner.
1. For the love of God, enact a salary cap.
Now, I think most (all of those who are smart) would agree with me that as a business and an entertainment product, the NFL is the best run league in the world. This happens for two reasons: 1) a salary cap; and 2) non-guaranteed contracts (more about this later). The Yankees, the Red Sox and other large market teams are killing this league and MLB is doing nothing about it because the owners are reaping the rewards. Because there is no limit on the amount that can be spent, the large market teams are able to drive up the price for player salaries, creating an economic vacuum that drives the overall price for all players.
Check the stats since the day that YES network was started, there has been exponential growth in average player salaries due to the Yankees driving up the price. I don’t place all the blame on Steinbrener, he’s smart and took advantage of a business model and created a superior product. When that happens in normal business situations, we have something called the Anti-Trust wing of the Federal Trade Commission to protect all businesses in that given sector from practices that are intentionally driving out the competition through unfair practices. MLB and Selig should act on behalf of all markets to regulate their industry, but they have not. If something is not done soon, small market owners will not be able to keep up and we may lose some of the most historical clubs in MLB: Kansas City, Minnesota, Oakland, Philadelphia, and Cleveland.
(Side Note: The Florida Marlins are a game behind .500 and threw a no hitter tonight….on a payroll that is $500,000 less that Adrian Beltre’s salary....in front of 6,123 fans)
1b. Because you greedy owners would never do this, at least re-align the leagues based on payroll.
Now, personally (patting myself on the back) this is really not a bad idea. With payroll parity it would be far more competitive for Tampa Bay dealing with KC and Cleveland that New York and Boston. Why would you even go to a Tampa Bay game? It’s futile, their fans can’t have playoff hopes. At least this would give them hope.
2. Drug tests once a week for every player…all year
3. Permanent lifetime ban for the first violation (with evidence surrounding actual knowledge or “wishful bliss” standard; i.e. “I just took what the trainer gave me, I didn’t know what was in there”)
I don’t think I need to explain the reasoning behind these two, this has got out of hand. Enough is enough, get the Bonds, McGuires, Giambis, Palmeros, even the Strongs and the Franklins out of here. This reminds me of Bill and Hilary, Hilary lets it ride (pardon the pun) in order for her benefit. Homeruns bring in viewers, Selig is happy. That’s right Selig; I compared you to Hilary Clinton. Booyah.
4. Replay—(non pitching calls)
Simple, first base close call? Replay. Did the OF make that catch? Replay. Was it over the fence? Replay. Was the ball in the glove? Replay. Did that chick really have her top off in section 342? Replay.
5. Less Games
You can never have too much of a good thing. Well baseball sucks, so I’m having way too much crap (and trust me, I crap a lot already), so we don’t need to worry about this cliché. 162 games, seriously, 162 games. Does that not sound like too many to anyone? The insignificance of a game on any given day, except for the very few at the end of the year for a few teams, creates a mundane product. How much does anyone care about an M’s – Tampa Bay match-up this time of year? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Now, non-guaranteed contracts in the NFL also need work, so I won’t recommend them at this time.
OK, get pissed, it’s cool. I’ll be honest, I enjoy baseball, but not nearly as much as football, basketball or even croquet. Sorry.
Herm
Now, what to do about all of these problems? There are some easy solutions that will never happen as long as the owners are in charge of the decision making and the power is not in the hands of a capable commissioner.
1. For the love of God, enact a salary cap.
Now, I think most (all of those who are smart) would agree with me that as a business and an entertainment product, the NFL is the best run league in the world. This happens for two reasons: 1) a salary cap; and 2) non-guaranteed contracts (more about this later). The Yankees, the Red Sox and other large market teams are killing this league and MLB is doing nothing about it because the owners are reaping the rewards. Because there is no limit on the amount that can be spent, the large market teams are able to drive up the price for player salaries, creating an economic vacuum that drives the overall price for all players.
Check the stats since the day that YES network was started, there has been exponential growth in average player salaries due to the Yankees driving up the price. I don’t place all the blame on Steinbrener, he’s smart and took advantage of a business model and created a superior product. When that happens in normal business situations, we have something called the Anti-Trust wing of the Federal Trade Commission to protect all businesses in that given sector from practices that are intentionally driving out the competition through unfair practices. MLB and Selig should act on behalf of all markets to regulate their industry, but they have not. If something is not done soon, small market owners will not be able to keep up and we may lose some of the most historical clubs in MLB: Kansas City, Minnesota, Oakland, Philadelphia, and Cleveland.
(Side Note: The Florida Marlins are a game behind .500 and threw a no hitter tonight….on a payroll that is $500,000 less that Adrian Beltre’s salary....in front of 6,123 fans)
1b. Because you greedy owners would never do this, at least re-align the leagues based on payroll.
Now, personally (patting myself on the back) this is really not a bad idea. With payroll parity it would be far more competitive for Tampa Bay dealing with KC and Cleveland that New York and Boston. Why would you even go to a Tampa Bay game? It’s futile, their fans can’t have playoff hopes. At least this would give them hope.
2. Drug tests once a week for every player…all year
3. Permanent lifetime ban for the first violation (with evidence surrounding actual knowledge or “wishful bliss” standard; i.e. “I just took what the trainer gave me, I didn’t know what was in there”)
I don’t think I need to explain the reasoning behind these two, this has got out of hand. Enough is enough, get the Bonds, McGuires, Giambis, Palmeros, even the Strongs and the Franklins out of here. This reminds me of Bill and Hilary, Hilary lets it ride (pardon the pun) in order for her benefit. Homeruns bring in viewers, Selig is happy. That’s right Selig; I compared you to Hilary Clinton. Booyah.
4. Replay—(non pitching calls)
Simple, first base close call? Replay. Did the OF make that catch? Replay. Was it over the fence? Replay. Was the ball in the glove? Replay. Did that chick really have her top off in section 342? Replay.
5. Less Games
You can never have too much of a good thing. Well baseball sucks, so I’m having way too much crap (and trust me, I crap a lot already), so we don’t need to worry about this cliché. 162 games, seriously, 162 games. Does that not sound like too many to anyone? The insignificance of a game on any given day, except for the very few at the end of the year for a few teams, creates a mundane product. How much does anyone care about an M’s – Tampa Bay match-up this time of year? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Now, non-guaranteed contracts in the NFL also need work, so I won’t recommend them at this time.
OK, get pissed, it’s cool. I’ll be honest, I enjoy baseball, but not nearly as much as football, basketball or even croquet. Sorry.
Herm
posted by HermNation at 8:55 PM
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