Prior the Yankees officially winning the World Series, I posted this story about my disconnect from the game of baseball.
I feel that it’s not the same game that I grew up loving and in some ways that it has become elitist and unbalanced.
I still feel the same way, but I want to hear from you about how you feel.
Are the Yankees ruining baseball or are they the example of what’s wrong with baseball?
Did the Yankees buy the World Series?
Does a salary cap fix baseball?
Tell me what you think.
The unbalanced schedule, the length of schedule, free agency, uneducated fans, concession pricing, multi-million dollar sports complexes that are a burden to taxpayers and fans, you name it, its a mess.
Let me clarify, baseball is not the problem, the game is still as satisfying as it ever was. I try to explain to people that don’t appreciate the game whats to love, how every single pitch is a game within a game. Baseball is very intellectual, and frankly I still think its the most amazing game ever devised. Its not about raw athleticism, its about acquired skill sets, and in all honesty it just has a personality that no other sport has.
So the game is not the problem, Major League Baseball is. I could write you a mile long manifesto about everything I would change if I were in charge, and perhaps I will when I have a little extra time, but in summary.
1. Either imposes a salary cap, or give teams a way to protect their blue chip investments. If a team has the foresight to draft a guy, bring him up through the league, why should they see him go to the Yankees, Dodgers or Red Sox just as he is hitting his prime. Its just not fair. I think the Royals re signing Zack Greinke and the O’s re signing Nick Markakis are two shining examples of what happens when players value their organizations, unfortunately they are the exception and not the rule.
2. Shorten the schedule. It will never happen because of the money involved, but playing baseball outdoors in November just does not work, unless your going to move the world series to a neutral location like football, and frankly, I think that would stink. Time to cut some games from the schedule and finish in early Oct.
3. Return to a balanced schedule playing all teams across all divisions in your league equally. Reduce, or eliminate inter league play during the regular season.
4. I know a few old guys with achey knees will cry foul, trust me, I love Dave Parker, Harold Baines and Paul Molitor as much as the next guy, but the DH rule was never a good idea. Chuck it in the trash, force pitchers to hit, and for managers to make a tough decision a little more often. NL baseball is fundamentally more interesting to watch.
5. Make baseball affordable in every city its played. Baltimore has done a good job, in part, because they have fielded a sub par product, but the track record of trying to stabilize ticket prices has always been there. Wanna know why NY and Boston fans make the trip to Baltimore? Its because they can’t afford to watch a game in their respective city’s and thats a shame.