We’ll, this looks imminent. Do the powers that be in this sport even comprehend how irrelevant it has become?  From the national obsession to having a World Series where the average person couldn’t tell you who played, who won. A series in which the paramount game’s tv audience was easily outnumbered by a routine NFL regular season game. 

If baseball went away, would anyone care?

Dumb

Yes, I would care.

I would care a lot. Next question.

I would hate not having baseball.

Using NFL (or CFB) as comparison is unfair to baseball. Football smokes everything. But yes, baseball has become way to regionalized and their ratings are terrible nationally. They have a problem.

Good thing the MLB ended racism prior to this lockout.

I had zero interest in the World Series.

I used to be a big baseball fan.  Grew up an Indians fan and there's where my loyalty will always lay.  But the sport has increasingly seemed to make itself irrelevant as evidenced by its shrinking audience.  Not just compared to the NFL, but also compare to where baseball was 15-20 years ago.  It's fan base skews older which doesn't bode well for it's prospects in another 20 years.  A labor stoppage - regardless of who is responsible - is needed like a hole in the head.  

I love it.

Hated the using 9 pitchers in most playoff games but still love the game greatly.

NFL had fewest viewers watch SB since 2007 (I think I read that, my apologies if I’m unspoken)

As a reds fan I have hope and we get to watch future stars before we can’t afford them. If you want to bring baseball back it needs a true salary cap so more then 6-8 teams truly have a chance to win

Bally's Sports app HAS helped me regain my interest in the Reds, however.

I love the game of baseball.  But MLB has done everything to shoot itself in the foot repeatedly.  Salary cap would be a good start. 

I would miss baseball.

All of the metrics show the "right" way to play the game. Unfortunately for me, it creates a game that just isn't very interesting to watch.

In my opinion, analytics has ruined the professional basketball and baseball games.

Baseball just needs to ban the shift and see how much it helps. No guarantee, but might as well try.

posted by Laley23

Baseball just needs to ban the shift and see how much it helps. No guarantee, but might as well try.

Yep, and lower the mound. They also need to take serious steps to shorten the duration of games.

Contrary to most, I like the 7 inning double headers and the automatic runner in extra innings. I'd also like to see both leagues be the same regarding the DH, either have one or not.

I want to see the Cleveland team get a new name, straight up......Guardians sucks, and it's not going to have long term staying power at all.

posted by Gardens35

Yep, and lower the mound. They also need to take serious steps to shorten the duration of games.

Gimme universal DH. 

posted by Laley23

Baseball just needs to ban the shift and see how much it helps. No guarantee, but might as well try.

How would it help? I haven’t heard any good reason to ban the shift.

For me, eliminating the shift would add more base runners and scoring opportunities. On the other side, it would make for more double plays and defensive "Gems". The things that I like to see when watching a ball game.

The MLB game has become more boring than ever and the "Shift" doesn't help at all. Ground out after ground out after ground out, some of which would have been clean hits. Of course, it doesn't help the game that batters are content with striking out 150+ times as long as they can hit 20 home runs (18 of 'em insignificant) a season.

The season is too long too.

In 1980 the average duration of a MLB game was 2:33

In 2020 the average duration of a MLB game was 3:07

posted by Laley23

Baseball just needs to ban the shift and see how much it helps. No guarantee, but might as well try.

You can ban it, but you'll have to set barriers.  And when you do, teams will go as close to the barrier every single time.

posted by Gardens35

The season is too long too.

posted by ernest_t_bass

You can ban it, but you'll have to set barriers.  And when you do, teams will go as close to the barrier every single time.

Sure, just like every other sport ever. 2 on each side of the base. 1 outfielder on each side of 2nd. No more than 4 players touching infield dirt, etc. 

posted by iclfan2

How would it help? I haven’t heard any good reason to ban the shift.

How would it not help?