Is baseball alienating young fans?
It seems to be popular these days to figure out how to “fix” baseball. Baseball, the sport unlike any other sport. Baseball, the sport that has a higher fan attendance that the other major leagues.
Baseball, the sport that loves debate almost more than the sport itself.
Prevailing winds say the sport needs to do something to keep fans interested and to keep competitive balance. The easy fixes, many say, include a salary cap, increased revenue sharing, a slotting system for the draft and some are so daring to suggest realignment.
Baseball is a sport that has a lot right … but it also has a lot wrong. The Wild Card is a a huge right. The All-Star game is a huge wrong. Inter-league play has proved to be a right, although it could use a face lift. Competitive balance isn’t as bad as many perceive, but it could be better.
I’m just a fan; not a baseball economist. I realize the complexity of making any one of these things happen – from owners to unions to television contracts. But for a few minutes, let’s forget that there is anything standing in the way of change.
Here’s my Re-Thinking Baseball in Seven Steps:
Step 1 – Adding a League
When Bud Selig added the Wild Card, I was opposed. As a traditionalist, I hated the idea of adding a non-division winner to post-season play. I was wrong.
I’m sure the idea of adding a new League will mortify traditionalists – but just as the Wild Card has been a hit – so too would a new League.
When last MLB expanded I was a teenager. I remember the excitement that new teams offered younger fans. From the location and team names to the logo and merchandise, it was all fascinating.
The reality is there is no great untapped market for baseball. Portland? Charlotte? Las Vegas? Maybe Havana at some point years from now? Maybe, but doubtful.
So let’s forget about expansion, because besides location, economically, there isn’t any room at the table.
What about realignment? Now that’s an interesting thought. When it was done in the mid-1990′s, it resolved a lot of the geographic issues that plagued the sport.
You mean Atlanta isn’t on the West Coast?
But it also create some problems; most notably the fact that the two current Leagues don’t have the same number of teams. Not-to-mention that a lot has changed in the 15 or so years since. Economically, the numbers are staggering. From players salaries to television contracts; do those number even seem real to a regular Joe like you and me? Now we have teams crying fowl because they feel like they can’t complete with the high-end, free-spending teams out there. Fairness they scream. (Player development, I say.)
Initially out of distraction, I sat down and spent several hours trying to find a fix to make each League’s divisions more competitive and/or more geographically appealing.
Finally, the answer came: Baseball needs a new League.
Once I embraced the idea – which wasn’t easy to do – other ideas started flowing. A lot of ideas that I feel would improve the game significantly.
First, let’s start with this new League: Under this plan, MLB would have three Leagues, each with two divisions.
In a nod to tradition, I have attempted to keep original League teams in their traditional League. The new League, dubbed the “United” League is made up of expansion teams who have joined since the 1960′s.
The new, three League, MLB:
National League
Eastern Division
CHC
PHI
PIT
STL
CIN
Western Division
LAD
SF
ARI
SEA
SD
American League
Eastern Division
NYY
BOS
CHW
DET
CLE
Western Division
OAK
LAA
COL
KC
TEX
United League
Northern Division
NYM
TOR
BAL
MIN
MIL
Southern Division
HOU
FLA
ATL
TB
WAS
While minor arguments could be made over team placement, by large, this should maintain a level of competitive balance throughout all Leagues. By default, the American League and National League would still play under current rules.
Imagine the excitement as fans waited to see rules the United League might enact. Would it play with the DH? Would it create another unique rule?
Baseball as a three-League sport also would mean other changes; all adding excitement to a new generation of fans who find video games and fantasy baseball more interesting that the sport itself.
Step 2 – Scheduling
Even with the creation of a new League, maintaining a 162 game scheduling would be fairly simple. This new schedule would be League-heavy with 123 games played within each League.
Inter-league games would still be held, but with a twist taken from the NFL. There would be 36 games played again the matching divisional seeds from the other two Leagues.
Additionally, one three-game series would be held each year with the same rival. Regardless of league or ranking this series would allow each team to host a three-game series that would alternate location each year.
Much like today, this would allow baseball to have a true “Rivalry Weekend” with all teams playing a Friday/Saturday/Sunday series against their designated rival. Sure, there are some teams without a true rival, but the benefits are far to great to ignore.
Schedule
League, Same Division
17 games against each of the four teams: Total of 68 games
League, Other Division
11 games against each of the five teams: Total of 55 games
Inter-League Matching Divisional Seeds
9 games against four teams with matching Inter-League division seeds based on prior years: Total of 36 games
Rival
3 games against one designated “Rival” team regardless of League/Division/Ranking: Total of 3 games
Total game played: 162
Step 3 – Planting the Playoff Seeds
If you are a traditionalist and haven’t already had a heart attack, prepare for one now. Playoffs will now be seeded, based on record, regardless of League. That’s right, a true post-season tournament. Each division winner will make the post-season as will two wild card teams having the best record of non-division winners. These wild card teams can be from any League, thus increasing the likelihood that the best eight teams make the post-season.
Much like the NBA, the team from each League with the best record will be seeded 1 – 3, based on record. The fourth team would seeded based on the remaining team with the best record, which would allow for a Wild Card team to have home field advantage if their record bested those of the remaining division winners.
Seeds 5 – 8 would the remaining division winners and remaining wild card team(s).
Best record gets home field advantage in each round.
Playoffs
First Round – Five Games (or Seven)
Game Scheduling: 2|1|1|1
1 vs. 8
2 vs. 7
3 vs. 6
4 vs. 5
Semi-Finals – Seven Games
Game Scheduling: 2|2|1|1|1
(Ranking based on winners from Rd. 1)
1 vs. 4
2 vs. 3
World Series – Seven Games
Game Scheduling: 2|2|1|1|1
(Ranking based on winners from Rd. 1)
1 vs. 2
The idea of the National League vs. the American League is ripe with tradition, but as ratings have shown, it doesn’t mean people are interested. Let’s make it the best against the best – do something that no other professional US league does – make it a true tournament of champions.
Imagine the storyline if an eight-seed made it to the World Series. Or what about a NYY and BOS match-up?
Step 4 – All-Star Game
If I haven’t lost you yet, you may be thinking, “well, this sounds okay, but how can you have an All-Star Game with three Leagues?”
My answer: By making it matter, by the only way it can: make it about the money. (And by really letting the fans get involved.)
So here’s the idea:
The two managers from each previous World Series team manage the two teams, just as they do today. The winning manager gets “Home” designation.
The top 70 players (40 position players/30 pitchers) from all leagues are chosen. If you want the fans to vote, great, but no longer are they starters, they would be locks to make the team, would be be Fan’s Choice Winners. Remaining players would be chosen by players/coaches/managers/etc.
Here’s where the real fun begins …
Let two fans, who are chosen by contest, pick each team via a draft just like in school-yard/fantasy baseball. Each team ends of being comprised of 20 position players and 15 pitchers.
A coin flip between winners gives the first “draft” pick and the “home” manager. On Monday (before the All-Star Game on Wednesday) at 8PM Eastern, the draft would begin with two minutes between each pick with the fan making each pick, with the manager, a baseball “legend” and fan voting as support for the fan. Much like fantasy baseball, any player can be chosen, but basic roster outlines have to be followed. (The manager would make the starting pitching designation.)
This “draft” format would give baseball a chance to have a made-for-television draft event; something it doesn’t today.
While it is an All-Star draft vs. an amateur draft, it would still provide a similar avenue for analysis, interactivity and debate that other professional sports enjoy. Not to mention sponsorship and television ratings.
But how do you make the game actually matter? MONEY. And this is simple:
Each player, along with the fan, from the winning team each gets $1M. Get a charity of choice involved an give them a $1M as well.
Each player, along with the fan (and charity), from the losing team only gets $100k.
Tell me it wouldn’t matter to players if a difference of almost $1M was on the line.
Step 5 – The Home Run Derby and Skills Competition
It’s a great idea, but it is stale. Let’s make is more simple and worth more.
Take the top six home-run hitters, regardless of league, plus two as chosen by fans. Only allow two replacements if players withdraw. If more than two players withdraw, the field is reduced. Have the Home Run Derby on Tuesday night.
First Rounds: Best of 10 swings
Final Round: Top Two (or if tied, add players); Best of 10 Swings.
Winner gets $1M; runner-up gets $100k. Same fan and charity tie-in as All-Star Game. (I doubt players would withdraw if $1M was on the line.)
Other skills could be showcased: Best 1st to 3rd time; hitter ball placement by trying to hit targets set-up at various spots on the field; best positional range; pitched ball placement by pitch; etc. (These could also be moved to end-of-year during the playoffs.)
Step 6 – Create All-Pro Awards
It has always bothered me that players who have a great second half are ignored by baseball. The sport misses the boat with the current All-Star format because it recognizes the “best” players based on only a half-season of play.
The solution, create All-Pro teams made of the best players at each position in each league. Include a bench or utility player as well as a set-up man.
Announce the All-Pro winners from each league on the field before Game 2 of the World Series. Now these All-Pros can get the same type reception by the fans as All-Stars.
Step 7 – Rosters and Deadlines
A few other things, that I feel would improve the game:
1. Add two roster spots to each team.
A. Roster Spot 26: An emergency catcher as designated prior to the game and only available when all other position players have been used. Additionally, this player would only be available to go in as a catcher (the replaced catcher could go to another position).
B. Roster Spot 27: An unavailable pitcher as designated prior to the game. This pitcher would not be available for game use. This would allow the previous night’s starting pitcher, a slightly injured or over-used pitcher to be inactive on a game-by-game basis.
2. Move the trade deadline to August 15 and make it a hard deadline by eliminating the waiver-wire deadline of August 31.
3. Move the expanded roster date to September 15 and only allow the roster to be expanded to 32 players.
4. Allow for amateur draft picks to be traded and institute a pay-scale for draft choices.
5. Re-Institute League Presidents to run each League allowing for more oversight.
6. Eliminate the DH.
If you’ve made it this far, I’m sure you’ve seen a number of type-o’s and a few things that you wholeheartedly disagree with. That’s okay, I’ve never claimed I didn’t need an editor and I’ve never said my ideas are better than yours.
But I do think that these changes would bring a great deal of excitement and publicity to the sport. The All-Star Game would be a great starting point. It’s outcome shouldn’t affect the World Series and it will only mean something if the sport realizes that, unlike 60 years ago, playing for pride just isn’t enough.
The bottom line is that I love this game; but times change. I guess I’ve changed my way of thinking. Maybe its time for baseball change theirs, too.
