I’m just spitballing some suggestions and observations about the upcoming 2025 MLB season.
Let’s start off with ticket prices. Could clubs go back to deciding on one ticket price for seats in a specific section – and stick with it? Print ticket prices on pocket schedules, in yearbooks, programs, everywhere fans could look for prices. Different prices for different teams are confusing and not respecting your customers.
And speaking of tickets, how do clubs sleep at night, when lying awake coming up with the many fees, taxes, and other reasons to tack onto the final price of admission to ballparks? Simple and affordable is what I wish for.
Bat flips. Oh man, this bugs the heck out of me. When a player hits the ball, why aren’t they encouraged to do the time-honored practice of running your backside off? This posing, standing, all about me moment, is tolerated by managers today, and I don’t know why?
How many would-be home runs are lowered to long singles, or triples turned into doubles, all because the hitter must stand and watch the ball? The TV networks love this. Flip the bat, stand, then walk slowly to first base. Sadly, kids playing the game follow these poor examples of adults playing the game, and must work on being "cool”, so they imitate the pros. Juan Soto is the worst of worst who lacks the hustle, from the batter’s box to down the baseline.
My team doesn’t spend enough money in the off-season. My team doesn’t care to put a winner on the field. Memo to you – there will always be the haves and the have-nots in all walks and businesses in life. Deal with it.
The Dodgers spend $300 million-plus for payroll. Do you think the team is paying the salaries of those on the roster? Heck no they aren’t. You, the fans are dishing out the dollars for your team. You want higher ticket prices? Higher parking fees at ballparks? Pay more for concessions? Go ahead and root for your own club to spend, spend, spend, and then don’t complain on doing your part to fund your wish.
Is a salary cap the answer? No. Success starts at the top, great leadership trickles down, and a winning team develops. Money can’t buy winning. Leadership creates winning. Remember, the last time there has been back-to-back World Series champions was in 1999 and 2000.
Look what the Baltimore Orioles have done, to show their fans they understand everyone should have an opportunity to come to the ballpark. They have created for this season a Birdland Value Menu.
This menu focuses on affordable food and drink at Oriole Park. 12 items (11 which are $5.00 or less), including soda refills. It’s a no-brainer. Less expensive concessions, the larger sales should be. Hot dogs will sell for $4.00. Popcorn is set at $3.50. Bottled water at $4.00. This should be popular from the get-go.
MLB Network (TV and radio) - could you please cut back on even some of the analytics your hots are constantly spewing? Much of the time I’m tuned in, bad flashbacks of being in math classes I found boring haunt me. Focus more on the players, as real people, and not number producers. And on the radio side, here’s a novel idea – increase your audience participation by taking more calls.
The constant two-people talking format, especially on weekends, is brutal punishment to listen to. Make the talk shows fun. Too many times, to me, some of the “insiders” come across as elitists. Remember, baseball is a game.
While I’m thinking of MLB Network – way too many times hosts throw dollar amounts around, in the many millions, as if they are just numbers. These are real high-end dollars that the average viewer can’t comprehend of having. Why always zeroing in on how much an individual earns? Why should fans care what another person is paid? Do the hosts and “insiders” disclose their salaries? I can never understand why the fixation of who earns what. Focus on the field.
Keeping the game a game is my concern. There is a segment of fans who seem to have a need to constantly have to be recognized as the smartest one in the conversation. Crazy.
Finally, a message to autograph collectors. Listen, I’m one of you. Sent my first letter to Mickey Mantle in 1968 and haven’t stop. It’s my hobby. But when I see fans show up at spring training or during the regular season with up to a dozen or so cards wanting a player to sign them all, that’s greed. That’s not a fan having a cool moment with their hero. That’s a future business transaction taking place.
Hurry up, Super Bowl. Spring training awaits.
Comments
No comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.