Over the course of the previous decade, the Sports powers have shifted as far as what sport is the favorite among American Fans. Growing up, it was always that Apple Pie and Baseball were the true symbols of America. It seemed that every kid on the block went through his day with a baseball glove on their hand. However, more and more over the recent years Baseball ratings have gone on a decline. It seems that the interest level in Baseball has dropped to a point where more kids are determined to play Football and not Baseball. In fact, this year alone, the NFL regular season earned higher ratings than the MLB postseason. That, coupled with the decrease in attendance that MLB games have suffered in recent years, signals that the MLB is on a downward spiral. However, their are a couple flaws with the MLB, and if corrected, that could restore the interest level in Baseball.
One of the biggest reason that the National Football League has surpassed Major League Baseball in interest level, is because that each and every game holds significance. Considering that the NFL has a 16 game schedule, it increases the meaning of games for the individual games. In the NFL, a 3 game losing streak can end a team’s season, whereas, in the MLB a 3 game losing streak is usually overlooked by the time the season is over. Due to the fact that MLB regular season consists of 162 games, many fans become bored and uninterested in Baseball after the first two or three months. In my opinion, the regular season of the MLB is very similar to an NBA game. Because fans do not really care about the first 3 quarters, they only really care about the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. Meaning that in Baseball, many fans could care less about the first five months of baseball, it is the sixth and final month that they care about. It is statistically proven that if you give someone too much of something, they eventually become less and less satisfied with it. Leading me to the suggestion that Major League Baseball needs to have a shorter regular season. Instead of having 162 games for a regular season, MLB should only have an 81 game regular season. By doing this, it will increase the amount of competition within Major League Baseball. Thus, it will generate more interest in the game from Fans.
Major League Baseball is also lacking that initial “wow factor” in their off-seasons. For instance, look at both the NBA and NFL. Both of those leagues have drafts, in which Players actually contribute right away instead of in the next two or three years. Also, both leagues have the initial wave of big name free agents to sign quickly. In the NFL, the Chicago Bears signed the three of the top free agents on the market in defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor, and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna on the first day of NFL free agency. In the NBA, the Miami Heat were on the national stage as they signed LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade on the first day of NBA Free Agency. Meanwhile, the MLB free agency period has been going on for a week now and none of the top free agents have signed. While Major League Baseball has accelerated the off-season process, it still has little effect on when players will sign with a team. And, until the MLB has a faster pace to their off-season, their off-season will always be considered as third fiddle to the NFL and NBA.
It is time that Major League Baseball prioritize appealing their fans over anything else. Because when all is said and done, the Fans are the only true judges in determining the sport that captures the most interest. And, if this year is any indication, Major League Baseball could be in line for a much darker future.