Chris Rock on Baseball

[Morrissey]

[SenorGato]

He's not wrong!

[Scott Dierking]

Hope this won't get this thread close, but the baseball traditions are not a "black" thing, but more a measure of decorum, and respect.

 

Look at all the Yankee fans that would get upset with Papelbon when he was demonstrative when he finished a save. There are so many other examples.

 

Look how stupid Mar Gastineau looked after a sack. And what that has wrought with stupid, idiotic celebrations after the most meager of plays. And we want that in baseball? Not me. And that is not a racist comment.

 

Baseball DOES like to go back to its traditions, because they are good. It IS the national pastime. And records in baseball are more venerable that other sport records.

 

There are less blacks in baseball because it is not an inner city sport. Not because of tradition. 

[chirorob]

Hope this won't get this thread close, but the baseball traditions are not a "black" thing, but more a measure of decorum, and respect.

 

Look at all the Yankee fans that would get upset with Papelbon when he was demonstrative when he finished a save. There are so many other examples.

 

Look how stupid Mar Gastineau looked after a sack. And what that has wrought with stupid, idiotic celebrations after the most meager of plays. And we want that in baseball? Not me. And that is not a racist comment.

 

Baseball DOES like to go back to its traditions, because they are good. It IS the national pastime. And records in baseball are more venerable that other sport records.

 

There are less blacks in baseball because it is not an inner city sport. Not because of tradition. 

Baseball does have a problem with an aging fan base.  It's just a slower sport.

 

Baseball is the most number oriented game, and the easiest to compare current to older players.  I think that's why people get so upset about the roids.  Not for the cheating, but for the way it massively screwed with the #'s.  2 people ever hit 60 HR, and Sosa does it twice?  (sorry, not trying to derail).

[Scott Dierking]

Baseball does have a problem with an aging fan base.  It's just a slower sport.

 

Baseball is the most number oriented game, and the easiest to compare current to older players.  I think that's why people get so upset about the roids.  Not for the cheating, but for the way it massively screwed with the #'s.  2 people ever hit 60 HR, and Sosa does it twice?  (sorry, not trying to derail).

Baseball's attempt to speed up the game have actually worked, and games are snappier this year. 

 

Also, filtering out many of the PED crew, and allowing pitching to control the game, makes games much faster.

 

You either like the sport, or you don't. It is not a black or white issue. To artificially introduce "Celebratory actions" to spice up the game is a pretty dumb idea, in my estimation.

 

Does Chris Rock know why less kids are playing Little league? Because Little League is outdated. The 46-60 fields no longer contain the new, young athlete, and more so the composite bats. Kids 12 and older should be playing 50-70, and they are in Cal Ripken and Travel Ball. THAT is why LL enrollment have declined

[Klecko73isGod]

Hope this won't get this thread close, but the baseball traditions are not a "black" thing, but more a measure of decorum, and respect.

 

Look at all the Yankee fans that would get upset with Papelbon when he was demonstrative when he finished a save. There are so many other examples.

 

Look how stupid Mar Gastineau looked after a sack. And what that has wrought with stupid, idiotic celebrations after the most meager of plays. And we want that in baseball? Not me. And that is not a racist comment.

 

Baseball DOES like to go back to its traditions, because they are good. It IS the national pastime. And records in baseball are more venerable that other sport records.

 

There are less blacks in baseball because it is not an inner city sport. Not because of tradition. 

 

 

All I read here was "HEY YOU DAMN KIDS! GET OFF MY LAWN!!!"

 

You sound old.... like Bleedin'Green old.

[chirorob]

Baseball's attempt to speed up the game have actually worked, and games are snappier this year. 

 

Also, filtering out many of the PED crew, and allowing pitching to control the game, makes games much faster.

 

You either like the sport, or you don't. It is not a black or white issue. To artificially introduce "Celebratory actions" to spice up the game is a pretty dumb idea, in my estimation.

 

Does Chris Rock know why less kids are playing Little league? Because Little League is outdated. The 46-60 fields no longer contain the new, young athlete, and more so the composite bats. Kids 12 and older should be playing 50-70, and they are in Cal Ripken and Travel Ball. THAT is why LL enrollment have declined

I don't think it's a black vs white thing.  The celebrations are crap, they can stick it, although I do like a little bat flip. 

 

I just think the game is slower compared to football.  Hey, I love baseball, always have.

[Scott Dierking]

All I read here was "HEY YOU DAMN KIDS! GET OFF MY LAWN!!!"

 

You sound old.... like Bleedin'Green old.

I was impressed you could read

 

Do you actually have an opinion on this, or pulling a TX?

[adb280z]

\

 

Does Chris Rock know why less kids are playing Little league? Because Little League is outdated. The 46-60 fields no longer contain the new, young athlete, and more so the composite bats. Kids 12 and older should be playing 50-70, and they are in Cal Ripken and Travel Ball. THAT is why LL enrollment have declined

 

I disagree, the field/bat has little to nothing to do with it.  Kids aren't playing baseball as much as they used to for the same reason they don't watch on TV, the game is slow and kids of today have more options than they used to.

[Scott Dierking]

I disagree, the field/bat has little to nothing to do with it.  Kids aren't playing baseball as much as they used to for the same reason they don't watch on TV, the game is slow and kids of today have more options than they used to.

Chris Rock said that Little League enrollment is down. He did so without other facts. That kids find LL outdated. There are better alternatives that LL-Cal Ripken, Travel Ball, etc. Leagues that prepare kids better for next levels than LL.

 

I would be interested in the number of kids that are playing baseball in total, compared to the past. Don't just use LL numbers.

[Klecko73isGod]

I was impressed you could read

 

Do you actually have an opinion on this, or pulling a TX?

 

Seriously? Get a sense of humor dude. 

[Klecko73isGod]

Chris Rock said that Little League enrollment is down. He did so without other facts. That kids find LL outdated. There are better alternatives that LL-Cal Ripken, Travel Ball, etc. Leagues that prepare kids better for next levels than LL.

 

I would be interested in the number of kids that are playing baseball in total, compared to the past. Don't just use LL numbers.

 

How do you know he wasn't using "Little League" as a catch all like "Band-Aid" or "Kleenex?"

[Scott Dierking]

How do you know he wasn't using "Little League" as a catch all like "Band-Aid" or "Kleenex?"

Little League is a separate organization than the others. Little League counts its own numbers. It has no association with Cal Ripken or Travel Ball. Those are the competitors. 

 

It is very possible that fewer children are playing baseball (per capita) than in the past. I know for a fact that there are children moving away from LL toward travel ball. There is an explosion right now of travel teams, and teams moving away from LL. LL is outdated.

 

I was part of a LL organization for 8 years. I stuck it through because I liked the community aspect of it. We have been parts of a travel squad for the last 4 years. It provides a better baseball experience with better teaching and competition for kids that are serious about the sport. It is drawing away from LL. LL is trying to adjust, but they are a little late.

 

American Legion Ball is facing the same difficulties.

 

Back to Chris Rock's commentary, is this a black/white thing, where bat flipping will lead kids back? Of course not. Baseball is becoming more competitive at younger ages, and it is definitely filtering kids out earlier. Kids in my area are playing more soccer and lacrosse and leaving baseball earlier. 

 

i know this because I have lived it. 

 

I will ask you, what are you attempting to comment on here?

[Klecko73isGod]

Little League is a separate organization than the others. Little League counts its own numbers. It has no association with Cal Ripken or Travel Ball. Those are the competitors. 

 

It is very possible that fewer children are playing baseball (per capita) than in the past. I know for a fact that there are children moving away from LL toward travel ball. There is an explosion right now of travel teams, and teams moving away from LL. LL is outdated.

 

I was part of a LL organization for 8 years. I stuck it through because I liked the community aspect of it. We have been parts of a travel squad for the last 4 years. It provides a better baseball experience with better teaching and competition for kids that are serious about the sport. It is drawing away from LL. LL is trying to adjust, but they are a little late.

 

American Legion Ball is facing the same difficulties.

 

Back to Chris Rock's commentary, is this a black/white thing, where bat flipping will lead kids back? Of course not. Baseball is becoming more competitive at younger ages, and it is definitely filtering kids out earlier. Kids in my area are playing more soccer and lacrosse and leaving baseball earlier. 

 

i know this because I have lived it. 

 

I will ask you, what are you attempting to comment on here?

 

I am not attempting to comment on anything. Unlike you, I have no agenda here. I am simply looking for a better understanding of the situation. 

 

I think Rock's comment about bat flipping had more to do with MLB's  need to kill the personality of its players by cracking down and insisting on some  ridiculous 19th century standard of decorum as opposed to bat flipping in and of itself.

 

If baseball were to embrace the culture and not act like its an affront to common decency to show a little flair I think it could go a long way toward appealing to youth.  

[Scott Dierking]

I am not attempting to comment on anything. Unlike you, I have no agenda here. I am simply looking for a better understanding of the situation. 

 

I think Rock's comment about bat flipping had more to do with MLB's  need to kill the personality of its players by cracking down and insisting on some  ridiculous 19th century standard of decorum as opposed to bat flipping in and of itself.

 

If baseball were to embrace the culture and not act like its an affront to common decency to show a little flair I think it could go a long way toward appealing to youth.  

What kids are taught is that you play the way you practice. It is not only MLB that teaches this, it is the way that it is taught from LL to MLB-

 

-LL does not condone individuality and "look at me" conduct

-Travel ball will kick you off the team for doing it

-High School will bench you for it.

 

If it is not allowed at the learning stages of the game, do not condone it at the professional level.

 

Again, I have heard many Yankee fans on this site absolutely disgusted with The Papelbon schtick. People upset with Reyes. etc, etc.

 

In my opinion, football is a lesser of a joy to watch because of the Santonio Holmes first down ball drop, and the exclamation of a tackle for a 3 yard gain. Again, just my opinion. 

[SMC]

I disagree, the field/bat has little to nothing to do with it.  Kids aren't playing baseball as much as they used to for the same reason they don't watch on TV, the game is slow and kids of today have more options than they used to.

This.

 

I love baseball, grew up playing it and since I came from a "mixed" household (Pops is a Met fan and Mom is a Yankee fan), we always went to Yankee Stadium and Shea when I was growing up.  I took my 9 year old son to a dozen Yankee games, but him in instructional baseball, got him a glove, etc.  He HATES baseball.  It's boring.  He loves basketball and he plays in a youth league and he's pretty good at it.  He'll never play baseball and none of his friends will.

 

If parents who love baseball can't get their kids into it, then the sport is in trouble.

[Klecko73isGod]

What kids are taught is that you play the way you practice. It is not only MLB that teaches this, it is the way that it is taught from LL to MLB-

 

-LL does not condone individuality and "look at me" conduct

-Travel ball will kick you off the team for doing it

-High School will bench you for it.

 

If it is not allowed at the learning stages of the game, do not condone it at the professional level.

 

Again, I have heard many Yankee fans on this site absolutely disgusted with The Papelbon schtick. People upset with Reyes. etc, etc.

 

In my opinion, football is a lesser of a joy to watch because of the Santonio Holmes first down ball drop, and the exclamation of a tackle for a 3 yard gain. Again, just my opinion. 

 

Speaking as a Yankee fan, Papelbon is the worst examples you can use. The guy is one of the most disliked athletes of the past decade and schtick was obnoxious. Plus, of course we're gonna hate what he does, he was a ******* Red Sox. 

 

Never had an issue with Rickey Henderson's bat flip, even before he was a Yankee. Never had an issue with anyone doing a slow homerun trot. 

 

Then again, I like end zone celebrations. I like seeing people perform amazing acts and being joyful about it. 

[Scott Dierking]

Speaking as a Yankee fan, Papelbon is the worst examples you can use. The guy is one of the most disliked athletes of the past decade and schtick was obnoxious. Plus, of course we're gonna hate what he does, he was a ******* Red Sox. 

 

Never had an issue with Rickey Henderson's bat flip, even before he was a Yankee. Never had an issue with anyone doing a slow homerun trot. 

 

Then again, I like end zone celebrations. I like seeing people perform amazing acts and being joyful about it. 

It is a personal opinion, I have said that. I am just stating mine. Does not make it right.

 

BUT, I will NOT teach my son that way, and would pull any program that would allow that. Fortunately, I have not run across many that do.

[Scott Dierking]

This.

 

I love baseball, grew up playing it and since I came from a "mixed" household (Pops is a Met fan and Mom is a Yankee fan), we always went to Yankee Stadium and Shea when I was growing up.  I took my 9 year old son to a dozen Yankee games, but him in instructional baseball, got him a glove, etc.  He HATES baseball.  It's boring.  He loves basketball and he plays in a youth league and he's pretty good at it.  He'll never play baseball and none of his friends will.

 

If parents who love baseball can't get their kids into it, then the sport is in trouble.

Not everyone is going to like baseball. That is a given fact, like anything else.

 

I have 2 sons. I coached them both. The first, I could tell at the age of 9, that he did not like like the sport. I asked him the question and that is the answer he gave. I pulled him out immediately.

 

My other cannot get enough of it. We play school ball, he will play on a Legion team, he will play travel ball. He will play fall ball. Last year, I figure, he played in close to 110 games. We travelled to numerous states and his travel team was ranked #16 by Perfect Game.

 

Maybe there are less kids that are interested in the sport. BUT I can tell you that there is a hard core nucleus that attack it as hard as any generation before. The feeder system of baseball is not going dry.

 

Does that mean we "cheapen" the sport for entertainment values? I am note the person to answer that totally, but I have given my opinion.

[Scott Dierking]

Oh, BTW...

MLB records seventh best attendance total ever in 2014

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Press Release | September 29, 2014

Major League Baseball finished the 2014 regular season with an attendance of 73,739,622, marking the seventh highest total of all-time, it was announced today. Competitive balance throughout the game and exciting late-year pennant races have led to the last decade producing all 10 of the best-attended seasons in Major League Baseball history.

The final weekend of the season drew 1,648,624 fans to ballparks across the country, the second highest weekend attendance of the season, and the largest final weekend of a season since 2008, when 1,683,763 fans attended games. Overall, the 2014 season posted 17 weekends with at least 1.5 million in attendance, also marking the largest since 2008, when there were 19 such weekends.

The 2014 total finished just 0.4 percent lower than 2013, despite playing five fewer dates (2,421) than last year (2,426). In addition, the 2014 average attendance of 30,458 per game was just 0.2 percent lower than the 2013 average of 30,515.

Among the highlights of the season:

• Twelve Clubs surpassed the 2.5-million mark, including five that topped the three-million mark.

• The five to reach three million have all now reached three million in consecutive seasons, including the New York Yankees (16 straight); the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (12 straight); the St. Louis Cardinals (11 straight); the San Francisco Giants (five straight); and the the Los Angeles Dodgers (three straight).

• The Pittsburgh Pirates established a single-season attendance record of 2,442,564 in 2014, breaking the previous mark of 2,436,139 set during the first season at PNC Park in 2001. The Pirates also posted 23 sellouts during the season, tying the club record set in 2013.

• The Washington Nationals drew 2,579,389 on the season, topping the 2.5-million mark for the second consecutive season and for only the third time in club history (also their debut season in 2005). The Nationals recorded eight sellouts, tied with 2012 for the most in a single season.

• The San Francisco Giants, who sold out every game this season, ended the 2014 season with 327 consecutive sell-outs, dating back to October 1, 2010, for the longest active streak in the Majors.

• The St. Louis Cardinals attracted 3,540,649 fans in 2014, the second largest attendance in the Majors this season, and the second highest attendance in franchise history behind 2007 (3,552,180). Led by 52 sellouts and an average of 43,712 per game, the 2014 season was the second time in franchise history with 40,000 or more fans at every game (also 2007).

• The Detroit Tigers, who recorded 27 sellouts during the 2014 season, posted the fifth largest total attendance (2,917,209) in the 114-year history of the franchise.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers led the Majors for the second consecutive season with 3,782,337. The Dodgers surpassed the 3.7-million mark for the sixth time in club history, and it was their second highest total overall, behind 2007 (3,857,036).

• The New York Yankees led the American League with 3,401,624, marking the 12th straight season they have drawn the most among AL Clubs.

• The Baltimore Orioles drew reached the 2.4-million mark for the first time since the 2005 season.

• The Kansas City Royals posted their highest attendance (1,956,482) since 1991.

• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim logged nine sellouts in 2014, and their attendance of 44,561 on August 7th against the Los Angeles Dodgers established the largest regular season crowd at Angel Stadium since 1998.

• The Milwaukee Brewers attendance of 2,797,384 was an increase of 10.5 percent from 2013, marking the largest increase in the NL and the fourth largest in the Majors.

• The Seattle Mariners drew 2,063,622, eclipsing the two-million mark for the first time since 2010. The club's attendance represented a Major League-best 17 percent increase over 2013.

• The Oakland Athletics had an attendance of 2,003,628 in 2014, surpassing the two-million mark for the first time since 2005 (2,109,118).

• The New York Mets attracted 2,148,808 fans in 2014, marking the club's first increase over the previous season in Citi Field history (since 2009).

• The Houston Astros drew 1,751,829 fans in 2014, representing an attendance increase for the second consecutive season.

"During the last week, all of us who love the game witnessed a wonderful culmination to the 2014 regular season with thrilling Postseason races down to the final day, an emotional farewell to an icon of this generation and a milestone in our nation's capital," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Once again, I'd like to thank our great fans for their continued enthusiasm and support over the last decade and beyond. I join our fans in looking forward to another magnificent Postseason and all the best of our National Pastime."

 

 

[adb280z]

Chris Rock said that Little League enrollment is down. He did so without other facts. That kids find LL outdated. There are better alternatives that LL-Cal Ripken, Travel Ball, etc. Leagues that prepare kids better for next levels than LL.

 

I would be interested in the number of kids that are playing baseball in total, compared to the past. Don't just use LL numbers.

 

They're losing kids at levels way below travel.