OK, here comes the baseball curmudgeon, ready to dump on the game again.
In fact, if you want to read an upbeat piece on baseball, check out a post from Maury Brown in Forbes. Brown debunks claims that baseball is dying.
I agree. Baseball is a long way from going away. However, I also contend the game isn’t maximizing its potential.
Case in point: This year’s playoffs.
Obviously, MLB can’t control who wins, but it didn’t get an ideal Final Four.
Nothing against the Cardinals and Giants, but I can’t say I’m excited about seeing them again in the NLCS. Been there, don’t that. I’ve had my fill of the Cardinal way, and no, I’m definitely not a Cubs fan.
As for the American League, Kansas City is a terrific story. I get that. And Baltimore being back in the hunt also will revive memories of Palmer and Brooks.
However, all four teams have something in common: They lack star power. There will be good solid players in the LCS, but there isn’t one hitter or pitcher who will compel me to tune in.
Now Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg? That’s a different story.
I was looking forward to watching those dynamic young players, not to mention old standbys in Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols. Now they are gone until next April. Still can’t believe what happened to Kershaw.
Sports thrives on star power. The postseason represented a great opportunity for baseball to showcase those young stars.
Imagine the buzz if Trout went off and Harper continued to hit moon shots. That would have got everyone excited.
Instead, Kansas City now becomes everyone favorite team. But really, are you going to be jacked up for a Royals-Cardinals or Orioles-Giants World Series?
All I can say as a Dodger fan is, thank Don Mattingly. It isn’t that anything “happened” to Kershaw. He pitched great yesterday. In Game 1, Mattingly’s failure to get him out of there earlier or get out there earlier to see what was going on stamps him as the worst baseball strategic mind since Tommy Lasorda.
I know star power and big markets drive ratings, but I really enjoy seeing teams that haven’t won it in a long time get the chance to win the World Series. Happier that Kansas City or Baltimore will be in the World Series over usual Yankees/Red Sox.
In that same vein, an NLCS of LA vs Washington would have been preferable to these two teams.
If all you watch a sport for is star power, then you don’t understand the meaning of sports.
Absolutely. No mention of the actual game of baseball, just superficial bs, ie, “star power”. Get a clue.
Ed:
It could be worse…a LOT worse…we could be getting another dose of all Yankees, all Red Sox all the time. So personally I’m not complaining.
The Cardinals (not the Yankees) are the model franchise for MLB (and the fact that they happen to be in the same division as the Cubs and continually beat on them bothers me not a wit! LOL)
Also I’ll never root for a team in the White Sox division in the playoffs. EVER.
The Sox are the only team from the division since it was created in 1994 to win a World Series…it needs to stay that way.
Go BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well then you’re what I like to call a cliche baseball fan. You probably complain games are too long too. If you can’t appreciate a team thst hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1985, and another team who hasn’t been in the ALCS since 1997, then you just don’t truly appreciate baseball. You must be the guy that picks all the nationally televised games and always picks Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers. No star power?? I guess Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones aren’t stars. I guess seeing the KC bullpen be ridiculously electric isn’t exciting. This is why baseball is such a great game because anything can happen and it’s not played on paper. It’s boring to see the teams with the highest payroll run away with it every year.
Never understood how the San Francisco Bay Area is not considered a Big Market. 7 million people folks. 13 Million in Northern California. Why Strasburg? Bumgarner is younger, better, more accomplished, and can actually pitch past the 7th inning (I think Strasburg only accomplished that 2-3 times in his career!). No Star Power? Posey. Put aside his accomplishments. He’s #2 in MLB Jersey sales behind Jeter. Yeah…He’s popular. Harper??? He had a good NLDS but lets not anoint him of anything more than a guy who hit 13 HR in regular season, batted .270 and bats SIXTH in the lineup. He’s still just potential and name value.
Well I can see where this clown comes from If I had to grow up in the northern part of Illinois and be subjected to in fearer baseball all my life I would like to see super stars too.
More complaining from a Cubs fan; Cardinal fans are all over the country. Yankee and Red Sox fans are in the Northeast and that is it!
The highest salaried team Dodgers $235 mill just got best by the $111 mill Cardinals….tired of Cardinal Way?….try Cardinal Nation….homegrown talent and the best farm system in the business!….you cannot buy a World Championship….savvy?
Okay, Ed Sherman is a complete moron. Among the reasons baseball is in fact dying is because it’s covered by morons like Ed Sherman. Star power drives baseball? Star power drives ratings, not baseball. Morons in the media who do not know how to frame a story are killing baseball. Maybe they’re bitter about having to shack up for a few days in backwaters like St. Louis, KC or Baltimore. Maybe they think the top storylines for teams like the Cardinals and Giants have been raked to death. Here’s an idea – do some homework and find something original.
Listening to morons in the media whine about small market teams in the playoffs is among the annual rituals that debase the sport. Among its many issues is the fact that baseball has a serious media problem, not a “star problem.”
If baseball can’t survive broadcasting small market teams in the post-season, then divvy up the stars and move every team to a coast.
Alternatively, baseball could quietly seek out pros like those of yore like Red Smith who were far less provincial and small minded to cover their sport. That would be a big step forward…
Star power is not a team. Obviously star power alone does not win championships. Too many big heads all about themselves and their bank accounts. If you were a Cards or Giants fan then you would be happy correct? Stop being jealous of two organizations that win while not spending 240 million on payroll like your star studded losing teams!
Kershaw and Trout I get, but Strasburg and Harper? A 14-11 pitcher on a first place team? Not impressive. Harper, a mid to lower batting order OF who has never driven in 60 runs or hit 25 HRs. Wow, you are reaching for stars. Maybe what you are looking for are people you want to be stars.
I wasn’t aware that the media were the keepers of the health of our national pastime. Why don’t we ask MLB what they think instead? I really don’t think people give a flying frog about what sportswriters think. They’re going to watch if they want to, and tune out if they don’t. You won’t really have anything to do with it, Ed.
Mr Sherman if you wish to watch a sport with star power watch Dancing with the Stars and write about that if dancing is considered a sport. Baseball is fun and exciting to me and they are getting it right with the post season wild card set up and instant replay.
Interesting that two of the teams still hunting for a championship in the tournament are wild card teams. Media folks wish all sports could be like the yesteryear of college football championship game day….picked by writers….star power…how about team power?