troubles in baseball
Baseball is a game that America has embraced from its early existence. Regarded as the national pastime baseball has embedded itself it our culture and has captured both adults and youths alike. It is a game that mirrors the image of America; a game that combines fine tuned skill with intellectual strategy, one that provokes emotions, the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. Baseball is also a game that has evolved with the nation. As America's class system becomes more defined so does that of baseball. The game has become stagnant with the same large market teams: Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and a few more, competing in the fall classic each year. With this elitist practice baseball has lost its entire competitive flavor. With this competition among elite becoming more evident as the Yankees have taken four out of the last five World Series. With no cap or regulation on the amount one team can spend to acquire its players the logic would follow that: the rich teams dominate. Without a salary cap and some type of revenue sharing implemented and efforts among owners and players baseball will cease to exist in America. Major League Baseball needs a perman
This is true in other sports as well, however almost 70% of all teams are eliminated in the game of baseball due to their lack of buying power. A requirement that demands the small market teams to use the money gained from revenue sharing for player salaries. Each year there are teams that are eliminated from the pennant race before the season is even under way. In the major American sports, football, basketball, and hockey there is a salary cap to control wealthy owners and promote small market teams. However as Abrams states, "Thus the primary stated purpose of revenue sharing was not for the rich to pay the poor; rather, the concept was indented to 'grow the game'"(Abrams197). With this deadline approaching and no new developments among the baseball insiders the fans may get another taste of the 1994 players strike. The revenue they generate comes as a result of their popularity among fans and that ultimately the fans dictate the large market teams with the power they hold as a consumer. The herald Yankees of the 40's and 50's who were almost a lock for the World Series in a twenty-five year span. With teams like the Twins, Pirates, Royals and others all but eliminated it is ridiculous for fans to invest time in money in their teams when realistically there is no chance for a title. Major League Baseball needs to bring back the game that America has come to call its own. Most games are seen on local networks and depending on the size of the network, teams local broadcasting revenue can differ greatly. Put another way, the Yankees won 80% of the Series crowns since the new agreement. Before the free agent market invaded baseball there were teams that still dominated the sport.
Common topics in this essay:
Bronx Bombers,
League Baseball,
Commissioner Selig,
Montreal Expos,
Angeles Dodgers,
World Series,
Baseball Baseball,
Cleveland Indians,
Association Commissioners,
Pirates Royals,
revenue sharing,
market teams,
salary cap,
baseball game,
owners players,
collective bargaining agreement,
collective bargaining,
bargaining agreement,
atlanta braves,
disparity revenue,
league baseball,
nationally televised games,
major league baseball,
free agent market,
|