Around Baseball 2023

[jaysblue]

Im just so sick of the “location” complaint for excusing TB’s lack of attendance. And then they go and put out this plan for a stadium in the same spot.

 

Miami has a great new stadium and they still have terrible attendance issues. Even when they were in the playoff hunt the last couple years throughout the summer.

 

Florida just doesn’t care about attending baseball games, plain and simple. Unless its the WBC of course

 

Not true at all.

 

Miami has a huge Latin American population. The new Marlins ballpark isn't in the greatest area in terms of nightlife, restaurants, bars etc. I believe it's more in a residential area. If it was closer to downtown, maybe would be better.

 

I think the issue with the Rays is the awful ballpark and location obviously. There is nothing wrong with St. Pete's at all. The waterfront and downtown are gorgeous.

[jaysblue]

It's weird because Florida is such a baseball hotbed

 

And it's not just that they don't support pro sports because the Lightning pull very will in the NHL

 

maybe it's like... you can drive 10 minutes anywhere in Florida and see entertaining baseball of some variety so why go all the way to St Pete or Miami?

 

This is a good point.

 

A lot of minor league ballparks all over Florida like in Dunedin, Fort Myers, Clearwater, Sarasota etc. Tickets are only like $10, cheap beer, drinks and concessions.

 

I loved TD Ballpark in Dunedin. I went to two games when I was there. The ballpark is right in town, so you can walk if you're staying in Dunedin, or it's a short 15 min drive from Clearwater. More relaxing and enjoyable than driving 45 mins or more in traffic down to the Trop IMO.

[jaysblue]

Probably because Florida has a lot of people that are only there during the winter? Less people around in the summer months?? Idk.

 

Summer months in Florida from May to August can be brutal in terms of humidity, storms, hurricanes etc. Summer in Florida is definitely their low season in terms of tourists.

[Olerud363]

Congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles for clinching their first playoff spot since 2016 and for surpassing the Bo/Vlad Blue Jays high win total of 92 with their 93rd win yesterday.

 

I know we all agree that the Blue Jays could never have survived the 2 extra down years the Orioles experienced in the zero fan 2020 60 game season, and the extremely fan limited 2021 season which Toronto played mostly in the U.S.

 

And we all agree that the Orioles only achieved their 93 wins with the 5 first overall draft picks they received for being so crappy for so long.

 

According to the fangraphs website the 1st overall pick Ashley Rutchman led the Orioles to Victory with 3.9 fWAR, along side the other 1st overall picks... ummm... Gunnar Henderson (42nd pick?), Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Kyle Bradish, Felix Bautista, Kyle Gibson, Danny Columbe, Yennier Cano, and Grayson Rodriguez.

 

We will not be giving the Orioles any credit for passing on Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans or any other savy pickups, decent scouting, or development of vets from the Dan Duquatte regime.

 

It was the 6 straight 40 win seasons (or was it 7?) that got them here... and now that they've used up all these 1/1 picks what do they have coming for the future?? (news flash, most of the picks from all the years of losing haven't started contributing).

[jaysblue]

Speaking of moving the Rays, would we even want them to move to Montreal? Seems like that would be a negative for the Jays right? Or would it even matter that much?

 

Nashville

[glory]

Miami has a competitive team

 

They got 2.2m fans the first year their new stadium opened up, but the team stunk and then they had another fire sale immediately afterwards. The last time they finished with a .500 or better record over 162 games was 2009. Between that and their ownership's history, it is likely hard for fans to stay engaged with them. They are competitive this season, but usually the increase in attendance comes the following season after a team turns things around. We will see if next season sees any spike.

 

The Rays have been great forever and still get 8k a night or whatever it is. That's a lost cause.

[jaysblue]

Part of the problem in Florida is how oversaturated it is with sports. 3 NFL teams, 2 MLB teams, 2 NBA teams and two NHL teams. 9 teams is a lot.

 

On top of that, those pro sports also have to compete with college sports, especially college football which is probably the most popular sport in the state. So you can add in another 3 major teams (FSU, FU and Miami) to go along with another good team (UCF) and 3 other D1 teams (USF, FAU, FIU). Sports fans are getting spread pretty thin at this point.

 

Then there are a lot of transplants as people mentioned, combined with a lot of those teams being pretty new and also not having a ton of success. Just not a great way to build up a generational fandom.

 

College football down in Florida is huge, even bigger than the NFL.

 

Like you said, you have a lot of sports teams in one area. Plus college football and NFL take priority over other spots like hockey, basketball and baseball.

 

The Lightning do well because they've been a winning team pretty much for the last decade and the arena is downtown Tampa close to the waterfront. A lot of great bars and restaurants nearby as well.

 

The Panthers play in the middle of nowhere. It's like a good 60 min drive from Miami or even 25-30 mins from Fort Lauderdale. The arena is like on the outskirts, so far away from the coast.

[hanton]

Speaking of moving the Rays, would we even want them to move to Montreal? Seems like that would be a negative for the Jays right? Or would it even matter that much?

 

positive on it being negative for the jays

[hanton]

will Montreal really support a team though ...and wasn't ownership an issue. Maybe Rogers can buy it - imagine

[connorp]

will Montreal really support a team though ...and wasn't ownership an issue. Maybe Rogers can buy it - imagine

 

Can’t even have minority stake in another team. Corporate ownership is for the birds anyway

[hanton]

Can’t even have minority stake in another team. Corporate ownership is for the birds anyway

 

ah right of course.

[Stangstag]

Attendance always lags a bit behind when a team starts to get good after a long period of shittiness. Miami hasnt cracked 80 wins since 2010. They've been legit horrible. ANd they still had better attendance overall in 2010 as an 80 win team than the Jays did with an 85 win team.

 

It's just been way too damn long for them. Willing to bet next season they bounce back attendance wise pretty noticeably. Not to like, upper-echelon levels, but a bounce back for sure.

 

Im willing to bet they wont

[philly30]

College football down in Florida is huge, even bigger than the NFL.

 

Like you said, you have a lot of sports teams in one area. Plus college football and NFL take priority over other spots like hockey, basketball and baseball.

 

The Lightning do well because they've been a winning team pretty much for the last decade and the arena is downtown Tampa close to the waterfront. A lot of great bars and restaurants nearby as well.

 

The Panthers play in the middle of nowhere. It's like a good 60 min drive from Miami or even 25-30 mins from Fort Lauderdale. The arena is like on the outskirts, so far away from the coast.

 

I went to a panthers game in 99, my god that place is really in the middle of nowhere, they were playing calgary and there were like 10 people at the game

[hanton]

Thought the Astros would challenge that play at home

[John_Havok]

Im willing to bet they wont

 

I bet you 5$ and a gum wrapper they increase by 30% or better than what they end with this season

[BTS]

Waino in line for #200 tonight

[Spanky__99]

Waino in line for #200 tonight

 

Got it, good for him, good career.

[Spanky__99]

Congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles for clinching their first playoff spot since 2016 and for surpassing the Bo/Vlad Blue Jays high win total of 92 with their 93rd win yesterday.

 

I know we all agree that the Blue Jays could never have survived the 2 extra down years the Orioles experienced in the zero fan 2020 60 game season, and the extremely fan limited 2021 season which Toronto played mostly in the U.S.

 

And we all agree that the Orioles only achieved their 93 wins with the 5 first overall draft picks they received for being so crappy for so long.

 

According to the fangraphs website the 1st overall pick Ashley Rutchman led the Orioles to Victory with 3.9 fWAR, along side the other 1st overall picks... ummm... Gunnar Henderson (42nd pick?), Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Kyle Bradish, Felix Bautista, Kyle Gibson, Danny Columbe, Yennier Cano, and Grayson Rodriguez.

 

We will not be giving the Orioles any credit for passing on Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans or any other savy pickups, decent scouting, or development of vets from the Dan Duquatte regime.

 

It was the 6 straight 40 win seasons (or was it 7?) that got them here... and now that they've used up all these 1/1 picks what do they have coming for the future?? (news flash, most of the picks from all the years of losing haven't started contributing).

 

[Spanky__99]

Fujinami suxxxxxxxxx

 

Woohoo Bosox!!!

[Omar]

Rangers down by two going into the 9th against the Red Sox.

 

They are in freefall right now.

[hanton]

Rangers batting line-up still pretty lethal and Garcia is back in

[G-Snarls]

Go Red Sox

 

f*** yeah

[G-Snarls]

Waino in line for #200 tonight

 

Needs to retire now for sure

[G-Snarls]

Over/under A's 112 losses for the year?

[Omar]

Gaining a half game on the Rangers without even playing is ok for a Monday night.

[Stangstag]

Gaining a half game on the Rangers without even playing is ok for a Monday night.

 

The Redsox just keep on giving

[hanton]

2024 sign J.D Martinez

[hanton]

OH WOW

 

Presley just gave up a 3 run bomb to Mullins

[hanton]

Astros really showing their age

[John_Havok]

Anyone see Schwarber send a ball into orbit? 483 feet.

 

113.9 off the bat at 32 degree LA = moonshot

 

Edited September 19, 2023 by John_Havok