Baseball: State of the Game 2019 Question Title * 1. In general, the state of Major League Baseball as opposed to 20 years ago is… Better Worse About the same Question Title * 2. What’s the biggest issue facing baseball today? Games take too long / the pace of play The season is too long There’s not enough offense Tickets and concessions cost far too much There’s a disconnect between fans and players It’s become too dominated by analytics and statistics Too many home runs and strikeouts, and not enough small ball It’s become too corporate, and it seems like MLB and the owners are prioritizing profits over a good experience MLB isn’t diverse enough Lack of ability for small market teams to compete Baseball hasn’t kept up with modern technology Baseball has lost accountability - teams should be paying for stadiums, not cities Nothing – baseball is just fine Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. What can baseball do to become more attractive to younger audiences? Speed up the pace of play Democratize MLB content on the internet, and stop protecting copyrights so aggressively Provide more platforms for fans to see players up close and personal Better baseball video games and fantasy games Integrate technology more into the way the game is played and experienced Create more ways for kids to experience the game, such as more funding for youth baseball Make it more affordable for families to attend games Nothing. Baseball is plenty popular among the younger set Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. Which of the following statements resonate with regard to player salaries? Players deserve to be paid their fair market value, no matter what it is. We shouldn’t artificially be capping salaries that players have rightfully earned. Salaries are too high. Fans earning $50k a year and struggling to afford tickets can’t relate to players making $30 million a year. Baseball needs a salary cap. Many players seem like prima donnas who seem to care more about money than about providing a good product for fans. There’s too wide a gap between what the best players and worst players are paid. It doesn’t make sense that Bryce Harper can make $30 million while many minor leaguers are struggling to afford food. One of the great things about baseball is its lack of a salary cap. Owners should be willing to pay whatever it takes to put a winning product on the field. Owners who won’t pay up for top players are cheap, and it’s concerning that so many teams are not willing to pay top dollar for great players Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. When it comes to the ballpark experience, generally speaking… I love the explosion in diverse and healthy fare at the ballpark, and craft beer. I like having a lot to choose from, even it if means slightly higher prices for many items Ballparks should prioritize affordability of basic items, such as hot dogs, peanuts, cracker jacks, and mass market beers I love how they've upgraded the ballpark experience with fancier seating and more technology. I'm willing to pay more for a better experience. There are way too many tech gizmos at the game today. The essence of baseball is being lost. Baseball has its priorities in the wrong place. Making games simple and affordable to the masses should be their top priority. Question Title * 6. When it comes to players who used steroids who otherwise have Hall of Fame-worthy stats… We need to protect the sanctity of the game. All steroid users should be denied the Hall of Fame Who cares if they used steroids? The best players deserve to be in the Hall, period Players like Barry Bonds, who had Hall-worthy stats before they used steroids, should be allowed in, but others should not Question Title * 7. What are your feelings about “the shift”? It’s fine – it’s part of the evolution in baseball strategy, and good hitters should learn to adapt to it It’s harming the game, and should be outlawed No opinion Question Title * 8. What are your feelings about the designated hitter? It’s fine the way it is, with the AL having it and the NL not having it The National League should adopt the designated hitter The American League should get rid of the designated hitter Question Title * 9. What are your feelings about baseball’s efforts to speed up the game? It’s great baseball is trying to make the games move more quickly. The game today is far too slow. It’s probably necessary for baseball to speed up games to appeal more to a younger audience. I hate it – the best thing about baseball is its slow pace. They’re messing with the fabric of the game. Speeding up the game is fine, but requiring pitchers to stay in the game for at least 3 batters is messing with strategy. I'm all for speeding up the game, but the pitch clock is an abomination. There are many ways to speed up the game, but they're looking in the wrong places. Other (please specify) Question Title * 10. If there were a players’ strike in the near future… I would eagerly await baseball’s return I would probably return eventually, but it would leave a sour taste in my mouth I'd return, but with as many options as there are today I fear it might doom baseball forever I’d probably stop watching baseball for a long time Done