There are a lot of people that are re-evaluating their relationship with Major League Baseball right now. The fighting and feet-dragging that caused the 2020 season to consist of a mere 60 games has turned off a lot of lifelong fans. Maybe some of the new innovations and the urgency will draw new eyeballs to the league, but Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina has an idea to ensure that happens: give away as much free baseball as possible.
In his “Extra Mustard” column on Thursday, Traina writes that the best thing Major League Baseball could do for fans in 2020 is to make its Extra Innings package free. “Lift all TV/radio/app restrictions and make everything free for this fake season,” he writes.
Major League Baseball is facing another sticking point in its return. While that league is just starting its season, the NBA and NHL will be entering their stretch runs to the playoffs. Add to that the looming football season, and even with an added sense of urgency, it is possible baseball falls through the cracks with a lot of viewers.
Flooding TV with baseball may also be a smart play in the current economic climate according to Traina.
“You have a massive number of people who are unemployed right now. Take all the positive PR you can get and do this.”
Echoing a sentiment that many baseball fans have expressed as soon as it became clear we weren’t going to see teams playing 162 game schedules, Traina says that 2020 “is not a real season.” Clearly a seam-head, Traina complains about the short schedule and new rules meant to speed up the games. Baseball diehard or not, Traina says it is obvious what the fair thing to do for the fans this season is.
“Don’t charge full price–or any price–for access to these games.”
No they should charge a flat fee of 19.99 for the full season and Post Season. that would be a fair price for 2 full month of regular season games and 1 month of post season games. It would get fans to pay for it because the value would be very good also. they can not afford to not charge something for this service since they have No fans in most parks all season. I agree with the flood the market with national games. I saw the NBA plan they are going to air something like 2 or three national games EVERY DAY during the 3 weeks left in the regular season. MLB should have 2 or 3 national games every day on ESPN/2, FOX/FS1, TBS or MLBN. they could also have at least 1 game free every day on MLB.tv and on either Youtube or Twitter. I think it should look like this 1 game on ESPN/2 on Monday one game on MLBN on Tuesday and one on FS1 on Tuesday Wednesday afternoon on MLBN and Wednesday night on ESPN/2 Thursday on MLBN Thursday night on FS1 Friday night on MLBN Saturday on MLBN Saturday on FOX Saturday night on FS1 (until September) Sunday on TBS and Sunday night on ESPN Breakdown would be 3 or 4 games a week on ESPN/2, 3 games a week on FOX/FS1 at least 6 and up to 10 games a week on MLBN and 1 on TBS.
WOW I need to proof read and edit.
The MLB Extra Innings package for satellite TV is half of what they usually charge for a full 162 game season but we only get 60 games. Thus we are paying more for this fake season. Not me.