The great American pastime of Baseball is constantly under scrutiny from sportswriters and social media experts claiming that the sport is dying and in desperate need of change to stay relevant in the modern day.
Baseball has changed very little from its first modern set of rules in the 1900’s. Baseball is an American institution, and Americans are by far the biggest consumers of the sport. But with games regularly taking up to three hours to complete, many people are starting to speculate that the game needs to radically change to cater to a broader audience. Betting has also become a big part of the modern baseball scene, with many people adding a pinch of extra spice to games by reading MLB predictions and placing a sum of money on the outcome of the game.
The Demographics of Baseball
The demographics of Baseball are regularly brought up as an argument that the game is slowly but surely dying. Most people that watch baseball regularly in America are over 50 years old, and the sport is not gaining new viewers at the same pace as it’s losing them. It’s true that the MLB has had a problem with catering to newer viewers, but with teams taking a more laid back approach on social media and the like, and with the rise of a new generation of players that are easy to market and to like this is something that has begun to change.
Changing Media Climate
One thing that has been lacking in Baseball in the last couple of years is coverage that is appealing to all ages and baseball fans. Even though there are several baseball writers that are incredibly skilled in what they do, this is not always all too appealing for young people. Baseball podcasts and highlights on social media are helping to propel this old American institution into the future.
The Future
All in all, the opinion of this writer is that baseball is still alive and well. The game is not dying, but it is changing. Young players have come in and completely turned the league on its head with their explosive playstyle and energetic personalities. An issue with baseball has for a long time been the lack of clear “fan favorites” that are exciting to watch in the same way as some of the biggest names in basketball and football. We’re bound to see more explosive baseball being played in the coming years with more and more interesting and fun players making their way to the big leagues.
