Been saying it for years

[Thrup'ny Bit]

I agree re the use of umpires, they are vital to the game.

Obviously we don't play baseball here but with cricket we still have umpires although with modern technology test teams are allowed two reviews if they think there has been grave injustice.
Once they are gone they are gone.

In the vast majority of cases the umpires are proved correct in the reviews.

The technology is only available in televised games, so most cricket isn't spoiled by Sky Sports. There was one game recently when (shock, horror!) the technology failed and the game had to revert to the decisions made by the on field umpires. It was quite nice to see the game played as it should be.

 

[Nate D]

In reality there are always three teams playing on the field. Two are represented by cute mascots and the other is the officiating. Always difficult when the officiating wins.

Totally. And aggravating. Lol

 

[Boubou]

 

[aiabx]

I have a friend who is convinced that the winners are set by the owners at the start of the season and the rest is just pro wrestling in pyjamas. Part of the reason is inconsistent umpiring. When an ump appears to call the balls and strikes in a biased way (they don't even need to, just look like it), it undermines faith that the sport is being played in a clean, fair manner.

 

[omahaaudio]

They need to get rid of live umpires for mlb baseball.

That's just silly.

 

[Groovey]

Ya can't kick dirt on the computer.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

It was a better game when the average player made 7 times the average american’s salary instead now where they make 50 times more. You could take your whole family to a game for a inexpensive day. Now it’s like Les Pauls with AAAA tops.

 

[AntStrat]

It was a better game when the average player made 7 times the average american’s salary instead now where they make 50 times more. You could take your whole family to a game for a inexpensive day. Now it’s like Les Pauls with AAAA tops.

The fans were closer to the players as people, now they're celebrities with body guards.

 

[aiabx]

It was a better game when the average player made 7 times the average american’s salary instead now where they make 50 times more. You could take your whole family to a game for a inexpensive day. Now it’s like Les Pauls with AAAA tops.

The fans are as much to blame as the players - if they're willing to pay hundreds of dollars for good seats, why shouldn't the players get a cut of the money? If everyone refused to pay more than $10 a seat, that's what seats would cost.
(Of course, your team would suck and get outplayed by the teams whose fans will drop hundreds of dollars a seat to get top tier talent.)

 

[Scott Baxendale]

The fans are as much to blame as the players - if they're willing to pay hundreds of dollars for good seats, why shouldn't the players get a cut of the money? If everyone refused to pay more than $10 a seat, that's what seats would cost.
(Of course, your team would suck and get outplayed by the teams whose fans will drop hundreds of dollars a seat to get top tier talent.)

I blame the owners.

 

[aiabx]

I blame the owners.

Lots of blame to go around. I've been going to more minor league games this year rather than paying big money for MLB.