What the Heck?

[say_oww]

Baseball will never die here because it is a white male only sport in the USA.  Our country has a way of making sure that white males get whatever they want so don't expect baseball to go anywhere anytime soon.  

[Mholtz65]

There is no doubt that the Latin American presence in the Milb/MLB continues to climb. They are talented to say the least. The percentages were high even back when I played from '94-2006.

[say_oww]

And I do agree with mholtz...  Basically every kid that plays baseball will get his feelings hurt at some point because no matter how many camps, travel teams, or clinics your kid attends he will end up where his God-given talent will take him.  Its not like any clinic or baseball school has a pipeline to college, let alone the majors.  There are more baseball schools and academies now than ever and, as some of these guys already stated, there are more Latino players than ever in the pros so what does THAT tell you???

[Crimson's Ghost]

Baseball is still very popular and prominent in warm weather states.  It's not really a dying sport.  If anything, football (as we know it) could and probably will die out first given the concussion concerns.  Look at the football rosters locally, less kids are playing.  Sure the population is declining, but still rosters and numbers are shrinking.

[no/excuses]

Baseball will never die here because it is a white male only sport in the USA.  Our country has a way of making sure that white males get whatever they want so don't expect baseball to go anywhere anytime soon.  

Drink some more of the Hillary & Obama  Kool-Aid, oww.

[konjo78]

I can tell you being a district manager of a sporting goods chain that football in the northwest had the biggest numbers by far this year. Youth leagues saw around a 25% player increase for fall full pad season. The spring 7 on 7 leagues retained around 50% of the fall player count.

In tri cities, yakima, spokane there were 5 major little league orgs shutting down because the player count has dropped significantly.

Even traveling softball and baseball teams gave shrunk by around 20%, which is huge because those are year round teams that recruit and aim for national tournaments.

[konjo78]

The big issues with baseball is a disconnect with the major leagues. Yes the world series had great numbers, thanks to the cubs historic win, but the everyday watchers have drop significantly. Star power seems down and kids just are losing interest in it.

[Manfred]

A few years back, I had a nephew in Del. who was 15 at the time. He was rated #5 pitcher in Del. at that time. He had Tom House as a pitching instructor, and John Wockenfuss as a hitting instructor. He pitched in a game against Rick Porcello, struck him out twice, and out-performed him in the game. Had college scouts looking at him, including Ivy League. His grades were only so-so. When he neared his 16th birthday, he suddenly discovered girls and cars. There went any hopes or desires of further baseball pursuits. The purpose of all this is to show life happens, and gets in the way of future pursuits, regardless of well-intentioned parents, instructional leagues, and travel ball.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Baseball does poor with national TV broadcasts, but generally they do very well in their local markets.  Like most of us likely watch a good chunk of the Pirates 162 game season but rarely will tune into Sunday night baseball.  That's the problem. People only follow one team generally. 

[say_oww]

What part did I get wrong no/excuses?  Ever see any blacks or hispanics in travel ball or any level of baseball below D1?  How about managers and coaches?  My point is it isn't going anywhere soon as it is a money driven sport.  More kids PAY to PLAY baseball than any other sport and its makeup in the USA is predominantly white.