and I feel that wholesale changes to attract non-fans would alienate the core fans already watching.
And BTW in cities outside of Florida, TV ratings and ticket sales are still strong.
Most of the decline touted in recent articles are being driven by Miami Tampa and Baltimore.
My suggestions are much less intrusive and do not fundamentally change the structure of the game:
First, call balls and strikes as written in the rules.
One reason for the length of games is the shrunken zone. So pitchers have to walk a fine line nibbling at the edges where the hitters foul off pitch after pitch or take an undeserved walk.
A real strike zone (Nipples to knees, 18 inches across and any part of the ball in the zone counts) force the hitters to swing.
A real strike zone means that the 12 pitch walk is an event not a normal at bat- which means we don't see a parade of relievers every damn game.
Second (and last for this reply), Put some of the billions baseball makes back into youth sports.
Not just in the Dominican Republic and South America, but in American Cities.
Right now Baseball in America is a suburban middle class and up pass time for a couple years of a kids life. That must change.
Invest in fields and leagues that are accessible to kids anywhere of any economic status - This not only increases the available US born talent pool but also builds a knowledgeable YOUNGER fan base.
(Steps off soap box, yells at kids in my yard)
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