Read the debate intro, Sports Geek’s argument that the length of the baseball season is appropriate, and Loyal Homer’s argument that 162 games is too many.
I always find it interesting to discuss potential changes to the game of baseball. Because the game is so steeped in tradition, it can be difficult to imagine an alternative of any kind to the game we see today. Traditionalists, purists, and baseball historians instantly bristle at the idea of deviation from the tried-and-true formula that is the game they cherish. To them, a change to the format of baseball is tantamount to changing the words of the Star Spangled Banner.
On the other hand, tradition should not be upheld for its own sake. For example, hitters did not always wear batting helmets when stepping up to the plate, and as Sports Geek points out, many of the early ballparks did not have a home run fence. A more recent example of a very radical change to the game of baseball was the realignment of the league following the 1993 season, and the addition of the postseason wildcard team.
The important factor in determining whether or not to alter tradition is value. Does the proposed change improve the game of baseball or not? In the context of yesterday’s debate, the question comes down to whether or not baseball is better served by shortening its season. Can Major League Baseball improve its product by condensing their season? In a short, no it cannot.
I am awarding the ‘W’ to Sports Geek, who raised two points which demonstrate the real value of a 162 game schedule, both from a financial and a statistical standpoint.
Financially, it makes sense to play as many games as possible. Simply put – playing more games creates the opportunity to sell more tickets and to televise games, both of which add revenue. If baseball were to shorten its season, ticket prices would have to be raised in order to offset the lost revenue from the fewer games that are played. If the Pittsburgh Pirates thought it was hard to sell tickets now, just imagine if the franchise raised ticket prices by five percent to account for a five percent decrease in the number of games played!
Statistically speaking, Sports Geek is also correct in identifying the need for quantity in order to determine a valid measurement. A hitter may bat 1.000 for his average if he only has one at-bat. While that one at-bat may have been successful, it is in no way a measure of success over the entire season. In order to truly gauge the success of a baseball player, the opportunity must exist for that player to demonstrate consistent success over an extended period of time. In football, for example, a quarterback may throw the ball 500 – 600 times in a season. There are significantly more opportunities within a single game of football for a player to prove their ability for sustained success over an extended period of time. For a hitter in baseball who may step up to the plate only three or four times per game, more games are necessary in order to create that same amount of opportunity to establish statistical relevance.
For Loyal Homer’s part, the issue is raised that the baseball season could extend until November 5th, which would make the length of the 2009 season a full seven months. While that may seem like a long time, it is not that far off from the other professional sports in America. The NFL kicked its 2009 season off on September 10th while the Super Bowl is scheduled for February 7th of 2010. The NFL season is five months long, and it only schedules ten percent of the games played in baseball. The NBA season stretches from October into June, a full eight months in length. When considering the number of games played in baseball compared to the other major sports, requiring only seven months to crown a champion is relatively short.
It should also be noted that competition between the leagues is unavoidable. We are not discussing high school sports, where the seasons are segmented to avoid overlapping. The timing of the NBA and NFL seasons allow for a gap of less than three months between their respective schedules. It is therefore unrealistic to expect Major League Baseball to condense its schedule into a three-month window just so the league can minimize competition with the NBA postseason and the kickoff of the NFL season.
In reality, thanks to the media obsession with the NFL, professional football has actually become a year-round spectacle. This season, the Super Bowl is scheduled for early February, officially concluding the 2009 season. It should be noted, though, that the Scouting Combines for the 2010 season are scheduled to begin only 17 days after the Super Bowl is played. The Combines will last for approximately one week, and are followed immediately by the opening of free agency. Just one month after free agency, the NFL Draft will take place, with team OTAs, mini-camps, and preseason to follow. While other leagues may follow similar calendars, none get the attention that the NFL gets.
Rather than hide from competition, the MLB should be taking measures to win competition in an attempt to attract viewers away from the NBA and NFL. Ultimately, that is what will add value to the game of baseball.
Posted by Bleacher Fan 
