FC/OT: Went to Nats/Phils game last night - how do families afford baseball games??

[Calabrin]

That doesn’t explain why there used to be tons of guys hitting over .300 and now barely any. But thanks!

There are currently 13 players in the league that are batting .295 or above.

Fifty years ago (1975 season) there were 33 players that finished at .295 or better.

Twenty-five years ago (2000 season) there were 61 players at .295 or better.

Ten years ago, 28 players finished the season @ .295 or better.

And five years ago, 26 players at .295 or better.

There are several factors that could be contributing to lower averages. These include:

1. Different plate approach -- the modern game is emphasizing upper-cut swings in order to elevate the trajectory of batted balls because it has been shown that fly balls lead to increased run production.

2. Modern analytics have shown beyond question that pitchers struggle the more times they go through a batting order, with their OBPA rising significantly during the third time through, and absolutely exploding the 4th time through. Teams have adjusted by sitting starters earlier, and using more relievers. More fresh arms = pitcher advantage.

3. Roster expansion = more relief arms than ever on every team. Again, there are just more fresh arms.

4. New pitching era? We recently came out of a very hitter-friendly era. Pitchers have responded by developing superior pitches, with increased movement and spin-rate on the ball. It's possible that we're simply seeing a paradigm shift, and it's just pitchers' turn to dominate the game. It's no longer uncommon for pitchers to deal in the high-90s.

5. Home runs = money. Fans want to see dingers, and players want to get paid. It's a symbiotic relationship that means everyone has incentive to crank the ball.

If we look again at the 1975 season, of the players with the top-30 batting averages, only 5 had 20+ home runs, and only ONE had 30+ home runs. And that was for a full season!

But when we look at the top players today (and keep in mind, the season still has over a month to go!) we see 17 of the top-30 guys have 20+ homers, 6 of them have 30+, and three of them are already over 40 bombs (one of whom is NOT Aaron Judge-- he's at 38).

By the end of the season, there's going to be 80+ players with 20+ homers, and there's gonna be more than twenty players at 30+.

 

[Jason1743]

As I get older, EVERYTHING is over priced. Nothing more so than sports which have consistently increased in cost at a far greater than regular inflation.
Growing up in NYC in the 60s and 70s I went to a lot of baseball games. Subway was 15 cents each way. We bought general admission tickets for $1.30. By the fourth inning we would move down to unoccupied box seats. No one cared.
I brought a sandwich (or 2 for a double header), paid 25 cents for a scorecard, 5 cents for a pencil to keep score, 25 cents for a soda and (I think) 35 cents for an ice cream or some other concession.
It cost less than $3 bucks to see a game.

 

[lemonears]

We bought tickets for my FIL for Father’s Day since he would be in town en route to Myrtle Beach. Six tix in Section 310 cost about $350 (not too bad), parking in a garage was $51, and my food order with my son was $61 (two burgers, two fries, one coke). Two beers for my wife and I was $35. It was a fairly well attended game with way more Phils fans than Nats fans and to be honest, the ball park and surrounding area is actually well done - feel kind of organic. Extra DEA officers roaming around outside was actually comforting too.

As an aside - don’t follow baseball as much as I used to, but I think the highest batting average I saw on the night was Turner’s .285 - most were well below that. Is pitching that much better these days? Yikes.

Anyway, anyone have an idea of what concessions cost at say PNC Park - comparable?

The players and their union are greedy pigs.

 

[Lion84]

At least the cost of going to a PSU White Out game and staying in State College is way affordable

 

[BobPSU92]

People discussing their money (property tax, etc.) on the interwebs. Stupid dick-measuring contest. For f*ck’s sake.

 

[Calabrin]

The players and their union are greedy pigs.

The owners, you mean.

 

[Alphalion75]

I hope he enjoys the work and does not need the money.

$4k+ a week is some nice coin!

He was able to choose his hours etc. He doesn't need the money....but loves the work. He only works 20 hrs per week.

 

[Alphalion75]

People discussing their money (property tax, etc.) on the interwebs. Stupid dick-measuring contest. For f*ck’s sake.

"Lighten up Francis!"

 

[Moogy]

The players and their union are greedy pigs.

That's not how this works.

 

[Midnighter]

People discussing their money (property tax, etc.) on the interwebs. Stupid dick-measuring contest. For f*ck’s sake.

Just saying I’m house poor….

 

[Moogy]

Thread starter topics: baseball, hitting/pitching, cost of concessions

Topics 3 pages later: property taxes, data centers

Apparently sports viewing costs so much, folks can no longer afford their ADHD medications.

 

[Grant Green]

There are currently 13 players in the league that are batting .295 or above.

Fifty years ago (1975 season) there were 33 players that finished at .295 or better.

Twenty-five years ago (2000 season) there were 61 players at .295 or better.

Ten years ago, 28 players finished the season @ .295 or better.

And five years ago, 26 players at .295 or better.

There are several factors that could be contributing to lower averages. These include:

1. Different plate approach -- the modern game is emphasizing upper-cut swings in order to elevate the trajectory of batted balls because it has been shown that fly balls lead to increased run production.

2. Modern analytics have shown beyond question that pitchers struggle the more times they go through a batting order, with their OBPA rising significantly during the third time through, and absolutely exploding the 4th time through. Teams have adjusted by sitting starters earlier, and using more relievers. More fresh arms = pitcher advantage.

3. Roster expansion = more relief arms than ever on every team. Again, there are just more fresh arms.

4. New pitching era? We recently came out of a very hitter-friendly era. Pitchers have responded by developing superior pitches, with increased movement and spin-rate on the ball. It's possible that we're simply seeing a paradigm shift, and it's just pitchers' turn to dominate the game. It's no longer uncommon for pitchers to deal in the high-90s.

5. Home runs = money. Fans want to see dingers, and players want to get paid. It's a symbiotic relationship that means everyone has incentive to crank the ball.

If we look again at the 1975 season, of the players with the top-30 batting averages, only 5 had 20+ home runs, and only ONE had 30+ home runs. And that was for a full season!

But when we look at the top players today (and keep in mind, the season still has over a month to go!) we see 17 of the top-30 guys have 20+ homers, 6 of them have 30+, and three of them are already over 40 bombs (one of whom is NOT Aaron Judge-- he's at 38).

By the end of the season, there's going to be 80+ players with 20+ homers, and there's gonna be more than twenty players at 30+.

Good post

 

[LionJim]

Thread starter topics: baseball, hitting/pitching, cost of concessions

Topics 3 pages later: property taxes, data centers

Apparently sports viewing costs so much, folks can no longer afford their ADHD medications.

Dang, elegantly crafted.

 

[Bison13]

The players and their union are greedy pigs.

They are but so are the owners

 

[Jason1743]

People discussing their money (property tax, etc.) on the interwebs. Stupid dick-measuring contest. For f*ck’s sake.

I had to switch from a ruler to a yardstick to measure my dick.

 

[Rick76]

Go minor league unless your kids are all about seeing stars.

I played a lot of baseball. Built my game around making good contact and stealing bases galore. MLB is all K’s and HR’s. Not much in between. I think when the Cubs broke their team record with 8 HR’s earlier this season — they scored 11 runs.

As Larry Anderson says in relation to today's game, "Swing as hard as you can in case you hit it."

 

[rudedude]

Found this online. Checkout these prices from the Train Station in my senior year 78-79.

 

[PSU Mike]

Found this online. Checkout these prices from the Train Station in my senior year 78-79.

View attachment 880679

First place I ever had Moussaka, c.1983!

 

[MacNit]

We bought tickets for my FIL for Father’s Day since he would be in town en route to Myrtle Beach. Six tix in Section 310 cost about $350 (not too bad), parking in a garage was $51, and my food order with my son was $61 (two burgers, two fries, one coke). Two beers for my wife and I was $35. It was a fairly well attended game with way more Phils fans than Nats fans and to be honest, the ball park and surrounding area is actually well done - feel kind of organic. Extra DEA officers roaming around outside was actually comforting too.

As an aside - don’t follow baseball as much as I used to, but I think the highest batting average I saw on the night was Turner’s .285 - most were well below that. Is pitching that much better these days? Yikes.

Anyway, anyone have an idea of what concessions cost at say PNC Park - comparable?

PNC much, cheaper. Better ballpark. But team is horrid.