Rank your city's sports teams by popularity

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

I dunno, I haven't been there in over 15 years, but in my experiences at Dodger Stadium, I never met a more passionate, engaged fanbase, and I absolutely hate the Dodgers.

That was definitely written by a Giants fan

Dodger Stadium is a timeless classic with the most incredible atmosphere in MLB. No gimmicky arena baseball here.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by pj3000

No one wants to watch ~95% of MLB pitchers swing a bat.

Yeah, I'm happy with the rule change.

What's the fun of watching an automatic out, where most of the time the pitcher is just trying to not get hurt? Also the pitcher rule causes even more delays via endless relief pitchers/pinch hitters bc no one wants a wasted at-bat late in game.

[dave8721]

The only rule change baseball needs is just to institute an "illegal defense" rule. Require 2 players on each side of the infield, removing the shifts that have made singles so much harder. No singles, means no stolen bases and everyone trying hit homeruns with every at bat. If you cant hit it through a defense, they try to hit it over it. So now its all home runs, walks or strike outs, mostly strike outs.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by badrunner

That was definitely written by a Giants fan

Dodger Stadium is a timeless classic with the most incredible atmosphere in MLB. No gimmicky arena baseball here.

Maybe during innings 4 through 7? If we're talking about the full 9 innings, then no.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by pj3000

It's not about what it costs to play for one's school or for a local club team.

My cousin's kid didn't even play for his high school team, because he was good enough to play for one of the elite developmental teams starting when he was 14... and that is associated with paying the big bucks.

I'm aware of that. There was one kid I knew of at our school who was willing to repeat his junior year in order to be eligible to attend some elite hockey program in CT (probably costing his parents small fortune...they also had to move) but he never made to the pros. Spending the big bucks for a 14 y/o to play hockey is wealthy people flexing wealth but it doesn't guarantee talent. It's like buying your 6th grade kid a $5,000 Selmer Super Action 80 saxophone with expensive private lessens thinking that will make them the next John Coltrane. Meanwhile the kid who lived in a dumpy house on my bus route had a long career with the pros...and started playing semi-professionally while still in school.

[rusted root]

Originally Posted by dave8721

The only rule change baseball needs is just to institute an "illegal defense" rule. Require 2 players on each side of the infield, removing the shifts that have made singles so much harder. No singles, means no stolen bases and everyone trying hit homeruns with every at bat. If you cant hit it through a defense, they try to hit it over it. So now its all home runs, walks or strike outs, mostly strike outs.

Nah, the shift is fine. I like those goofy moments when a team puts five guys between 1st and 2nd base. Wacky shit like that is what makes baseball fun.

What MLB should do is use an automatic strike zone and make it just a wee bit smaller than what umps are calling now. Also go back to the pre-2015 ball.

[RowanGrad]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Interesting. My sense is that Philly leans MLB but the Sixers are very close, and will probably overtake them soon. For LA, I think the Lakers have long surpassed the Dodgers, especially after the Showtime and Kobe/Shaq/Phil eras.

I'm from/in the Philly metro and your sense is correct. My instinct would even say the Sixers have already surpassed the Phillies, but that could be personal bias/the crowds I hang with.

To put some data on it, the Sixers have been top 3 in NBA attendance for the past 5 years except for last year, when crowds were limited due to COVID.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by JManc

I'm aware of that. There was one kid I knew of at our school who was willing to repeat his junior year in order to be eligible to attend some elite hockey program in CT (probably costing his parents small fortune...they also had to move) but he never made to the pros. Spending the big bucks for a 14 y/o to play hockey is wealthy people flexing wealth but it doesn't guarantee talent. It's like buying your 6th grade kid a $5,000 Selmer Super Action 80 saxophone with expensive private lessens thinking that will make them the next John Coltrane. Meanwhile the kid who lived in a dumpy house on my bus route had a long career with the pros...and started playing semi-professionally while still in school.

The crazy thing with my cousin paying big $ for his son's hockey "career" is that he isn't wealthy. They spent a ridiculous amount of their income on hockey in one form or another. And his son was really good, like pro-level good... he was well on his way to at the very least, playing big time D-I college hockey on a full ride. And then he quit...

[Labtec]

Originally Posted by badrunner

That was definitely written by a Giants fan

Dodger Stadium is a timeless classic with the most incredible atmosphere in MLB. No gimmicky arena baseball here.

I've never been to a game at Dodger Stadium but just watching the NLCS on TV, the Braves fans seemed to be a lot louder.

[JHikka]

Timely for this thread:




https://twitter.com/jaimeor96/status/1494334627082760196/photo/1

[Steely Dan]

^ the NFL age gap is very interesting, but equally interesting to me is that all 5 leagues are lower among the 16 -25's. Is that normal?

That's kinda hard for me to wrap my head around, but then again, I'm a gen-x Chicagoan, and when I was that age, Micheal Jordan was a little too GIGANTIC not to get swept up in.

Also, as discussed in the city ancestry thread, I'm generations deep in Chicago on both sides, and I never "became" a fan of Chicago sports teams, I was simply born into it. For other kids without such roots, maybe they really can take it or leave it?

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ the NFL age gap is very interesting, but equally interesting to me is that all 5 leagues are lower among the 16 -25's. Is that normal?

I wonder if the rise of Esports has something to do with it.

[DCReid]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ the NFL age gap is very interesting, but equally interesting to me is that all 5 leagues are lower among the 16 -25's. Is that normal?

That's kinda hard for me to wrap my head around, but then again, I'm a gen-x Chicagoan, and when I was that age, Micheal Jordan was a little too GIGANTIC not to get swept up in.

Also, as discussed in the city ancestry thread, I'm generations deep in Chicago on both sides, and I never "became" a fan of Chicago sports teams, I was simply born into it. For other kids without such roots, maybe they really can take it or leave it?

Guessing some/many in 16-25 age category are following Esports and perhaps UFL/mixed martial arts. Then, many may not be following any sport at all with all of the social media, internet, digital and mobile entertainment diversions.

[Steely Dan]

^ good call on the Esports, guys.

As a 46 year old geezer, that shit is 100% nowhere remotely close to being my radar screen, and I can't imagine it ever will.

But I guess it's becoming a big deal?

[suburbanite]

Covid probably massively accelerated the decline in youth sports and the shift to Esports. Youth football had already taken a tremendous hit from the revelations around concussions and CTE. It will be interesting to see how that progresses to college football in the coming years as the amount of high school talent to draw from is diminished.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ good call on the eSports, guys.

As a 46 year old geezer, that shit is 100% nowhere remotely close to being my radar screen, and I can't imagine it ever will.

But I guess it's becoming a big deal?

Yeah it's definitely becoming a thing. It's hitting the collegiate level and professional level too. Even professional athletes and organizations are getting into Esports. I know some athletes like to stream on Twitch or whatever when they're playing Call of Duty or some other game, and they can generate big views. I know the NBA had that 2K tournament for players during the pandemic. I've never gotten into it myself since I prefer to actually play the sport in real life vs Madden, 2K, MLB the Show, etc. But I imagine this is something that kids are getting into and may prefer over real sports.

Interestingly, like real sports, there are struggles with the issue of PEDs, with players taking ADHD drugs to help boost concentration and reaction times. Or others taking beta blockers to decrease heart rate and remain calm under pressure.

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by Labtec

I've never been to a game at Dodger Stadium but just watching the NLCS on TV, the Braves fans seemed to be a lot louder.

Maybe they'll be able to sell out their home games this year

[rusted root]

Dodger Stadium is definitely a classic ballpark. It's just in a HORRIBLE location, especially compared to the ballparks in SF and SD.

[L41A]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Anyone else sad the DH is coming to the NL now?

Yes!
I prefer the NL over the the AL with the DH.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by badrunner

That was definitely written by a Giants fan

Dodger Stadium is a timeless classic with the most incredible atmosphere in MLB. No gimmicky arena baseball here.

It’s gotten a little more “gimmicky” with the addition of a kiddy play area(s) but that’s pretty much it.

I do have some negative criticisms about our fan base:

1) Fucking beach balls. I will never understand. Especially during the playoffs.
2) Doing the wave when the home team is on defense. Especially during the playoffs.

Both are embarrassing as hell. Beating up other fans isn’t representative of the fan base, and the amount of people already in their seats by first pitch probably exceeds most other teams’ total game attendance.