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Why isn't College Baseball popular?

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  • Why isn't College Baseball popular?

    I have always wondered: Why isn't College Baseball popular. Whilest the NCAA Basketball and Football seasons are sometimes covered more heavily by the media then the NBA and NFL themselves, College Baseball gets very little press outside of the College World Series. I think I've come up with a few reasons, tell me if you agree with them:


    1. Much of the Baseball Talent does not go to college. Unlike Football and, until recently (and soon again, but to a lesser degree), Basketball, Major League Baseball has no problems with drafting High Schoolers.

    2. The Minor Leagues. One of the big things about NCAA football and Basketball is that often times a really good College player will end up playing, and probably starting, in the pros within a year or two. Since Baseball players develop different and go through the minors, by the time a good College Player gets to the majors, any "buzz" about him would likely be long gone.

    3. Metal bats. The PING! sound really puts people off.

    4. Only warm-weather schools do good. When was the last time you heard about the mighty Syracuse Orangemen baseball team? Well, that's partially because Syracuse doesn't have a Baseball program. But you get my point. Due to the fact that warm-weather states have climates better for Baseball, where the teams and players can practice the entire year, outdoors, they are often better conditioned, and thus better.



    There might be others too, which one do you think is the biggest reason College Baseball isn't popular nationally like College Hoops or College Football?
    28
    Many of the top prospects are drafted out of HS
    35.71%
    10
    Not many College Baseball players go straight to the Majors
    21.43%
    6
    Metal Bats
    28.57%
    8
    For the most part, only Warm-Weather climate schools do well
    14.29%
    4

  • #2
    The only one of your statements I disagree with is #3. A bat's a bat and the results from each type are very similar.

    I would add to that list the fact that there are so many games (MLB has a similar issue) in a season that fans can't stay focused on baseball. Going with that, college basketball hype ends in mid to late April when baseball has already begun and college football begins with nearly 2 months left in the baseball season so there's a lack of focus at the beginning and end of the season.
    A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation. I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do, play it right and with respect. If this validates anything, it's that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera. - Ryne Sandberg

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    • #3
      and the reason is...gambling is much more suited to football and basketball

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      • #4
        ... Doesn't matter to me! I'll gamble on hoops, pigskin, hardball, hockey, soccer, you name it... if there's a line, I'm buyin'!
        www.bwbl.net

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        • #5
          It probably has something to do with the fact that it's not on TV.
          Lets Go Yankees, Valley Cats, Dutchmen, UT Spartans and ECU Pirates.

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          • #6
            --Chicken or egg? Is college football popular because its on TV or is it on TV because its popular? College football was massively popular long before TV existed, while so far as I know college baseball never has been.

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            • #7
              I've wondered about this too. I'd have to say the major reason is most good prospects out of highschool, go straight to the pro's. I used to say i'd go to college anyway, but if your offered thousands or millions of dollars in signing bonuses to go pro, you're an idiot not too. You can always go back to school with the money you got. I also think some of it may be because they start so early. They start in like Feb and a lot of people are just getting done with the football season. Warmer teams might do better.

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              • #8
                --Most of the really elite talent signs out of high school. As a result of that college ball isn't even as good as minor league ball. Low levels of competition don't draw fans in any sport.

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                • #9
                  Even at colleges, though, baseball is way behind in the populatiry contests. I was a sportswriter as an undergrad, covering a variety of sports, and baseball took a backseat to football, basketball and even gymnastics. I was given more space to write about a two-school gymnastics meet than I was for the entire conference wrap up for baseball.
                  Dave Bill Tom George Mark Bob Ernie Soupy Dick Alex Sparky
                  Joe Gary MCA Emanuel Sonny Dave Earl Stan
                  Jonathan Neil Roger Anthony Ray Thomas Art Don
                  Gates Philip John Warrior Rik Casey Tony Horace
                  Robin Bill Ernie JEDI

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                  • #10
                    I went with the "tink."
                    "I believe in the soul ... the small of a woman's back, the hanging curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter."

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Biggtone23
                      It probably has something to do with the fact that it's not on TV.
                      That's a bit of a stretch. Alot of channels you can get on digital cable (CSTV, Fox Sports channels, I presume ESPNU but I don't have that one) have College Baseball on. And the College World Series is on every year on ESPN.


                      But compared to Football and Basketball, yeah, it's definitely alot less visible.

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                      • #12
                        i'll amend my answer:
                        1) gambling
                        2) mlb has its own deep farm system - football and basketball don't so college becomes the de facto farm system and draws accordingly
                        3) i read somewhere that less than 10% of mlb players have college degrees - hence you are less likely to see future ml players on your college diamond and less likely to follow it

                        baseball requires greater developed skills which requires it to incorporate men at a younger age into its training system

                        for some reason football and basketball are content to add men to its roster without any say in their development

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by E.Banks#14
                          The only one of your statements I disagree with is #3. A bat's a bat and the results from each type are very similar.
                          If that is the case, then why does the NCAA and NFHS both ahve included BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ratio) restrictions to the type of bats permitted in their games? If a NCAA or High Shcool bat does not have a permanent BESR mark on the bat, it won't be allowed in the game. All BESR bats are also restricted to a 2 5/8" width and no more than a -3 length to weight differential.

                          I tend to belive that metal bats are not the same os wooden bats.
                          http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/ex...eline_1961.jpg

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                          • #14
                            It doesnt do well because most of the good teams are in the south.... this and other college sports dont have to compete with the professional ones on a daily basis... MLB plays games every night, so colleges have to compete against that

                            NCAA Football plays on days when the NFL doesnt, which helps in popularity...

                            College Basketball also doesnt have to go up against a full slate of games nightly, not to mention many people dont watch the NBA (me being one) due to the attitudes of the players

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by E.Banks#14
                              The only one of your statements I disagree with is #3. A bat's a bat and the results from each type are very similar.

                              I would add to that list the fact that there are so many games (MLB has a similar issue) in a season that fans can't stay focused on baseball. Going with that, college basketball hype ends in mid to late April when baseball has already begun and college football begins with nearly 2 months left in the baseball season so there's a lack of focus at the beginning and end of the season.
                              This is horribly wrong, metal bats are much MUCH different than wood bats... the ball jumps off the bat quicker, the "sweet spot' is much larger and they are much more dangerous (there have been cases where the ball jumps off the bat so quickly the pitcher cant protect himself from the linedrive and is drilled, sometimes even resulting in death)

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