Jacob Turner’s Post

Q: How has baseball’s big rules change affected the game? Major League Baseball's implementation of the pitch clock was the biggest change to the sport in decades, and it made games a half-hour shorter. We spoke to WSJ sports reporter Jared Diamond about how the update changed the game—and how it didn't. A: “Before Major League Baseball intervened before the 2023 season, America’s pastime was in crisis. Games had become bloated, boring affairs. Television ratings and attendance were plummeting. The audience was aging to unsustainable levels. Then came the pitch clock, and it was like baseball was born anew. Forcing players to stop spending so much time standing around and scratching themselves shaved around 30 minutes off the average contest, bringing a pace and momentum to the proceedings not seen in decades. It was an immediate and unequivocal success. But the question now is whether it was enough to solve all of baseball’s problems. Two years into the Pitch Clock Era, it’s clear that many of the underlying factors still remain—namely, the balance between pitching and hitting has swung far toward pitching to a concerning degree. Strikeouts are soaring. Batting averages are sinking. It’s just easier to overlook it because MLB pushed the fast forward button. Maybe that is enough.”

Non-baseball fans often cite the gap of time between seeing a player drafted to his debut as a reason why they do not follow the sport. On Saturday, one of the most hyped pitching prospects in baseball history made his MLB debut. Paul Skenes has been grouped with Mark Prior and Stephen Strasburg as a generational arm ready to attack the baseball world. He did this after 12 games in the Minors. He did so a year removed from playing college baseball. He's not the only one rising through the Minors at this pace. See the photo below as Wyatt Langford and Nolan Schanuel have been fast-tracked to the show. Historically it has been years before we see the debuts, but now some prospects are making their debut quickly. Will this attract more fans to the game? Does this help the passive fan become die-hard? Will this drive more attention to the MLB Draft? What is your reason around this topic for your love/hate towards the sport? Others have mentioned the lack of attention on high school or college baseball. More to come on that topic.

Do you know what the MLB Futures Game is? The Futures Game takes place on Saturday, July 13th at 4:00pm Eastern as MLB kicks off All-Star Weekend! The Futures Game started in 1999 as a showcase for the games top prospects! Many people know about the AAA level of Minor League Baseball; but more frequently players are now being called up from AA; and there are even top prospects playing at levels below that! The Futures game highlights these players who are widely believed to be close to adding huge value to their MLB clubs in the near future; and potentially become faces of the game itself! The game is a great way to get a sneak peek at the next stars of Major League Baseball; with the likes of Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Gerrit Cole, Clayton Kershaw, Ronald Acuna Jr and more; all having played in the Futures game. Take a look at the roster for the NL Futures Game prospects; do you recognize any of the names? Now is a great time to start getting familiar with them, because a lot of these players are about to make their MLB debuts and become the stars of tomorrow. Who stands out to you? Any player that particularly excites you or that you have questions about? Let us know in the comments and we can do a deep dive into the player!

If it feels like Major League Baseball is "so hot right now", it's because it is (tonight's 52 degree temperature at Yankee Stadium nonwithstanding). Baseball has a superstar problem - there's simply not enough of them to go around. This typically translates to apathy and sluggish viewership, but 2024 MLB Playoff viewership is up ~20% YoY and trending even higher as we head towards the World Series. There's a perfect storm of colliding factors to thank for this spike in viewership. The few superstars in the league that exist (Ohtani, Judge, Betts, Soto) are mostly still in contention. The four teams left all have huge fanbases and three of them are in major markets. There's a "Subway Series" brewing, the first since 2000. The brands are doing their to add fuel to the fire as well. Everyone's favorite McDonald's mascot Grimace was seen riding NYC's 7 Trail to a playoff game this month. Apparel collabs from New York or Nowhere, Siegelman Stable, Wanderer, Just Don and more have caught the eye of even the most passive baseball fan. Baseball is firmly in The Conversation right now and it's looking like it will only get hotter through the World Series. These opportunities don't happen everyday but when they do, the brands who can pounce on it can win big. (This post was written by a passive baseball fan living in Los Angeles in a New York or Nowhere x Yankees cap)

One of the big-picture stories happening in pro-sports at the moment is Major League Baseball (MLB) adding to its official stats record the numbers from the Negro Major Leagues of Baseball (sic) -a product of segregation during the rise of baseball as a professional sport-. And one of the greater findings is the vindication of some of the finest athletes the game has ever seen. The Athletic's article on Satchel Paige's no-hitter numbers is a tip of the iceberg of how challenging this process is, but how vital of a move it has become. This extract paints a pretty good picture of what they're up against: "According to MLB’s announcement on Wednesday, its researchers have unearthed data on only about 75 percent of Negro League games from 1920-48. By that, they mean they’re working with limited box scores, almost no complete play-by-play data and even less thorough newspaper accounts of these games." If there's a story worth getting into for stats fans, this one should definitely be up their list. https://lnkd.in/eyuQwpwB

Opening Day in baseball marks the beginning of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season and is eagerly anticipated by fans across the United States and around the world. It's a day filled with excitement, tradition, and a sense of renewal as teams take to the field for the first time of the season. Here's what makes Opening Day in baseball special: Tradition: Opening Day is steeped in tradition, with many teams holding special ceremonies and festivities to kick off the season. This often includes pre-game introductions of players, the national anthem, ceremonial first pitches, and sometimes even flyovers or fireworks. Sense of Optimism: Opening Day represents a fresh start for every team and its fans. Regardless of how the previous season ended, Opening Day is filled with hope and optimism as fans look forward to what the new season might bring. Sold-Out Stadiums: Opening Day games often draw large crowds, with stadiums packed to capacity as fans come out to support their teams and experience the excitement of the first game of the season. Rivalries: Some Opening Day matchups feature longstanding rivalries between teams, adding an extra layer of excitement and intensity to the game. Historic Moments: Opening Day has been the stage for many memorable moments in baseball history, from dramatic walk-off wins to record-breaking performances. Fans eagerly anticipate the possibility of witnessing history being made on Opening Day. Celebrations Across the Country: While every team's Opening Day is special, there's a sense of unity among baseball fans as they come together to celebrate the start of the season, whether they're attending a game, watching on TV, or listening on the radio. Overall, Opening Day in baseball is a time-honored tradition that marks the beginning of a new season filled with excitement, anticipation, and the promise of unforgettable moments on the diamond. #mistychuskarealtor #openingday #baseball #happyopeningday Misty Chuska Realtor, CRS The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage 615-509-0941 cell 615-301-1650 office [email protected] Agent ID 336143 #1 RE/MAX Team in the U.S.

How To Watch the MLB NLDS Padres vs. Dodgers Game 4: How to stream, who’s playing and more

Since 2019, Major League Baseball (MLB) teams have used an average of four additional pitchers each season to handle the demands of a full schedule. From 2013 to 2018, teams averaged 25.8 pitchers per season; from 2019 to 2024, that number rose to 30.3, excluding the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. This increase highlights the decline in traditional starting pitchers, more frequent injuries requiring added pitchers, and a strategic shift favoring bullpen reliance as starting pitcher depth has waned. In 2024, the Marlins used a remarkable 41 different pitchers—up from 30 in 2023—possibly setting an MLB record. Since 2019, most MLB teams have seen a noticeable rise in pitcher count, with teams like the Rays, Red Sox, Giants, Orioles, Cubs, and Marlins experiencing significant changes. Conversely, teams such as the Nationals, Tigers, and Padres are trending back toward traditional norms. Looking ahead, I hope to see organizations rebuild pitching staffs with durable, reliable players, creating household names instead of a revolving door of high-velocity, often-injured pitchers who don’t stay long enough to sustain value. #startingpitching #mlb

This week Prep Baseball showcased 45 of the best players in the country. Many will be future first-round picks and MLB stars. Here are 5 takeaways every player should read: - 1) Outlier Tools Win In Little League, you hear a lot about becoming a complete player. Look, I get it we all want to (and should) improve our weaknesses but in today's game teams want outlier tools. You need to know what makes you elite and never lose that. - 2) Competing vs Showcasing In today's amateur environment, it is easy to become a "showcase guy". Big velocities, jaw-dropping BP rounds, and smooth pre-game defense stand out. Yet to me, the guy who competes at another level between the lines stands out. - 3) It Only Gets Harder The truth is the guys that played in this game have big-league talent. Yet when I look at the All-American Games I played in, more than 50% of my teammates never played one day in the Show. You can't lose sight of the ultimate goal, the Big Leagues. - 4) Do You The players that stand out to me are uniquely them. They might have a funky delivery or a weird pre-pitch routine. Yet their uniqueness is what makes them great, never lose that. - 5) Humble Swagger The single biggest separator in sports is confidence. You have to believe in you more than anyone else does. Yet the best players find a way to balance that confidence with the humbleness that they don't have it all figured out (and never will). - I was reminded at this event that the future of baseball is brighter than ever. It is easy to see the guys' talent on the field but what stood out to me was their desire to improve. Something tells me this game will produce many future household names.