Why so many games?

Pixel Eater

I'm not really a baseball fan but one thing I can't comprehend is why is there so many games a season. I know it may not be the most physically demanding sport but 162 still seems an awful lot.

Is there any reason there is so many?

brilliantboy

Because it's not a sport it's a way of life

Plus there's actually about 180-190 if you count spring training exhibition games

jack presley

As with most things it comes down to money. More games = more tickets and more concession sales = more revenue.

There used to be 154 games but as Part of one of the labour deals that got the players more money, they had to agree to more games.

I like it though. It means you can't get away with having just 1or 2 good pitchers. You need a good rotation and you have to manage your roster a lot closer. It also makes trips to the states to watch baseball easier, 5 games in 5 days as opposed to only seeing 1or 2 having travelled so far

namloc1980

jack presley wrote: »

As with most things it comes down to money. More games = more tickets and more concession sales = more revenue.

It's not all about money. Baseball has always had a lot of games per season. 100 years ago in 1912 there were 152 games a season. This was long before TV rights, massive player contracts, merchandise sales etc. Many players in the early years had to take up winter jobs in the close season.

Now the extended playoffs, especially since the 1990's, are most certainly down to money but the regular season has always been long and is more down to tradition and the nature of the sport.

jack presley

namloc1980 wrote: »

It's not all about money. Baseball has always had a lot of games per season. 100 years ago in 1912 there were 152 games a season. This was long before TV rights, massive player contracts, merchandise sales etc. Many players in the early years had to take up winter jobs in the close season.

Now the extended playoffs, especially since the 1990's, are most certainly down to money but the regular season has always been long and is more down to tradition and the nature of the sport.

Maybe you're right but I was speaking from the perspective of the owners. Even back in the old days, more games meant more tickets sold.

namloc1980

jack presley wrote: »

Maybe you're right but I was speaking from the perspective of the owners. Even back in the old days, more games meant more tickets sold.

Of course, but even in the amateur days in the 19th century there was an awful lot of games played. Money is a factor but it's not the only one.

Ewo

Revenue stream

Crucial Youth

Also consider the value for money in regards buying the MLB.tv package.

rockonollie

baseball is a game of averages and statistics.....most of the statistics would become irrelevant if there wasn't at least 100 games in the season.

Fr Tod Umptious

Crucial Youth wrote: »

Also consider the value for money in regards buying the MLB.tv package.

On that point anyone know what price they will be for 2012, no info about it on mlb.tv

At the moment there looks to be 46 Red Sox games starting before 12am Irish time, so It would be good to see what the price per watch-able game might be.

jack presley

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Crucial Youth wrote: »

Also consider the value for money in regards buying the MLB.tv package.

On that point anyone know what price they will be for 2012, no info about it on mlb.tv

At the moment there looks to be 46 Red Sox games starting before 12am Irish time, so It would be good to see what the price per watch-able game might be.

I can't see it being too much more than the $90 (standard) or $110 (premium) that it was last season. Great value IMO. I wouldn't do without it now

Fr Tod Umptious

jack presley wrote: »

I can't see it being too much more than the $90 (standard) or $110 (premium) that it was last season. Great value IMO. I wouldn't do without it now

Yea it's great value

That is approx e1.50c per watch-able game or 50c per game if you watched all 162

rockonollie

do you know that there's teams other than the red sox that play games..........

jack presley

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

jack presley wrote: »

I can't see it being too much more than the $90 (standard) or $110 (premium) that it was last season. Great value IMO. I wouldn't do without it now

Yea it's great value

That is approx e1.50c per watch-able game or 50c per game if you watched all 162

Don't forget post season games are included too which will bring the average price down. But that won't affect you as a Red Sox fan ha ha! (says the Mets fan)

And you can watch other teams games as well. 2430 games in total

Fr Tod Umptious

rockonollie wrote: »

do you know that there's teams other than the red sox that play games..........

yes I am well aware of it but it's hard to get time to sit down and watch anything with a young family and a full time job

So I will use the Red Sox games I can get to catch some portion of, to base my price per game analysis on.

Anyway tis dirt cheap.

Fr Tod Umptious

jack presley wrote: »

Don't forget post season games are included too which will bring the average price down. But that won't affect you as a Red Sox fan ha ha! (says the Mets fan)

And you can watch other teams games as well. 2430 games in total

Yea the post season is handy too but apart from a few early round games the rest are on a terrible hours for us here in Ireland

jack presley

Prices for 2012 are $110 for standard and $125 for premium. If you but the premium you also get the 'At Bat' app for free which is cool as it was an extra €10 or so last season.

And if you continue your subscription on from last year and let it auto renew, you get it for $120.

9 days to pitchers and catchers reporting!