Would a stoppage actually help MLB?

[Jersey Devil]

I know the last time the players went on strike, fans across the world completely stopped watching MLB. It was boring. They were making too much money. It interupted league play.

Now ARod is making $25 mill per year, and the Expos are spending not even that on their whole roster. There's too much of a difference in the quality of teams in the league. I'd be suprised if the Yankees ever lose a World Series again.

Would fans appreciate the stoppage, or would a stoppage turn them off even more?

Personally, I don't know ... I guess I think it'd help right now, with all the old-time and even new-time fans sick of the World Series coming down to only a handful of teams. If another stoppage would ever be settled, they could come back with a new attitude, better publicity, and a more fan-friendly league. No matter what, something has to be done ...

[lmanchur.]

I don't think it would.

As you said, MLB has really struggled to regain its fan base since the strike.

The NHL league and fan base has not been the same since the lock out in 1994.

I can barely stand to watch an NBA game, and their attendance in arenas has declined as well since that time.

I don't see any possible way how a strike would actually help the MLB. A lock out by the owners might, though -- protesting player salaries that I, and many, many, MANY others, think are outrageous.

[iFroggy]

No, I don't think it would help at all.

[Wedge231]

It wouldn't help but I wolud support it.

[Marc]

I can't see any type of work stoppable possibly improving a league, but I just don't know with the MLB. With the Yankees gearing up to win a fourth straight championship, anything may help. We'll see.

[HyperBaseball]

No. I know many fans who would leave the game permanently, and I'm one of them who would strongly consider it.

[spiders]

It might help by changing some bad rules, but fan wise it won't help at all.

[Marc]

Originally posted by spiders
It might help by changing some bad rules, but fan wise it won't help at all.
Welcome to the SC boards, spiders! I agree with you - and fans are what keep the league alive. Without the fans, the league is as good as dead.

[Peck]

If they lose fans the league also lose profit too which will lead to shutting down the league........

[catman]

A prolonged work stoppage would erode the already fragile fan-base that baseball has worked hard to regain after the last strike. I don't think it would help, although its the only way I see a salary-cap/salary-floor proposal being accepted by the players. I think something like this is much needed and most fans that I've talked to agree.

[PeterDewar]

For baseball itself, I think there needs to be a stoppage but it won't help the fans at all. Baseball is becoming to lopsided and the money is just not spread out enough.

I'm sure the fans would turn there back on baseball again like they did last time there was a strike.

[Wedge231]

Maybe if the same team didn't win every year then more people would watch.... I wonder who I'm talking about.