Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 On a local radio show this morning they asked who was baseball's most popular player. Barry Bonds was unanimous choice. However, he's popular, but he's the most recognizable face in baseball. It got me thinking, what a poor job the MLB done in really pushing new stars. Jeter is liked by alot of fans, but he plays for the Yankees, so that takes away about half his popularity. A guy like David Ortiz, with his personality and talent, should be the type of player MLB gets behind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Miguel Cabrera and Josh Beckett need to be pushed as new stars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I remember they tried to push Dontrelle Willis right after he had his really good start and he pretty much became an average pitcher..and then he got rid of his signature high leg kick delivery so I doubt anyone could pick him out as easily any more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 They will if he keeps pitching the way he has been pitching. Baseball has plenty of new stars in waiting, they just need to push them. Pujols is out there, now that he is with Nike. Khalil Greene, Miguel Cabrera, Prior, Wood, Mark Teixeira. I think they will all be big time stars in the next few years. All already are in their home markets (I saw Khalil Greene merch EVERYWHERE when I was in San Diego last week) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 13, 2005 If Prior stays of off the DL, I'm with you on that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Albert Pujos is arguably the best player in the game, and unlike jackass Barry Bonds. He's someone fans can actually cheer for. I don't place all the direct blame on MLB, the media's obession with Bonds and the negative things like steroids don't help. However, MLB let's the media almost decide what gets covered, and what doesn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Pujols is out there, now that he is with Nike. How can you tell with the wooden mask he's wearing. I've pimped him before, but i'm watching the game right know. Joe Mauer has everything needed to be a real superstar. Johan Santana's dominance, and unlike a Randy Johnson he's much more approachable to the average fan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 ESPN only hypes the Sox or Yankees while everybody else gets ignored. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Styles 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Everybody loves Miguel Tejada: So, it's settled, he gets the trophy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UZI Suicide 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 ICHIRO! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 ESPN only hypes the Sox or Yankees while everybody else gets ignored. They don't even hype the players that much. Cro-Magnon Man Damon is probably the one pushed must postively. Everything about A-Rod, is how apparently how much the Red Sox hate him, and how no one on the Yankees stood by him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I think free agency, injuries, guys being one season flash in the pans and the sheer number of baseball players in the majors and the minors kills a lot of it... plus, the typical marketing campaigns that get NBA and NFL guys over doesn't pander to the usual MLB crowd...what I would like to see is more African Americans in baseball but that sport is not pushed hard enough to black youth, which is unfortunant because baseball really is a fun game, at least for those playing it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UZI Suicide 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Baseball just isn't a sport where you can build stars that easily unless they really do something out of the ordinary (Ripken's streak, Sosa, McGwire and Bonds' HR chases) or if they just dominate right out of the gate(A-Rod and Griffey). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Agreed...there isn't enough action involved in the game to make a casual fan say "Hey, that guy is awesome!" EDIT: oh and Loaded, that avatar makes me sick everytime I see it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Maybe we need guys to act more like Derek Jeter. You know, do a cartwheel, dive, run across the infield, and dive into the crowd on a routine pop-up to short. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I think free agency, injuries, guys being one season flash in the pans and the sheer number of baseball players in the majors and the minors kills a lot of it... plus, the typical marketing campaigns that get NBA and NFL guys over doesn't pander to the usual MLB crowd...what I would like to see is more African Americans in baseball but that sport is not pushed hard enough to black youth, which is unfortunant because baseball really is a fun game, at least for those playing it... How do you sell your sport, against the NFL and NBA? Guys spend 5-6 years in the minors, and that doesn't even guarantee a MLB career? Right know HS school players, not only can go to the NBA, but they can contribute, and put up numbers. Blue Chip, football players can sign with teams like Michigan, Miami, USC and play in front 100,000+, leave in three years and become a first round pick and make impact their rookie season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I truely don't know Vern...I wish they would think of SOMETHING, though, because I do like Baseball and would love to see it be just as popular as the NFL or NBA... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Well, NFL players like Ricky Williams, Quincy Carter, Akili Smith all played minor league baseball, and said they loved playing. They just weren't good enough to make the big leagues. Williams said, he would rather of played baseball than football. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I think baseball already is more popular than the NBA. Baseball is rising, NBA is falling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I agree. I do think the NBA will start to gain more popularity, the play is becoming more up tempo, and LeBron seems like a good player to build the league around in the upcoming years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UZI Suicide 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Honestly, I think Baseball needs more white superstars. As racist as it may sound, I think the majority of baseball fans are white and if guys like Teixeria, Prior, etc. fulfill their potential than Baseball will really gain some major popularity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I would buy anything Vlad or Ichiro sold me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 Well there won't be any white stars on the Cubs, because they ahve to be kept out of the sun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 plus, the typical marketing campaigns that get NBA and NFL guys over doesn't pander to the usual MLB crowd...what I would like to see is more African Americans in baseball but that sport is not pushed hard enough to black english speaking youth, which is unfortunant because baseball really is a fun game, at least for those playing it... The black youth that play baseball speak spanish not ebonics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I also said "African American" in that exact sentence, should I have been redundant and typed it twice? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 African American is a stupid liberal term used by the media to make them feel PC, just say black. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I also said "African American" in that exact sentence, should I have been redundant and typed it twice? American African Americans, or African American Americans? Maybe African African Americans... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 okay or better yet "black americans that speak English", because, as you have also pointed out, there are plenty of "blacks" in baseball... maybe there aren't enough "english speaking Americans" period in baseball, regardless of color and it's hard for casual fans to relate to all the spanish speaking athletes? I dunno, I'm just throwing out random thoughts...kinda like how Soccer never catches on here... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 I like the story about how CBS News made them call black Jamaicans "African-Americans." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted April 13, 2005 And that's not even getting into the conflicts between blacks whose families have been here for awhile and relatively recent African immigrants Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
