Going the distance

A few years back, a reality television showed pitted Indian pitchers against each other to see which would get a shot at a major league contract. I don’t remember the details, but two did get a chance to pitch with the Pittsburgh Pirates. One made it for four seasons, with some success, while the other lasted 1+, without much luck. It was mostly a publicity stunt, but well-intentioned in my mind, as it’s great that players from non-traditional baseball countries get a shot.

So you have to wonder if anytime one these guys gets a chance, if it’s for real, or just a favor to a scout and a good-will gesture. Fortunately for Callam Pearce, that isn’t an issue. Because the kid from Glenwood, a suburb of Durban, South Africa, is going to get a real opportunity.

Glenwood boy, Callan Pearce has been selected to play baseball for the Minnesota Twins, a major league American Baseball team.

According to reports I can find, this is a 7-year deal. He’ll live for the states in the spring, after he has finished high school. Fortunately, although he lives on the edge of the Indian Ocean, he won’t be a strange to snow as cold weather, as the Drakensberg range of mountains is just a short ride away.

This is definitely not for show, as no team would give such a long-term contract to a prospect, especially one who hasn’t played in high level competition by his age. This is great news for Callam, great news for South African baseball, and great news for baseball in general. Talented players are always welcome, regardless of the cover on their passport.

When soccer trumps baseball

Some bad news in the world of baseball. And college football. And the NFL. Not that we really care about the other two. But we care about baseball, don’t we. Yeah. It’s the greatest sport, but we always hear about how it’s dying, and no longer relevant. That’s bull, in my opinion. Baseball is alive and well, and has survived many issues that have broken other leagues. 

But to be fair, it is probably not the most watched sport in the world. That would have to be soccer. While baseball is played in most countries nowadays, soccer still remains supreme as the top sport in most of them. Usually because it’s the cheapest to play growing up, and a lack of organized leagues or competitions for many of the other sports.

However, back to the main point, baseball is alive and well, and deep into the playoffs. While college football and the NFL are back, you would think the run to the Series would trump all other sports in television viewership in the states. But it seems it doesn’t. It’s not either of the footballs. At least in some of our major metropolitan areas. It seems soccer reigns supreme in many American cities. According to TV by the Numbers, the FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Mexico and Panama on October 11^th, a Friday, outdrew all other sports in the land, regardless of language:

Regardless of language, UniMás was the highest rated broadcast station during the Mexico vs. Panama match (9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET):
·         Among Persons 2+ in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix
·         Among Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento

But it wasn’t just sports that the soccer match outdrew. Oh no, that wasn’t enough: 

During the Mexico vs. Panama match (9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET), UniMás stations had higher viewership that the ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations combined:
·         Among Persons 2+ in Los Angeles
·         Among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Sacramento
·         Among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento

But they weren’t just picking on those poor unfortunate’s of us who only speak English:

During the Mexico vs. Panama match (9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET), UniMás stations had higher viewership that the Telemundo, Azteca, MundoFox and Estrella stations combined:
·         Among Persons 2+ and Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento
·         Among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento

And to add insult to injury, it wasn’t just Friday night viewing that got waylaid by the quest for Brazil: 

The Mexico vs. Panama match on UniMás stations was the #1 broadcast program of the day in the following markets:
·         Among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento
·         Among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Chicago and Sacramento

·          Among Persons 2+ in Los Angeles, Miami and Houston

There are some more numbers in the article, so please go check it out. Now, obviously, those cities have a high Hispanic population, and none them save Los Angeles had a team in the playoffs. The Dodgers did open the NLCS that night, and are supposed to have a huge following among the Hispanic population, specifically the Mexicans. But I guess they were more interested in what was going on back home then in the city they live in.

Of the cities listed, these are there rankings in size:

Los Angeles – 2^nd

Miami – 9^th

Houston – 10^th

Dallas – 8^th

Chicago – 3^rd

San Francisco – 5^th

Phoenix – 14^th

Sacramento – 24^th

So 8 of the top 24. Just to provide as many numbers as possible, here is the percentage of Hispanics in each city:

Los Angeles – 45%

Miami – 64%

Houston – 37%

Dallas – 28%

Chicago – 22%

San Francisco – 55%

Phoenix – 41%

Sacramento – 27%

I don’t think in any way this means baseball is dying out. It does prove my theory that the Mexican population makes up the majority of Dodgers fans in Los Angeles, but that’s an internal issue to them. Baseball is alive and well, and is far from needing life support.

What I do find interesting, however, is that fact that as the Hispanic population goes up in the country, tracking a similar rise in Hispanic players in MLB from all over the hemisphere, you have to question if the audience size is keeping track with the on-field growth. We keep hearing things about how the rise in Hispanic players needs to bring about a new way of marketing the game, or the way we treat players, as well as adjustments by the existing fan base. But is that what is really happening?

The NBA is a game largely played by black players and attended by white fans. The same has been said of the NFL. I don’t have those numbers, and I don’t care. What they do isn’t important to me; it’s just what I’ve heard most of my life. But is the same true of baseball? Will it become a game played by minorities, but watched by white people? Aren’t the growing crowds of Hispanics supposed to be the new gold mine? But if they aren’t watching, will it matter.

I find it interesting that the Dodgers couldn’t outdraw the Mexican soccer team, but having lived in Los Angeles, I’m not actually surprised. The Mexican population, who makes up a vast majority of the viewership of all the channels, as well as Dodger fans, have always been portrayed as looking back to Mexico over anything that happens in L.A. As to the other cities, maybe it’s the same. Baseball is definitely holding its own. Can we say the same for the expected Hispanic market?

Is the Hispanic viewership of baseball a boom or a bust? Obviously not when soccer is on television.

British Baseball Guide

Baseball is a great game, filled with tradition, and history-laden. As such, it has its own unique language; On top of that, the rules of the game are different than most others. Most ball games are played on a field, court, or rink, with the ball going back and forth to set goals. The only sports that provide a diamond-based field are baseball, softball, rounders, and any baseball-derived sport.

As such, the rules are not as simple as many other sports due to the nature of the game. Most other ball games consist of one team trying to score into a set goal, while the other tries to stop. There are variations, and different rules that cover the penalty and movement of the ball, but most all are tied to those two areas. No other sport has anything near the equivalent of a stolen base. 

Also, for those who are new to the game, and want to follow it at its highest level, it can be hard to know how to follow, with 30 teams to choose from. Plus, in today's world, we don't just want to watch, since it's difficult to find the game outside the states. We want to read about it also.

So what is needed for the fan is something simple. A site that provide an explanation of the game to beginners, a glossary of terms, and links to who shows the game, and those who write about it. Too good to be true, you ask? Not all all. Not with the fantastic site of British Baseball Guide. 

There you can read about the game, learn which team to follow (the Royals or the Cardinals), learn the language of the game, as well as learn where to watch. There are even links to the best of British baseball writers. If you are new to the game, and want to learn more, this is your first stop. Bookmark it now.