Does Major League Baseball have an entertainment problem? Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom believes the league could be trending in that direction.
Earlier this week, Bloom appeared on a podcast with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tony Massarotti. Among many topics, Mazz asked Bloom if he feels “the entertainment value of the game has taken a hit.”
“My short answer is yes,” Bloom replied. “And to expand on that a little bit, I think really what’s happening is – and you can blame it on analytics or blame it on anything – really it’s just happening because teams are trying to win, and they’re trying to do it the best possible way they can.”
The increase in analytics-driven decision makers in the game over the last decade has led to what some call ‘three outcome baseball.’ Those three outcomes are home runs, strikeouts, and walks, with teams putting less emphasis on hitters putting the ball in play. While seen as a more efficient approach mathematically, this has decreased action moments in games.
Bloom w/ @TonyMassarotti https://t.co/ghu6xDzq3Y pic.twitter.com/6jmMMmDZgP
— Felger & Massarotti (@FelgerAndMazz) May 21, 2021
“They’re worried about winning, and not necessarily worried about aesthetics,” Bloom explained. “I think a lot of what’s happened is just 30 teams competing like crazy against each other trying to win has led to a game that, I think in some ways, has led to a game that is not as exciting, not as action packed as we would want it to be.”
“Teams are going to scratch and claw and look for ways to get better and ways to help their players get better,” he continued. “And players are going to do the same thing.”
For more, you can listen to Tony Massarotti’s full interview with Chaim Bloom below:
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.