Don't Blow This, Baseball

"A thrilling World Series, set to resume tonight with Game 6 in Toronto, will bring to a conclusion another blockbuster Major League Baseball season. The Blue Jays are one victory away from their first title in 32 years but must win against the game's best team and best player. A couple weeks ago, the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani a delivered arguably the single greatest individual performance in the 122 years of the World Series era by hitting three home runs and pitching six shutout innings."

"The rule changes implemented three years ago have all worked-most notably the pitch clock, which has cut the average game length down from 3 hours and 10 minutes in 2021 to 2 hours and 38 minutes this past year. Fans have responded to the quicker pace of play; attendance has surged, growing for the third straight year to an all-time high of 71.4 million. TV ratings are up again (more than 32 million people globally watched Game 1 of the World Series)."

"But there is danger on the horizon: Those who are in charge of the game could be on the verge of delivering it a blow from which it may not soon, if ever, fully recover. The league's collective-bargaining agreement runs out after next season, and nearly everyone in or around the game is bracing for a work stoppage."

Baseball is experiencing a resurgence highlighted by a thrilling World Series and historic individual performances. The Blue Jays stand one victory from their first title in 32 years while Shohei Ohtani produced landmark achievements, including three home runs while pitching six shutout innings and reaching base nine times in a game. Rule changes, especially the pitch clock, reduced average game length from 3:10 to 2:38, spurring higher attendance that reached 71.4 million and improved TV ratings and revenues. Younger fans and multiple breakout stars have broadened the audience. A looming expiration of the collective-bargaining agreement raises the risk of a damaging work stoppage.

Read at The Atlantic