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Modern baseball versus classic baseball
Baseball has changed a lot over the years, whether it be the numerous rule additions that have entered the game or the sheer amount of money that has flooded into the sport at all levels. Whether you spend your time looking for an online sportsbook so you can place bets or prefer to watch highlights, we’re sure you’ve noticed how the sport has changed.
In this article, we’ll be looking at how modern-day baseball is different from how it used to be, explaining the various rule changes that have come along the way.
Divisional Play
Divisional play is one of the biggest differences between current and old-style baseball. Before the changes were made in 1969, there were just two editions in each of the leagues, the American League and the National League – how confusing is that? The winners of these divisions would then meet for a winner takes all World Series clash.
Since then, however, we have seen this format expanded to include more divisions, consisting of the East, West, Central, and Wild Card divisions. The top teams from these divisions now all face one another in the playoffs before we then see the very best battle for the World Series title. It adds a level of competitiveness and makes winning all the more important.
Increased Use of Relievers
Relievers were often under-used, or entirely nonexistent, until recent times, but that has started to change as we see more teams increase how much they field a reliever. In previous years, a pitcher would often play the entire game, not be replaced at any point, and then go on to play the next game to completion too.
This made the sport extremely mentally and physically demanding, and because of this, it’s not uncommon to see a pitcher get taken off so that the game can be played at a much faster pace. This means that a coach can fine-tune their tactics and make use of a variety of skill sets in the same game, using players with unique techniques when required.
The Designated Hitter Rule
This is one of the most controversial rule changes in the history of baseball and has caused a fair amount of uproar since it was first introduced. The sport brought in this rule way back in 1973, and it allows a non-defensive player to bat in place of the pitcher and is intended to increase the offensive output of the team and make the sport more enjoyable.
It was very confusing for fans at the time and still is today for many, but it was designed with a specific purpose in mind. It has been very unpopular with baseball purists as it can ruin a game plan and deviates somewhat from what the sport was first intended to be. It’s a decision that has improved the sport, but in doing so, it lost some of its initial charm.
Increased Use of Technology
Technology is absolutely everywhere in baseball today, and this is also the case in all of the other major sports worldwide. In the NFL, we can see fouls assessed in real-time, while in soccer, the referees can track the ball’s position and see whether it has crossed the goal line. It might be new, but many see it as a welcome addition.
In baseball, we can now see the trajectory of the ball in real-time and assess where the ball was thrown illegally, having a direct impact on the game and giving the spectator all the knowledge they need. Even if it’s not the sport in its purest form, it does improve the quality of the game and removes some of the controversies of a wrong decision being called.
Big Money Contracts
One thing that can divide a fanbase more than anything else, regardless of which sport it is, is how much money is now being given to players and coaches. There are millions and billions of dollars now flooding into the sport we love, and while this is a consequence of how big they’ve become, this does change things to an extent.
We are now seeing baseball players enter the sport with the intention of making money instead of their love for the sport itself, marking a significant deviation from old-style baseball. There’s nothing wrong with being paid for your job and your passion, but the money being thrown about now is insane, especially when you factor in how much they make from sponsorships too.
Huge Stadiums
Stadiums are getting bigger and bigger as fans want to feel closer to their teams and in even greater numbers. What used to be a couple of hundred spectators around a field has evolved into multi-tier stadiums that can fit tens of thousands. This can be seen across the board, too, not just in baseball, but it’s evident when we look at the sport we all love.
Although this means that more people can see the teams they support and teams are able to make more money, which can then be reinvested, these huge stadiums lack the same kind of atmosphere, and they feel somewhat generic. These are the days of less-than-intimate stadiums, and sadly this is something we’ll have to get used to.
Baseball is the only game you can watch on the radio. Join the community today and listen to hundreds of broadcasts from baseball’s golden age.”
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