Comments for LWIB: Recruiting Baseball Talent Globally, an Update on Minor League Attendance at http://bizofbaseball.com , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://bizofbaseball.com Wed, 22 May 2013 00:14:18 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3491:lwib-recruiting-baseball-talent-globally-an-update-on-minor-league-attendance&catid=67:pete-toms&Itemid=155#comment-1164 Great comments, Pete. Well put. Too bad the person asking you to comment never would address comments regarding her own work. Maury, I know you ran a couple of articles by Diane G. before, but for heaven sake, don't consider doing so again. I like making this regular stop. - Tom Swift Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:30:12 +0100 http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3491:lwib-recruiting-baseball-talent-globally-an-update-on-minor-league-attendance&catid=67:pete-toms&Itemid=155#comment-1163 Diane, thanks for reading. I am somewhat puzzled by MLB's long term plans for recruiting players. On one hand, they are obviously dissatisfied with the present structure of the Rule 4 draft, the evidence being commissioner Selig's ineffective attempts at enforcing slotting (09 bonuses were practically the same as 08 despite the 10% reduction "encouraged" by MLB). At the same time, more and more players are recruited from outside the US because of the inflationary impact of the draft. I would bet that MLB will successfully bargain for mandatory slotting in the next CBA, offering present union members something in return for curbing bonuses for future draftees. The seeds of discontent are already being sown, some high profile veterans have publicly criticized the dollars being awarded new draftees. Crudely put, the present union members will sell out the future members for their own benefit. Paradoxically, MLB sees the expansion of the Rule 4 draft internationally (in reality, all about the Dominican Republic) as a means of curbing rapidly escalating signing bonuses for international amateur free agents. The considerable media campaign mounted by MLB to discredit the "buscone" system in the DR (boys exploited financially and harmed physically by rampant steroid use) is really about controlling signing bonuses and not the boys. MLB has been aware of how the "buscone" system operates for many years but it gets their attention when their employees get caught at customs with tens of thousands dollars in cash on them when returning from the DR. The mandatory slotting will also apply to players from the DR. What will the long term impacts be? I don't think positive. The "buscone" system is very efficient at developing players and I suspect the draft will be the beginning of the end of it. As for Japan, I think the Tazawa signing has not been given the attention it is due. I foresee more, and more importantly younger, players coming from Japan. I think the lure of $$$ will be too much for the Japanese clubs and the players to ignore. As for your criticisms of MLB turning their backs to "inner city" boys, I think there is a lot of merit to them. I give MLB credit for operating the Urban Youth Academies (although they are sometimes political tools, MLB threatened to cancel plans for the Miami UYA if a new Marlins ballpark wasn't constructed) but the clubs remain opposed to scouting these communities. I agree with you that there is a lot of raw (lacking advanced baseball skills) physical talent in these communities that clubs could develop. I do think you understate (or ignore) a few of the factors often attributed to the decline of African Americans in MLB. The relatively long apprenticeship necessary to reach the "big leagues" in MLB is a disincentive to young, elite African American athletes who see (correctly) a quicker financial payoff via a career in the NFL or the NBA. Plain and simple, baseball isn't as popular with "inner city" boys as is basketball and football. (see my post about MLB's treatment of the Negro Leagues and in particular about how the demise of them was the beginning of African Americans "disassociation" from baseball) Lastly, because college baseball is not a money maker for schools there are relatively few scholarships available. Kids from "inner cities" aren't likely to be part of these college baseball programs without a scholarship. With a greater percentage of American players drafted from college ranks this is increasingly important. In short, I don't see an end to the trend of more players recruited from outside the US. Clubs will recruit wherever the "muscle" (to borrow from William Rhoden) can be acquired most cheaply and that is not domestically. I think the introduction of the draft to the DR will have the same negative impact as it has in Puerto Rico and in turn clubs will go further abroad (Asia) to recruit. Lastly, a question for you Diane. The decline in the numbers of African Americans playing in MLB has long been a popular subject amongst the baseball "chattering classes", most of us non African Americans (I'm Canadian). Should we non African Americans care? Put another way, is it any of our business? Cheers. - Pete Toms Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:12:58 +0100 http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3491:lwib-recruiting-baseball-talent-globally-an-update-on-minor-league-attendance&catid=67:pete-toms&Itemid=155#comment-1162 Your report is very thorough in that you have quoted from numerous sources, including myself. But what is your[i][/i] conclusion? Diane M. Grassi - Diane M. Grassi Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:13:02 +0100