The **OFFICIAL** 2019 MLB Thread

Interesting article published by Nielsen:

AMERICA’S PASTIME LOOKS TO THE FUTURE BY REACHING NEW AUDIENCES
ENTERTAINMENT | 03-26-2019

As the frost clears and flowers begin to bloom, the “boys of summer” are back in business. Major League Baseball (MLB) is celebrating its 150th year and boasts more than 170 million fans in the U.S. and 10 million in Canada, according to Nielsen Sports Sponsorlink. MLB also had the highest average percentage of fans who’ve attended a game in 2018, according to Nielsen Scarborough research.

“One of the things that makes Major League Baseball very special is its accessibility to fans. Twenty-three percent of the U.S. adult population attended at least one game in their home market in 2018, compared to the 12% average across professional ‘stick and ball’ sports,” said Jon Stainer, Managing Director, Nielsen Sports Americas.

The average MLB team fan base is more than 2.5 million people. So it should come as no surprise that the top teams, based on the size of their local fan bases, are from some of the country’s most populated markets, including New York (Yankees and Mets), Los Angeles (Dodgers and Angels), Boston (Red Sox) and Philadelphia (Phillies). However, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland, Houston and Pittsburgh can take pride in having the highest percentages of their local market populations as fans of their respective teams.

MLB is also gaining fans around the world, especially in Mexico and Japan, where the league is returning to host games in 2019. Interest in those countries’ age 16-69 populations is 42% and 24%, respectively, up from 39% and 22% in 2017, according to Nielsen SportsDNA, a global sports fan tracker. Interest in MLB in the U.K. has been steady for the past two years at 8%, and London will host Europe’s first ever MLB games on June 29th and 30th.

“The landmark two-game series at London’s iconic Olympic Stadium signals MLB’s strong intent to grow its brand internationally and create a footprint in the U.K. The limited participation base at a youth and grass-roots level in the U.K. highlights the difference in interest levels compared to Mexico and Japan; however, this summer’s series presents a great opportunity to drive interest in MLB,” said Stainer.

The league and its 30 teams provide a major platform for consumer brands to try to win the loyalty of baseball fans. In 2018, sponsors received a cumulative $2.4 billion in Quality Index (QI) Media Value from the televised game broadcasts. Banking, insurance, automotive and financial services topped all categories based on the value of exposure received.

The biggest shifts in sponsor category QI Media Value year-over-year included increases in exposure from websites, home improvement, beer, household products, insurance, soft drinks, banking and airlines. The sports drink category experienced the biggest year-over-year decrease, dropping 45% of its QI Media Value.

The exposure sponsors receive through MLB games is amplified through social media. According to Nielsen Sports Social24, brands sponsoring MLB teams experienced 3% to 13% of additional media value from their social media content. On television, the most visible sponsorship real estate appears on camera behind home plate as a batter is ready to swing at a pitch, but the outfield actually gets more exposure via social media channels because big plays like home runs and acrobatic catches often make the highlight clips. MLB teams are playing catchup with NBA and NFL teams though. Some NFL teams tracked by Nielsen have driven as high as 75% share of media value. Likewise, in terms of total social media value, NBA team and league sponsors are on course to receive over $510 million.

MLB teams are using their social channels to score extra exposure for sponsors through branded content such as score updates, team quotes, starting line-ups, player stats, behind the scenes videos and player awards. A Nielsen Sports analysis shows teams with the largest number of social media followers are also the most active in posting sponsored content.

All 30 MLB teams will play on opening day (March 28).
 
Astros are not looking good. 2 and 4 now. Granted, it is very early in the season.. Hopefully they can turn it around before it is too late.

Astros are going to be in the thick of it again. Losing Dallas Keuchel is tough, but they'll get the offense going soon enough
 
I hope so. Let's see. yes, losing Keuchel will be tough for the team.
 
Chris Davis now has no hits in his last 51 regular season plate appearances (44 official at bats). If he fails to get a hit in his first three at bats tonight, he will hold the record (MLB Record) for the most consecutive at bats without a hit.

Last year, he set a record for the worst batting average for a player eligible to be considered for the batting title (502 at bats) EVER in MLB history.

This all coming from a silver slugger that twice led the majors in home runs and RBIs and once led the majors in total bases.


:gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah::gah:











:surrender:
 
Astros are doing well. Winning their last 5.Looking good.
 
We're gonna win Twins, we're gonna score!
We're gonna win Twins watch that baseball soar!
Knockout a homerun, shout a hip hooray!
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!

:bigsmile:
 
The Royals and Orioles are just a hot mess again this year. It looks like a race for the #1 pick next year. Things are bleak this year for the Royals but we’ve got some talented pitching on the horizon. Sunny days ahead me thinks.
 
Twins are looking pretty good!

The O's are where I thought they'd be... and it is ugly. Hoping for sunny days. They've got some decent talent that's super young.

I agree @JBrax, we're going to be duking it out for the #1 pick again. Who will end up stinking the most?? I can't believe I'm saying this, but go Emerson Hancock!
 
The Royals would happily take Spencer Torkelson. :T
 
Wow, Jeff @JBrax ... it's BAD in Baltimore. Like WORSE than I had ever imagined. This past weekend vs Boston was brutal. Last night in Oakland... BRUTAL.

:surrender:

I'm starting to wonder if the O's will have 40 wins this year. I'm crushed!

Just got news that Alex Cobb (who has pitched only a handful of games in the last 1.5 years) is officially lost for the season. So much for him being good veteran trade bait at the deadline. Same goes for Mark Trumbo. Probably lost for the year. Zero trade value. Chris Davis? THUD. Injuries keep popping up and he has zero trade value. Andrew Cashner? He's performing, but apparently is saying he'll exercise his no trade clause if the O's try and move him.

I'm left waking up at night in cold sweats.


All that said, this caught my eye:

22708
 
You sound as though you need talked off the ledge. All I can say is stockpiling #1 overall picks annually should payoff at some point right? The fact your tradeable pieces are all hurt or drawing lines in the sand is less than optimal. It’s gotta get better at some point me thinks.
 
I'm not so much on the ledge... more or less shell shocked. It's crazy how the house completely collapsed.

This past father's day, I laid on the couch to watch the Sox vs Os. The O's had it won, but coughed up the tying run in the 9th... and then proceeded to let Boston score 5 runs in the 10th.

Happy Father's Day! :wits:
 
Alright. So, we've established the American League rules. :T

7 in a row
 
Stros look to be the WS favorite right now.

But, all it takes for the Sox or Yanks to get hot, and it’s all for not.

Yesterday’s deadline was awesome. I had MLB TV on... they were going nuts over the Grenke deal.

I love it... one of the reasons MLB baseball is my favorite sport by a long shot
 
Baseball moves are always exciting. :)
 
It's the best. I'd watch MLB year-around if I could. I definitely follow it year-around.

I'm jealous of the 'Stros system. What a blueprint for success.

The Orioles are under the command of a guy named Mike Elias who helped turn the Astros around. He brought the guy that mastered the analytics dept for the Astros (to Baltimore).

My fingers are crossed.

I hope these guys can breathe new life into the Black and Orange. The past two years have been killing me! The 2012-2017 Orioles were so much fun to watch and follow. I want that back in my life!
 
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Yup. I remember watching that!

This O’s fan needs it!


In the meantime, I’ll live vicariously through the power of the Astros. What a fun team to watch balling out. Great - great - roster!
 
Hopefully Astros can go far. :)
 
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