DTFC LINX

08/13/1999

Is Mark McGwire or any baseball player for that matter capable of being baseballs answer to Michael Jordan, or Wayne Gretzky?

Jordan and Gretzky were both great players that changed how their respective sports were played. McGwire while a great player isn't the kind of total player either of them were, he hasn't changed the way the game is played. Yet he has fascinated baseball fans and non-fans alike with his power displays. He is himself a draw like Jordan and Gretsky were.

There are players that are more comparable to Jordan and Gretzky, such as Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones, and Ken Griffey Jr. But they don't draw the fans the way a Jordan and Gretzky did, or McGwire does.

Should Major League Baseball market its stars like the NBA did Jordan and Gretzky? Some would say yes, and that baseball is only shorting itself by not doing so. However, if MLB starts marketing its stars the way other sports do, it will in fact be limiting itself to the ability of those players. The NBA and NHL have both had problems finding themselves after the retirements of Jordan and Gretzky.

Yes, Major League Baseball should market its stars, but not to the extent that the players become bigger than the game. It is a delicate balance that baseball needs to find. Baseball is doing pretty well competing with other sports right now, without truly marketing itself at all. But just imagine the interest it could create with a little creative marketing. The "chicks dig the long ball" ads are a great marketing angle, they take the homerun chase which already drew a lot of casual fans back to baseball, and poke a little fun at it.  It is a shame that baseball relies on companies like Nike to market itself.

Baseball needs to market awe one feels when walking into Tiger Stadium, or Fenway. Baseball needs to market its history as much as it needs to market its current players. Teach fans that there is more to it than just this years world series, there is a historic mystique that just sits there untapped that could be such a rich source of marketing.

In short Baseball needs to get a clue.

The first manager of the year finally bit the dust when the Brewers fired Phil Garner.  Sal Bando the GM then asked to be reassigned within the organization.  At least he realized changes were needed and wasn't afraid to make the necessary changes, including in effect firing himself.  The speculation is Paul Molitor and Robin Yount will be offered the positions.

Who is next?  The Tigers and Angels both are rumoured to be considering some shuffling in the front office and manager positions.  

John Smoltz is at it again.  In his last start he reinvented himself as a pitcher yet again.  Instead of throwing his slider he threw a three-quarters curve.  While he did not get the win and gave up 11 hits against the Houston Astros, the best news is he had no discomfort in his pitching elbow after the start, a rare change for him over the last few years.  Said Smoltz of his new pitch, "I just started fooling around warming up, getting loose before I got my arm up to the angle to see if (any elbow pain) was okay.  Then I started asking questions to Maddux and Glavine and Jim about how to hold the pitches to get the ball to sink. I'm a creative person and it was a challenge to me."

There is speculation that Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is willing to buy the Seattle Mariners, but that the current ownership would have to approach him.  In recent years his fortune has grown to nearly 30 billion dollars.  If he were to buy the team it would help the M's ability to keep both Griffey and A-rod as there wouldn't be all the infighting that currently exists among the 17 principle owners.  

--O-fer

© 1999 K. Hollingshead 1999