Comments on: Why a Bad Economy is OK for the Cape League

By: Wally

Wally — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:52:30 +0000

I agree completely that MLB should contribute more to all summer leagues, especially the Cape. The Cape is a free proving ground for MLB and I am sure that they have saved a lot of money by looking at prospects in the Cape that have not fared as well as expected. As far as the Cape being Economy Proof, I am not sure if anything is completely safe, but the Cape is about as safe as any industry or business in the Country. The economy will not bother the Cape, it will probably add to it based upon the entertainment value provided by the Cape. I cannot think of anything that provides more bang for the buck than the Cape.

By: Wille

Wille — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:11:49 +0000

Dave……I agree

Look at it this way. The CCBL is a place where every attempt is made to attract the best projected college talent to oppose each other. Other than USA snatching up some of the players with red-white-blue and games in Eastern Europe??, the CCBL provides a venue for MLB to observe arguably the best versus the best.

What better way to gauge talent! This has a tremendous value to them and worth more than $100,000……should be per CCBL team.

Naturally, increased support should extend to all the collegiate summer leagues who run not-for-profit also.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:15:30 +0000

I don’t know if it’s “OK” to pay $4.50 for a hot dog or $7.00 for a beer. For me, it’s not OK. I won’t do it. Of course, I can’t go to a game at Fenway Park anymore unless “freebies” somehow come my way. Having said that, a lot of people seem to feel differently. Fenway has been sold out for every game since May, 2003, and with no sign that that streak will be coming to an end anytime soon, a lot of people will be paying those prices at the concession stands.
I don’t know where the astronomical costs to fans will end. Every so often there is talk of a fan boycott in some city. It never seems to materialize; or if it does, it’s a feeble attempt that lasts for one game when a few hundred fans get up and leave in the third inning as a sign of protest.
Maybe my view is skewered by living in the heart of Red Sox Nation where the Red Sox don’t need to do any promotions to fill Fenway. Some people go to a game for the “Fenway experience” as much as to see the Red Sox play. A game at Fenway is almost like another stop along the Freedom Trail. I know it’s different in Pittsburgh or Kansas City.
As for Wille’s other point, I think MLB should be ashamed of themselves. With their minimum salary increasing to $400,000 for 2009, that means MLB’s $100,000 contribution to the Cape League is exactly a quarter of what the 25th man on some rosters will earn. As one example, the Texas Rangers paid Luis Mendoza four times what MLB contributed to the Cape League and Mendoza finished 2008 with a record of 3-8 and an 8.67 ERA. Hmmm… let’s see… one team pays someone 400K to produce that record, but the league can only come up with 100K to help support a summer league that has produced so many major leaguers. Doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:36:29 +0000

Regarding fan donations, the economic downturn could lead to more fans seeking free entertainment and hence more smaller donations and merchandise purchases. I don’t know if I really see that happening, but it’s a possibility.

By: Wille

Wille — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:28:22 +0000

Greg, then its OK to pay $4.50 for a 10 cent hot dog and $7.00 for a watery beer?

Chances are there won’t be many willing fans able to pay that premium anymore.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:37:02 +0000

Depends on whether you are asking a philosophical question. No. Or an economic one. Yes.

If fans are willing to pay high ticket prices and sponsors are willing to pay high fees, do you want to the players to reep those revenues or the front offices?

Worth is in the eye of the beholder, I guess, and fans continue to value that plate appearance pretty highly.

By: Wille

Wille — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:33:14 +0000

Well, as teams in MLB pony up XXX million dollars to certain individual players, you would think they can spare an additional dime more to one of their feeder systems?

Is any one MLB player really worth $41,667 per plate appearance?

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:18:21 +0000

I agree with you, Backstop. It’s a good point. I do work with nonprofits and so I am sensitive to how hard it is to raise money during down times. My post was argue that fans will continue come (and pay), and sponsors should continue to see an investment in their home team as one of the more valuable investments.

I don’t disagree that medium and larger donations will be more challenging.

By: Backstop

Backstop — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:47:47 +0000

Greg, if you worked with an individual franchise (realizing that a team’s lifeblood is fundraising), you’d be more concerned about how this economy affects the Cape League. The league may be ok, but some of the franchises are going to have a tough go of it this year.

By: Wille

Wille — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:19:20 +0000

Capeman………..just random thoughts. Anyway, the majority of college players are not pro prospects. Even with metal bats.

As you know, the CCBL attracts those that are!

About 7500 players from all levels of college baseball get a summer assignment from about a pool of about 50000 eligible players, or about 15%. The Cape share is the top 1/2%.