Just as a side note, this year the World Series was the number 5 lowest rated on TV. The two teams were not well represented by fan following was the reason given. That's pretty hard to believe considering New York's huge market and the Met's very large following. I think overall, baseball fan participation is sinking lower each year due to the greed by the owners and players. It really is no longer a sport and hasn't been for many years. It is strictly a business now, which is why we see so many Caribbean players in the game compared to just 25 years ago.Up and until about 10 years ago, I was a huge baseball fan and still to this day umpire college baseball along with professional baseball during spring training. At the college level many kids are trying to impress the scouts that come to the games to watch and perhaps sign a player. What they are after is the gold ring, or I should say a lucrative contract with a nice signing bonus. The college kids play their hearts out. I still remember a game that I umpired back in the early 80's between Ohio State and Illinois, which was a Big Ten game conference game. The pitcher for Illinois was going to be signed after the game by the Cardinals. I was behind the plate and the game was for the most part, routine. In the 3rd or 4th inning the pitcher for Illinois, who had been throwing pretty hard in the low 90's, made a pitch and immediately let out a scream that was followed by a loud crack that sounded like a ball hitting a bat. The kid immediately went to the ground in serious pain. No one immediately knew what had happened. It was discovered while he laid there on the ground that he had broken his back. Gone was was the contract and the signing bonus. I found out later after the game and while in the umpire's locker room that the kid was going to have a presentation with his coach and the scout signing the contract and accepting a $1.5 million signing bonus. All gone in an instant!
If you really still love the game, go watch high school or college baseball. Most of those player still play the game for what it is; a game.