The Debate Over MLB's Marathon Season

From Anthony Rendon's Pitch to TV Revenue: Unpacking the Complexity Behind Shortening Baseball's 162-Game Saga

The idea of trimming down the marathon 162-game season is sparking more debate than a controversial call at home plate. Anthony Rendon of the Los Angeles Angels lobbed the first pitch into this conversation with a candid comment on a podcast: "We gotta shorten the season, man." Rendon, bagging a hefty $245 million for playing just 50 games a year, might not be the poster boy for this campaign, but he's not alone in this ballpark.

Baseball veterans, from nine-year MLB pro Trevor May to Yankees' first baseman Anthony Rizzo, have echoed the sentiment. "We play too much baseball," Rizzo declared back in 2018. Maybe it’s just people named Anthony.

The 60-game sprint of the 2020 season threw a spotlight on this, turning every game into a high-stakes showdown. Fans, players, and even Commissioner Rob Manfred have entertained the thought. But why does this seemingly reasonable idea get benched as quickly as it steps up to bat?

Here's the curveball: changing the game schedule is more complex than rearranging the furniture. It's about money, honey. Those 162 games? They're cash cows, milking big bucks from TV deals to foam fingers. Trimming the schedule means everyone's wallet gets a little lighter. Players like the idea of fewer games but balk at the thought of a pay cut. There's talk of making up the difference by expanding the playoffs, but even that's a field of question marks. The bottom line? A shorter season means a seismic shift in the game's landscape.

The chance of MLB shortening the season? About as likely as seeing a unicorn round the bases. Let's face it, baseball, unlike football, doesn't thrive on scarcity. Sure, football's got its charm with fewer games, making each one a can't-miss event, boosting viewership like crazy. But baseball? It's a different beast. Every game might not be an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but they add up to a big, fat payday. More games, more money – that's the simple math MLB loves.

Trimming down the schedule could give us some high-tension, high-stakes baseball that glues fans to their screens. But here's the kicker: it's not just about eyeballs on TVs. It's about cold, hard cash. Less games means less revenue, from ticket sales to those overpriced ballpark beers. So, while a shorter season might spice up the game for us fans, MLB's wallet says "No thanks." And when it comes to big decisions, money talks louder than a crack of the bat. So don't hold your breath for a shorter season. Game 162 is here to stay, and that's the long and short of it.

• Hector Neris signs 1yr, $9M with the Cubs

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