SI

Baseball's State of the Union: Some ways to improve the game

But what happens as this young generation of discriminating viewers ages, the viewers occupied by football who don't watch the World Series unless their

Tom Verducci

Baseball's State of the Union: Some ways to improve the game
Baseball's State of the Union: Some ways to improve the game /
One important change could be allowing young stars like Bryce Harper to show genuine enthusiasm without fear of retribution.
One important change could be allowing young stars like Bryce Harper to show genuine enthusiasm without fear of retribution :: Alex Brandon/AP
Baseball's connection to its individual communities remains a strong selling point for the game.
Baseball's connection to its individual communities remains a strong selling point for the game / SI

But what happens as this young generation of discriminating viewers ages, the viewers occupied by football who don't watch the World Series unless their favorite team is playing or unless there is a Game 7? Will they turn to baseball as they age and their lives slow down? Or does the lack of an emotional connection to baseball in their youth keep them forever apart from the sport? No one can be sure of that answer, not in these unprecedented times when culture changes so quickly and when entertainment choices grow so abundant. In such uncertain times, the greatest risk to take may be not taking one at all.

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Tom Verducci
TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.

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