Entering Sunday, MLB was on pace for 6,823 homers, more than 700 above the record set in '17GETTY IMAGES
Baseball HOFer Goose Gossage said he "can't watch" MLB games anymore due to the current state of play, as "a lot of the strategy of the game, the beauty of the game, it's all gone," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Former manager Lou Piniella said, "They’re making the ballparks smaller, the balls tighter, and all we’re seeing is home runs." Pete Rose added, "It’s home run derby every night, and if that’s what they want, that’s what they’re going to get." Nightengale notes league-wide attendance is "down about 800,000 compared with the same point last year." It is "not just the bad teams, either." The first-place Yankees are "on pace to see about 160,000 fewer fans walk through the gates compared to last year." Entering Sunday, the league was "on pace for 6,823 homers, more than 700 above the record set" in '17 (USA TODAY, 8/20).
LETS THE KIDS PLAY: In Pittsburgh, Nubyjas Wilborn writes if MLB "wants to keep growing its game into the future, then it must continue efforts like Sunday's Little League Classic." MLB has "done a lot of work toward increasing youth participation in America." Sunday's Cubs-Pirates game in Williamsport and "more events like it will help continue to make baseball relevant" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/20).
