Reactions to the Class C Proposal

Last week I wrote a story about the proposed new format for the Class C State tournament.  Here are the replies that I have received so far:

From Brent Schloe:

As a 15-year veteran of Minnesota amateur baseball as both a player and manager, I couldn’t disagree more with the proposal that regions with strong attendance numbers should be awarded more teams to the Class C state tournament.  This proposal clearly implies to me that making money at the gate is more important than the quality of competition.  The reality, though is that each region tournament has little or no control over their attendance for various reasons, so rewarding some regions and not others based on attendance is completely unfair.  This proposal also not only diminishes the overall integrity and gamesmanship of the state tournament, but each region tournament as well because it takes away any pride from the teams that actually earned their way to state by winning on the field.  One can only imagine how many teams will try to change leagues and/or regions just to increase their chances of going to state under this new proposal, not to mention all the ways attendance numbers can be easily manipulated, so there are already major flaws in the system before it’s even implemented. There’s no doubt that playing in front of a large crowd is always more fun, but teams care more that they’re actually still playing in August than how many people are watching them.  I also understand there are many expenses in organizing and hosting a state tournament and more fans would help cover these costs, but declining attendance numbers should in no way be the responsibility of the participating teams, and their fans shouldn’t have to feel obligated to attend every game either.  Maybe the problem with attendance lies in the overall planning process of the state tournament and needs to be re-evaluated instead of changing who gets to participate?  Regardless, the state tournament shouldn’t be an entitlement program just because certain regions have strong attendance numbers; it should be the teams from each reagion that played and earned their way in on the baseball field, period. Rather than a reward system based on region attendance, why not consider other options like lowering ticket prices or going back to a full double elimination format?  Lower ticket prices might naturally attract more local fans as well as those already paying high gas prices from farther away.  My personal opinion, though, is to go back to a full 32-team, double elimination format, even if it means more games, starting earlier in August, and/or involving another host site.  This not only ensures that the top two teams from each region are in the tournament, but also gives teams with strong fan support and/or talent the opportunity to play more than just one game if they happen to lose in the first round.  This format is also consistent with most league and region playoff formats and allows for better all around competition, which may lead to better attendance numbers as well.  After the first round now, 16 teams plus their fans likely won’t be coming back to watch any more games, and 8 more teams follow after round two.  However, by guaranteeing all teams a second game, those with strong fan support will come back through the ticket gate a second time at a minimum, which translates to higher attendance overall. The bottom line is that amateur teams play for the love of the game and to have fun, not to make money or make sure attendance quotas are met.  We also compete against each other on the baseball field, not at the ticket gates.  The reality in all of this is that we live in a world of 4G smartphones, internet streaming with live updates, and more players and fans going back to college, playing fall sports, or having other social activities to choose from, so attending amateur baseball games in person isn’t what it used to be, especially in larger cities and towns with other sports teams and programs at all age levels to follow.  Therefore, certain regions will always tend to benefit from this new proposal while others will not, which basically penalizes the latter regions just because their fans don’t make going to a region or state tournament game a top priority.  Changing who participates in the state tournament because of declining attendance and without considering any other factors or options doesn’t seem right or fair to me in any way.  I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in ten state tournaments and each one was a unique and exciting experience.  However, each time our team had to earn our way there by winning on the field.  Under this new proposal, though, teams can back their way into the tournament through their fans without really winning anything.  For the integrity and gamesmanship of amateur baseball, I sincerely hope this proposal is not implemented because it’s an unfair and subjective way to determine a state champion each year. Brent SchloeUltimate Sports Grillers (Class B – Lakewood League) – 1997-2005Saint Joseph Saints (Class C – Lakewood League) – 2006-Present

From Jon Rademacher:

I know there are a lot of out-state teams in the class ‘C’ level and sure if you add more teams of course the attendance will be greater. Isn’t the obvious answer to more attendance to the State Tournament moving the Tournaments closer to where most people live? This year the weather was perfect to attend ball games but nobody wants to drive down to Brownton or Glencoe… Even the players… Nothing against those places because they put on a great event but it’s just the facts… Another way is to spend a little extra money advertising, we need to get people interested. If you make the State Tournament a “Big Deal”, people will treat it as that. The allure of small town ball in beautiful parks during beautiful summer days is enough for us who romanticize about baseball but in the suburbs people are losing touch with what “Town ball” can offer for its quality of play and entertainment value. You will get more people to the State Tournament simply if more people follow their local teams. If I knew the answer to getting people interested I would be happy to share but something needs to be done on a State and local team level to get fans interested in Amateur baseball again.

From Andy Johnson:

The new 48-team Class C State Tournament proposal should be thrown out.  When we start sending extra teams to the State Tournament based on their Region's attendance and not because they were #1 or #2 in their Region, then the integrity of the State Tournament is ruined and it's not as meaningful just to get there.

It's also impossible to have a straight 48-team state tournament (48-24-12-6-3).  You would have to give a bye to the 16 teams and have the remaining 32 play in the initial round.  Assuming there is just 1 round played the 1st weekend, then the 16 teams with a bye now have to wait a whole week.  The current 32-team tournament works.  All 32 teams start the same weekend and all can throw their top pitchers.

If there still is a draft, the #1 and #2 teams from the Regions sending extra teams might have to settle for weaker draftees if the best draftees are on the extra teams that are now advancing.

This seems like a bad idea and it will upset many leagues if it happens.  Keep it at 32 teams.  Andy Johnson, Stewartville-Racine Sharks.