Monday, February 1, 2016
Weekly Post #4: Baseball in Cuba (due Feb 7)
An interesting read on Baseball in Cuba. Is this the way things are headed here in the US? How might this impact a game that is drawing more and more players from Spanish speaking countries? Could this cause a shift in the ethnic/racial make-up of MLB? Or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill, and MLB will just find and cultivate talent elsewhere? What are your thoughts?
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The thing that stood out to me most was that soccer is seen to Cubans as a link to the rest of the world. I think this is definitely related to the US and Cuba restoring diplomatic ties, which probably discerned the “old” and isolated Cuba from the “new” cosmopolitan Cuba. This new era might be seen by young Cubans as a chance to restore cultural connection with the increasingly soccer-infatuated world. In the US, I have observed a decrease in the popularity of playing baseball among youth compared to its historically unchallenged popularity, as well as increasing hype about soccer, neither of which has weakened a love of baseball in my opinion. Almost everyone I know, despite what other sports they play or follow, is a fan of some baseball team and loves the sport. It is so ingrained in our culture and national identity, so I think it would take a very long time for this zeal to diminish and why I don’t think the US is headed in the same direction as Cuba. However, I think the world as a whole is captivated more by soccer, and for countries that do not have as strong of a tie to a particular sport like the US with baseball, soccer is very accessible. Because of this, I think that the MLB ethnic/racial make-up will definitely shift at some point. As Cuban focus turns to soccer, more children will be raised as soccer players rather than baseball players. However, as baseball is an ever changing sport, I have no doubt that the MLB will find and cultivate talent elsewhere though we might not have as many Puigs, Cespedes’, or Abreus in the near future.
ReplyDeleteBaseball is loosing out to soccer in countries like Cuba due to its accessibility for developing neighborhoods. It is because of this same reason that I don't think soccer will replace baseball in America, as the US have facilities and infrastructure to maintain Baseballs stature. Baseball is also a more distant platform for success then soccer in Cuba, as professional Baseball is almost solely an American thing, so Cuban kids are not raised with a MLB ballpark in their city. In my own personal experience, American youth sports includes playing an excessive combination of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, tennis, etc. With success in a larger scheme of things becoming more competitive and defined, we are taught to narrow our endeavors down and specialize, specialize, specialize. So we chose. I choose soccer over others because it was what I enjoyed the most. To contrast this with previous generations, my dad played baseball from childhood into college, and when asked why, he told me: "I never specifically choose it over other sports. There was a little Basketball in my area, but it was essentially Baseball everyday until it was too dark to see the ball. None of us [him and his friends] had ever seen a soccer ball". Today I think there is a pretty even spread of sports by popularity in the US. Sure, different regions have more heavily populated sports than others, but It evens out across the country to create a pretty diverse mix. To conclude, I believe that Cuba is fazing out baseball for soccer more directly and purposefully due to soccer's accessibility, whereas the US's drop in Baseball participants is due to a more institutionalized change in how we structure our Youth's experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think that the biggest reason soccer is becoming bigger than baseball in Cuba is due to the fact that kids have soccer idols that they can see on TV and look up to. It was surprising to me that the Cuban government only shows one taped baseball game a week in Cuba, whereas European soccer games are broadcast often. Also the fact that the Cuban government refused to show defected players until recently probably contributed to this process as well. Kids like to emulate the people they look up to, and right now it is easier for Cuban kids to idolize the soccer stars of Europe rather than the Cuban baseball stars in the MLB. Also, I believe soccer is a more inclusive sport that is much simpler than baseball and takes less skill to participate in and have fun. That might be another reason why more and more Cuban kids are being drawn to soccer.
ReplyDeleteIt does not surprise me that fewer and fewer people are interested in playing baseball in Cuba. This article stated that soccer’s “ubiquity in public spaces... is giving way to soccer”. This reminds me of why sports like basketball and football are on the rise in America, especially in poorer communities: starting up an informal pickup game of football, basketball or soccer is much easier and cheaper than playing baseball. They don’t necessarily require as formal of a court or field like baseball does, and each entails far less equipment. In poor neighborhoods, kids aren’t off playing golf or tennis after school; they head to their local park to shoot basketball or kick around a soccer ball. Additionally, there is less money in professional baseball than in other sports like pro basketball and football. This has been the source of speculation as to why African Americans is the smallest minority in the MLB. As Cubans aspire to achieve the “American dream”, perhaps they wonder if they will make more money playing soccer.
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ReplyDeleteThis article was not startling to me at all. Even within our own country, baseball seems to be losing its nation-wide appeal for younger generations. Today, it seems that many Americans would deem football to be our country's national sport rather than baseball. The sheer number of Americans tuning into the Super Bowl (around 115 million) versus the number of Americans watching the World Series each year (around 15 million) shows the lack of interest many Americans have in baseball. This same shift in attention is occurring in Cuba, as the article stated. Instead of football taking over baseball in Cuba, soccer is becoming the most popular sport. I think that in the future years, as the younger generations in Cuba start shifting their passions and pursuits towards soccer, the MLB will suffer greatly from this lack in potential players. The younger generation of Cubans no longer are striving to embody historically "American" ideals but now are finding that soccer can offer more for them. I was shocked at the fact that the Cuban government only shows one baseball game a week on national television, but plays many European soccer games on air each week. I think that the exposure that the younger generation of Cubans are getting to baseball is dropping significantly, so soccer, which is played on TV much more often, is becoming more and more important in the eyes of this youngsters.
ReplyDeleteBaseball being a distinctly American sport provided Americans with a sense of community and something to unite around; however, it has also been a factor in its decline throughout the rest of the world. For Cuba, a country that does not have the strongest relationship with the United States, promoting a largely American pastime becomes less and less attractive. As the article stated, "Before the recent thaw in relations with the US., games involving so-called defectors were never shown". Cuban youth are no longer able to see the extent to which baseball can not only be fun, but also a way to better their life. With soccer being televised everyday in a country with no internet suddenly, childhood heroes are not baseball players but soccer players. There will still be Cuban born baseball stars in the MLB even if soccer becomes more popular amongst a younger generation. In America baseball constantly loses many of the countries best athletes to basketball and football, but still attracts a massive number of players. I think this instance will transfer to Cuba as well. Although more children may be playing soccer it does not mean Cuba will not continue to produce great baseball players. Baseball has the unique ability to spark a life long passion in many people and regardless of other sports that passion will continue to thrive everywhere baseball is played.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this is the way the US is headed to the same extent. What I mean is that soccer is becoming more popular in our country, but its not overtaking baseball as quickly as in Cuba. Many Cuban baseball players weirdly enough believe in the American Dream and that is why they practice so hard to make the MLB. The embargo makes it harder for Cubans to achieve success in the MLB so I think that it has led to lost hope in terms of baseball players. Soccer is a game not tied to an embargo country of Cuba, so people don't have the same feelings towards it. This may impact the game of baseball a little bit but in terms of talent, teams will find more talent elsewhere. I think that more and more MLB teams will look for players in Japan and other Asian countries. Thus, preventing talent drain if Cubans keep quitting. It might make the MLB more Asian.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are several factors that contribute to the dying popularity of baseball in the US and Cuba, I believe that the game of baseball is simply less entertaining for millennials than past generation. Youths around the world are likely becoming soccer and basketball fans because of the excitement that it brings. The very argument that Spalding uses to justify baseball's superiority over cricket can be used against baseball in the 21st century. I personally find baseball extremely boring to watch, and although I played it for many years growing up, baseball always just felt like a game of skill rather than athleticism. In an age when young people have access to the internet, and therefore constant entertainment, games that require prolonged attention spans are unsurprisingly dying out.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the decreasing popularity of baseball in Cuba can be fairly equated to baseball's decreasing popularity in the US. After reading this article, it appears that soccer is simply more accessible to the Cuban youth. The lack of baseball equipment and televised idols for young Cubans is likely the cause of its decreasing popularity. In the US baseball has lost out to other sports such as football and basketball, which have a faster pace and can be more exciting. Ultimately, I do not think that baseball will vanish from either Cuba or the US, while it may decrease in popularity it will still be the national sport of both countries simply because of the history surrounding the sport.
ReplyDeleteThis article was not surprising. It makes sense and is natural for younger generations to be less interested in baseball for many reasons. Baseball games can be fun, however, they can also be incredibly slow with minimal fast-paced moments. Soccer on the other hand is more accessible to all kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds while at the same time connecting them to the rest of the world. With this decline of interest in baseball, the MLB with probably lose ethnic diversity. Looking ahead in the future, if more and more kids become interested in soccer in South American countries, it is inevitable that baseball will fade fast. Although the MLB could try to draw from other parts of the world, there would still be a giant gap in the number of people who want to play baseball from different countries. I think that this change is completely natural and will eventually be accepted specifically by Cuban communities who hold baseball on a high pedestal now.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the strictly American nature of baseball, it comes with no surprise that Cuban youth is moving away from baseball and towards soccer. As the article mentioned, soccer connect Cubans with the rest of the world, whereas baseball only connects Cuba with the United States; the rough relationship of the US and Cuba only added to the slow separation from baseball. Therefore, for many Cubans, soccer provides a prospective outside of just their own island. The pace and resources necessary to play baseball are also working against its popularity. The younger generation is exposed to greater stimulation than past generations and therefore, the slow paced game of baseball does not keep their attention. In addition, baseball requires a baseball diamond and lots of equipment which can all be very expensive and inaccessible for many families. Soccer is accessible to all children for the only necessity is one soccer ball. I believe baseball will die out in Cuba as the new generation will allow seek a fast paced sport with universal accessibility and maximal participation.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article I believe that the downfall in interest of baseball in Cuba will not influence the MLB because like Ian said, there are facilities that will keep MLB relevant. Similar to what the article said, I believe that there is a lack of interest in baseball mainly because Cubans are not exposed to the game. Instead, they are overwhelmed with images of soccer stars that create a different passion among the younger people of Cuba. There is a possibility that there will be a shift in ethnicities on MLB but it is something that is bound to happen. I think that there has already been a racial shift in the game of baseball. Last year, Chris Rock talked about blacks in baseball and talks about how there has been a decline in interest amongst the black community. Similar to what Cuba is experiencing now. I believe that a small racial shift is not bad for baseball and is always bound to happen for any sport. Baseball will not be affected in the US and we should not worry about it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough soccer is definitely on the rise in America, I still think that baseball will remain as one of the nation’s largest sports for the foreseeable future. Baseball is America’s game, and I do not believe that Americans are going to bail on one of the nation’s original sports. It has too much history. There are a good amount of Cubans in the MLB today, and given the growing popularity of soccer and the diminishing interest in baseball in Cuba, it would make sense that the amount of Cuban players in the MLB will shrink in the future. This could also affect neighboring countries such as the Dominican Republic. In that case, I do believe that the amount of foreign baseball players in the MLB will shrink in the coming years. Baseball requires equipment which requires money. However, the cost of playing soccer is much less and the sport is much more available to kids. While baseball requires a lot more players, soccer can be played with as little as two people. It is much more convenient and simple to play soccer as opposed to baseball.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed to me that the problem with baseball in Cuba was its accessibility. They think of soccer as a game that can be played anywhere and is played out on the street with no equipment other than a ball. However, baseball takes much more time and effort than that. But most importantly it takes a lot of resources. Maybe soon, the people who play baseball will be based on the people who have enough money to keep playing, not based on color or country. This could be one reason why baseball is losing popularity to soccer in Cuba. Also, since it is hard to watch the Cuban MLB players from Cuba, there is a loss of a tangible goal for Cuban kids who play baseball. They do not get to see their idols play very much and therefore are less likely to have the hope to make it to the MLB someday.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that baseball will experience the same rapid downfall in America that it has in Cuba. Although there are certain factors that are universal to the sport that will therefore affect its popularity equally in both countries, it seems that Cuba alone faces the additional issues of poor accessibility and lack of exposure. As mentioned in the article, baseball requires a greater financial commitment than soccer, and in a country in which much of the population is ridden with poverty, this commitment can be substantial. In addition, the article states that only one baseball game is nationally televised per week, while soccer games are broadcasted daily. In the US, these issues are non-existent. However, the greater and more universal underlying cause for the decrease in popularity in both countries is simply the slower pace of the game. Simply put, in a world where people have access to endless entertainment, a slower sport that requires a greater amount of patience is bound lose participants to faster-paced sports such as soccer, basketball, and football. Although both countries are having similar experiences regarding the popularity of baseball, the reasons for this decrease are different. Although baseball has universally experienced a downfall, the cases in Cuba and America cannot be compared equally.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to my classmates, I do not believe baseball is losing popularity as dramatically in the U.S. than in Cuba. In the U.S. many young athletes are attracted to one of the three “main” sports; baseball, basketball, or football, but in Cuba it’s either baseball or soccer. The number of people and equipment that is required to play baseball is causing many young Cubans to play soccer because of its accessibility. Also the government in Cuba is not representing the game of baseball in Cuba, which is causing even more young people to turn towards soccer. I think this decline in popularity of baseball in Cuba will spread throughout Latin America because of the difficult accessibility of the game. With a lessening popularity in baseball, and rise in popularity of soccer, I think major league teams will have to turn towards the U.S. and Asia to scout players. If this trend continues and spreads throughout Latin America, I can see the presence of Latin American players decrease, and the presence of Asian players increase. I think the main reason that baseball is losing popularity in Cuba is because of accessibility. It takes 9 players to form a team, and 18 to play a game. Soccer on the other hand, can be played with a significant less amount of people. Baseball requires a bat, a glove, and a proper field, while soccer solely requires a ball. With all these differences, it is easy to see why many young Cubans are turning away from baseball and towards soccer. In order to keep baseball the “national pastime” of Cuba, I believe the government must do a better job of representing baseball by airing more than just one game per week and making equipment more accessible to the youth. If baseball continues to fall in Cuba, MLB could be deprived of future superstars like; Puig, Cespedes and Chapman.
ReplyDeleteI thought the decline of baseball in Cuba was interesting because the thawing of relations between the U.S and Cuba should have created a renaissance of baseball on the island. Soccer is quickly becoming popular because of the accessibility that it offers. Using just a ball kids can play while imitating their favorite players. Real baseball gear can be pricey, and without it being properly made it will break down quickly. However, even with all this, I do not believe that this will have a significant impact on the talent make up of the MLB. The number of players from Cuba in the MLB make up such a minute percentage of the island's population. In regards to the U.S., I do not think that the U.S. is going this way. Baseball games far outweigh soccer games on television, and pro baseball teams are not only closer to the majority of people but also provide the best competition in the world. Pro soccer teams cannot offer this. While the shift away from baseball in Cuba and elsewhere could be concerning, I do not think it is enough of a change to make a real impact on the MLB.
ReplyDeleteI see that there are a few reasons for the rise of soccer and decline of baseball in Cuba. Firstly, soccer is one of the simplest sports, needing only a ball and two 'goals', thus it can be easily played almost anywhere. Along side with its accessibility, soccer is the most internationally popular sport, played and televised in every corner of the globe. With such a strong media impact on children in the modern era, it is easy to see how soccer has been able to seep into the new generations of Cubans as the hot sport to play. The article talks of soccer being a generational trend, now will this happen in the United States? I don't think so. Most Americans are brought up to believe that football and baseball are the best and most uniquely American sports, and since their parents are fond of them, they grow up liking them as well. American culture and nationalism is quite strong, and always indifferent towards what Europe has to offer. I can see baseball declining, but I cannot imagine soccer taking over and having the same presence and character that the MLB once did. There is little threat posed to American baseball by soccer; because you cannot compare apples to oranges.
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