Lance Broz' latest youtube on MLB's "Development Offloading"

[macarthur31]

 

(Didn't know if this belongs in "General Baseball", but posted here since it's relevant to minor leagues, and given Lance's presence on Marquee, mentally I got him as a Cubs guy)

Given we're in the quiet part of the off season (that is, until Jed lands one of the Big 4.  *cough, cough*), wanted to flag this video posted by Lance Brozdowski that examines the changing landscape of MLB development.  I saw recently that MLB was going to start regulating the use of data/tech across the minor leagues, which seemed curious to me.  Anytime MLB wants to spend on anything, it raises hackles for me.  I also hold a mental model that the Cubs have invested in data/tech in their own infrastructure, and wondered if this undercut any advantages that have been built with this move.  Lance examines the Commissioner's latest comments around further contraction of MiLB, and the implications of shifting the onus of development towards college baseball - which is experiencing it's own chaos and complexity with regards to the implementation of Name, Image and Likeness, and the migration of managing talent like Tony Vitello to the major leagues.  Finally, Lance forecasts a scenario in the next CBA where MLB tries to emulate the NHL with regards to drafting the rights to undergrad players.

It definitely got me thinking around how Jed/Carter are trying to navigate this shifting landscape, and attempts at identifying advantages.  Not that I grew up in a minor league baseball town, and perhaps I'm more of a baseball romanticist than I realized - but I'm sad at the notion of closing more minor league teams.  I intuit there's something positive about ensuring baseball is connected to as many places across the country, as well as the civic/placemaking benefits of sports (when it's not totally subsidizing billion dollar stadia, though).  While change is inevitable, and continuous improvement is a good thing - it just feels like these shifts are more about increasing profits rather than sustaining the game long term.

 

 

 

 

[CubinNY]

I totally agree with the last part. I love minor league baseball. It’s fun, lower cost, and supports a lot of midsize towns. There is excitement going to a SB Cubs game with the stands packed. Or even a Montgomery Biscuits game where you can sit practically anywhere. 
 

it’s bad for the long term interests of MLB to get rid of MiLB.