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Comment by maverick2007 | Hacker News Reader

maverick2007

It's funny you say that it's a negative because I think that's a positive. It's one of my favorite things to do to load up my team's games (Tampa Bay Rays fan here!) on MLB.tv and work on my side project while I watch the games. When the game is going slowly I'll pay more attention on my projects and vice versa.

But the actual game play is my least favorite part about baseball. I absolutely love the theory and statistics that goes into the front office decisions. It's this interesting mix of economics and game theory and negotiation theory. My favorite team is notoriously cash strapped (read: cheap) and I think it's fascinating watching the team wheel and deal to try to compete with teams that literally spend 2x-3x as much as they do

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I want to second this. Baseball is best watched with friends or family as whatever you consider a step above "background noise." It can fill in lulls in the gathering, and when something exciting does happen it's easy to direct everyone's attention back to the game.

Growing up with baseball also plays a large part in deciding if you'll have any interest in it as an adult.

Yep, I think people who say they think it is boring really don't understand what these sports are about.

Two examples are golf and cricket. Both take days so the action clearly isn't important. If you go live, it is about the day out, having some beers with your mates, relaxing (tbf, golf has managed this far better than cricket which has had to move to shorter formats). Watching at home, it is the same thing. Relaxing, having a good time with your mates, whatever.

It is true, nothing is going to compare to seeing an "action sport" live: boxing, a huge soccer game...very little in life compares. But I think there is room for other stuff too: stats, stories, experiences, etc. (tbh, I think action sports are going to struggle against Esports too). I am a big soccer fan but rarely watch games, I just follow the story and the stats (and bet on games). Viewership has gone through the roof because the stories are just so compelling (and yes, the money too nowadays).

I hope that sport doesn't become "all action, all the time" though. Again, nothing compares to action but you can't watch that every day.

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