Submitted by Mathew, Aug 10, 2007 13:22

Yes, baseball is a sport of tradition. Yes, regulation can be overdone. However, you seem to forget that baseball is, in fact, a sport. And sports are primarily played for the benefit of the fans. Your article is one that seems to come from a strictly business standpoint.

Take your example with the Mets and D-Rays. To say that no one would be harmed is indicative of your lack of understanding. The fans would be harmed. The D-Rays have a small but devout following. They are there because they love baseball and love to support their team. They are happy to see them play and even happier to see them win. It's bad enough that the team plays in a lousy city. Why then should they be subjected to the willy-nilly dealings of the owners? So the owners can save a buck?

The fans that have come back to the sport after the strike problems of the late-80's and early-90's deserver better. We watch the game out of love. We pay exorbitant ticket and concession prices so we can see the teams we love.

It's bad enough that teams are allowed to throw as much money around in order to build untouchable squads preventing small market-teams from being able to support the big names. The last thing this sport needs is less regulation which would force the small markets out of the league.

This is Major League Baseball, not Wall Street. Your rnotions of running it like Wall Street need to be left out of the debate.

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