Fanalytics Podcast: The Future of Major League Baseball - Key Players and Troubling Trends
In this episode of the Fanalytics podcast, Mike Lewis from Emory University dives deep into the state of Major League Baseball. Baseball's unique cultural significance, its strategic nature, and the nostalgia it evokes are all discussed, alongside the challenges the sport faces in contemporary American fandom. Mike highlights three key players - Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Paul Skenes - and the Chicago White Sox as critical figures for the 2024 season. Despite remarkable individual performances, MLB struggles with low viewership and media attention compared to other sports, as demonstrated through Google Trends analysis. Additionally, the episode explores the economic dynamics and brand strategies influencing the sport, including the potential move of the White Sox to the suburbs.
00:00 Introduction to the Fanalytics Podcast
00:08 The Cultural Significance of Baseball
02:55 Current State of Major League Baseball
04:28 Key Players to Watch in 2024
04:58 Aaron Judge: The New York Yankee Star
08:20 Shohei Otani: The Japanese Unicorn
10:54 Paul Skenes: The Rising Star
14:25 Analyzing Media Attention and Trends
19:12 The Chicago White Sox: A Case Study in Futility
24:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Google Trends data
click HERE to go the the pod