A former San Diego Padres star has had enough of all the negativity that’s surrounding MLB – all the “baseball is dead” and “canceled baseball” narratives. There is no denying that MLBverse has the strong backlash echoing loud and clear. Because even though baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, it is truly navigating a rough stretch. Plenty of fans have moved on, and in fact, the growth percentage of MLB is way less than that of the NFL or NBA. So things are not great. But some still believe in the game. So what’s going wrong?

Broadcasting has been an issue for years now. Diamond Sports Group announced last year it would stop airing games for 11 MLB teams in 2025. Several, like the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, and more, were left in scrambles. MLB had to take over, ensuring that fans were simply not left in the dark. The regional sports network model is falling apart, and till now, a long-term solution is not visible in near sight. But of course, amid all the boos and misery, one voice is holding steadfast.

Cameron Maybin said, “If you’re one of those people that complain and whine about the state of baseball do us real baseball lovers a favor and just stop watching. Stop making us miserable with all your complaints. Just cut the damn TV off already!” Now there is no denying with the global outreach, the sponsorships, and more that MLB is gaining popularity. However, there are some glaring issues too and since Maybin is talking about TV, it reminds everyone that broadcasting is right now the biggest headache in the sport.

And then there is the money gap between teams. It’s pretty evident when you compare teams as huge as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins. While the Dodgers have a payroll sitting over $331 million in 2024, teams like the Marlins are at less than $70 million. There is a huge difference; one can even call it a disparity at this point. It’s not hard to see why the Dodgers were labeled the “evil empire of baseball” now, is it? Fans of other teams are simply threatened.

Dodgers with their fancy sponsorships from Japan, given their international talents as big as Ohtani, to their huge revenue streams from TV deals, they seem to have it all. Then there is also the fact that now there is an uproar about owners wanting a salary cap. Bob Nightengale, in fact, recently posted, “One owner believes they have 75% of the votes needed to call for a lockout if the current system isn’t changed after the 2026 season.” So baseball is at a messy point. But Maybin’s comments are coming right after the New York Yankees home run fiasco, which brought a lot of controversy to the MLB side.

MLB’s latest blunder hits a new low

The latest mistake that put MLB in a bad light didn’t happen so long ago. So, the Tampa Bay Rays are playing their home games in the Yankees’ spring training ground. This is because their Tropicana Field was damaged due to Hurricane Milton. So, you’d expect that MLB would ensure everything would be in top shape for a major league game to happen in the minor league stadium, right? Well, wrong! Turns out the foul poles were too short.

MLB only knew about the mess, because Aaron Judge hit a ball that flew to the greens but still ruled out. The replay showed then it wasn’t even close. The issue was the foul poles were not to the MLB standards. Now this isn’t a last-minute decision; MLB knew for months that the Rays would need a new home. But even as basic as properly measuring the four poles, they let it slide. Which was kind of mind-boggling to many!

Luckily the missed call didn’t affect the New York Yankee outcome. The Yankees were already 3-0 when Judge’s foul happened, and they finally won 4-0. The real problem is also the fact that when the Yankees pointed to the problem, the foul was not called off. So attention to detail is something missing. While Aaron Boone legitimately had to be ejected from the game because he burst like a volcano on the ump, Judge took it with class.

Nevertheless, MLB sure has supporters still, but with MLB continuing to trip over, it remains to see what will happen in the future.