Baseball vs. Soccer

[KevanGuy]

So I'm watching Prime Time Sports tonight and they devote an entire half an hour to Beckham, the MLS and 'soccer' in general. The consensus was (and one guest even said this) that if they had to chose between a soccer game and a baseball game they would choose baseball. All the while soccer was labeled as too boring and not worth watching for the entire 90 minutes.

What I would like to know is if anyone here thinks baseball is less boring than soccer? And if so, why?

I am a soccer fan and watch on average of probably 4 or 5 matches a week. I played baseball growing up and have tried to watch it on TV but find it INCREDIBLY boring. I remember trying to watch the World Series a couple years ago (I think it was the Red Sox victory year? I don't know) and couldn't believe how long it took in between pitches. Easily minutes. Not only that but when a ball was hit there would be action for what....10 seconds?

I mean, I can understand people (or I guess North Americans) not 'getting' soccer. But at least you have constant passes, plays and set pieces being made. In baseball...players stand around...commentators discuss the batters lack of RBIs in the past 2 weeks...oh, a fly ball. And some players could probably be classified as being obese. Yet it seems to get a free pass by the NA talking heads.

I guess my bias has shown too much in my post. I was trying to solicit some barely partial responses. But the question still stands...is baseball less boring then soccer?

[Table 5]

My whole life i was told that baseball had to be seen live to be fully appreciated...the atmosphere, the smells and sounds, etc. So because of this, I had never bashed it too much even though internally i felt it was a very bland sport played by overweight men who couldnt cut it in a real game. Last week, I finally went to a Yankees-Twins matchup at Yankee Stadium for my first ever MLB game. And I have to say, I was bored out of my fricking mind the entire game....and apparently it was a good one too.

I have seen way more fun and action in the under 20 world cup then i will ever see at any baseball game. the sad fact is that a lot of north americans WANT to remain ignorant about the sport, and not even give it a chance. Too bad, its an amazing display of skill and ability.

[Dion]

Given the choice i'd choose baseball in a heartbeat. I saw the Twins win the World Series in 91 and thought the atmosphere inside the Metrodome was electric. I've always enjoyed the game better watching it live in person.

I love the drama and strategies that come with the game. I can also understand KG's points on the game of baseball. When I first started watching the game I found it incredibly boring as pitchers took forever to make that pitch or managers calling time to talk with the pitcher or to make a pitching change. It was only when I studied up on the strategies and intracies of the game did it make more sense. Instead of being bored I analyze the moves made by the manager or revel in the drama when the pictcher has a 3-2 count with the bases loaded.

I'm sure it's no different with soccer when one understands the strategies and intracies of the game. For me I like to see lots of scoring and frankly soccer doesn't supply that aspect of the game for me.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

The consensus was (and one guest even said this) that if they had to chose between a soccer game and a baseball game they would choose baseball. All the while soccer was labeled as too boring and not worth watching for the entire 90 minutes.

I was actually talking to a few of my friends about this today. I'm baffled at how the majority of Americans, or at least the portion that gets to voice their opinion, think the beautiful game is boring yet they love baseball and American football. The latter does have a fair bit of action but it's fairly stop-and-go, and baseball is just plain old boring. What I hate about baseball is how the players only play a little more than half of the game, and when they are "playing" most of them are just standing there doing little more than their counterparts in the dugout. Aside from the pitchers, I think the concession attendants are the hardest workers at a baseball park on game night.

Originally Posted by Table 5

My whole life i was told that baseball had to be seen live to be fully appreciated...the atmosphere, the smells and sounds, etc.

The same could be said about footy. The first match I saw was at the quietest grounds in the EPL at the time, they put the Dome playoff style to shame... The energy of the crowd, the smell of the grass, just two things that can make the experience unforgettable! Anyone who would choose a baseball game over a footy match is simply insane! In addition to this, many football haters do not really understand the game; they cannot see the beauty in how a play develops and how the two teams battle each other.

***

I've been pretty hard on baseball as I think it's painfully boring, however, I do realize that it is a very complex game. Hitting a ball travelling in excess of 120km isn't easy; far less is predicting where the ball is going by determining the spin of the ball. The game is more than just throwing a ball, hitting it, and running around bases. However, that other stuff is overshadowed by the boring end product.

[ricoFlame]

both are totally watchable. i spent last night flicking between the ball game (jays vs. bosox) and the football game (mexico vs. congo). i have a passion for both, and if given the chance wouldn't pass either up. if it was attending one or the other, that would be tough, but i suppose that baseball might just edge out football in the end for me, but close for sure. i could watch either one any time, all day, whatev. love it.

[CaramonLS]

Baseball - no question.

I think you can see plenty of bad soccer games - too much passing, diving, not enough scoring chances, etc etc - but for me at least you can almost always see a good baseball game. I just have no interest what so ever in watching any sort of soccer game.

Someone always accels at one part of the game - If I pitcher is mowing down hitters, that is awsome to watch, teams on a rally? Fun. Back and Forth like last night vs. the BoSox - Coming down to Manny Ramirez vs. Accardo? Love it. Sometimes it can be tough to watch when you've got a hack pitcher throwing nothing and hitters are just fowling it off, but I think for the most part, it is a lot of fun to watch. Always some part of it to enjoy.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Table 5

overweight men who couldnt cut it in a real game.

That's the only part of your post I disagree with. There are a few (a small minority) overweight players in baseball, but the majority are a amazing athletes. Hell off the top of my head Adam Dunn turned down being qb for the Texas Longhorns, Dave Winfield was drafted in the NBA draft, Tom Glavine was drafted by the Kings in the 4th round before Robitaille. However, they all enjoyed baseball more.

[socalwingfan]

I'm a huge baseball fan - of the 162 Yankee games - I probably watch 130 - 140 of them. I listen to the start of the game on the radio on my commute home, and then watch the end on TV.

I also watch EPL whenever I can - and during the World Cup, me and the facilities guys at work spent a lot of time in the gym watching soccer while people were working out. Can't watch MSL though, I just can't get into it.

I will watch Baseball/Soccer before I watch NFL - i find it to be incredibly boring and I was a Stampeder season ticket holder for years. I guess I'm the opposite of most americans.

[habernac]

Soccer is a game I always loved to play. But I still can't stand watching it. I don't like the diving, that's part of the reason. The pace can be a little tough to take (and yes, baseball has it's share of stinkers as well). Great athletes play both sports. Watching Ichiro cover the entire outfield live at Safeco was a treat.

In the end, I just love the strategies in baseball. I enjoy a pitcher's duel as much as a slugfest. And it's a game my grandfather and I watched when I was just a boy. And recently, I've gotten into reading about the history of the game, which is fantastic.

I'll defend the atheticism of soccer anyday of the week. But I still have a hard time watching a full game. A big reason is that I just don't have an attachment to any team or group of players. And I figure I watch enough TV already, so it will probably stay that way.

[Sylvanfan]

It seems that North American sports viewers and Americans in particular seem to prefer a game that features short action spurts and than a pause in between plays to analyze and prepare for the next play. Baseball is a game built on drama, and they have a chance to build up the drama on every play. Football is much the same way as a play takes 5 to 10 seconds to execute and than you have 45 seconds to get the next play together. Even Basketball in the last two mintues becomes a series of 24 second possession blocks with time outs between ever play. Even when it is moving earlier in the game there is a bit of a break between most plays and teams taking their time to bring the ball up court and set things up. Even with Autoracing how many laps in a Nascar race are under the caution flag? Theres a burst of action, a crash occurs and than it's caution flag time a pit stop and than a few more laps of racing sort of thing.

A game like soccer flows with continuous action and almost no stoppages, and the ones that do happen are quite brief. The only times you seem to get any type of pause to set something up is a penalty kick or corner kick which as a North American viewer I tend to find as the most entertaining parts of the game because drama can be built up and something could happen. So I guess my answer is that when I watch a game I have a short attention span and want to see potential action on every play. A series of nice passes to establish ball control, or slide tackle are plays that happen continuously, but in the end usually don't result in goals sort of thing. Seeing as you need goals to win thats what I'm probably looking for in a game and it's tough to predict what exact moments those plays will occur with the exception of corners and penalty kick situations where chances can arise. I think thats also a bit of a reason why hockey hasn't caught on in the U.S to a large degree as it's hard to predict when the real action is going to happen.

Although I'm tempted to go check out the U20 quarters here in Edmonton. I do like watching top level calibre soccer on T.V. as the skill level in World Cups tends to really stand out to me. Perhaps I need to see a decent game live to better appreciate it.

[JiriHrdina]

I love watching baseball but the experience is totally different than watching any other sport. The pace is very slow punctuated by moments of excitement. But watching a ball game is something I find very relaxing and very cerebral.

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I've actually always imagined the experience of watching soccer is closer to baseball than anything else because although the action is continuos, the pace is still somewhat slow compared to most sports.

[jam26]

I tried getting into soccer during the Under 20 championships and watched Canada's first game vs Chile...The flopping around and diving I saw killed any chance of me being able to take soccer seriously.

It was frustrating to watch. Having said that, I can appreciate the passion soccer fans have for their sport and still keep an eye on the major world events.

I enjoy baseball but usually just have it on in the background while I read or do work around the house. As Jiri says, it's relaxing and every once in a while something really remarkable happens that makes it worth watching.

[Caged Great]

As a fan of both Soccer and Baseball, I will say that I like playing Soccer more, but I don't have a preference and it depends on what is on at the time.

When I watch a regular season jays game, I tend to be doing something for the majority of the game just because it is kind of boring. However if they jays get something going I watch intently. If a playoff game is going on, then I watch the entire game.

I don't watch soccer regularly as I don't really have a team that I follow. However, in international events, I watch almost every match.

[sadora]

I enjoy watching both sports, in fact I prefer to watch a baseball game over an american or Canadian football game. But if it comes down to a choice between baseball and soccer I have to go with soccer. It's a bit of an uneven comparison between the two sports and anyone who thinks soccer is boring obviously doesn't understand the game.

[Gugstanley]

I like watching and following baseball but can't get into soccer at all. It is boring to me. I will admit I haven't learned the game like I have with baseball so that might be part of the problem. Just don't care if soccer is on tv or being played live. Oh and I am really pissed that tax money is being chipped in to build Real Salt Lake a stadium.

[Maserati]

I grew up playing football(soccer) and have been to many matches and have watched many on the TV.I've tried to watch out a baseball game and jus was bored out of my mind dont mind playing it as a video game though and when it is featured in a movie.
I honestly think it depends on the country you are in.N.Americans not all but alot grow up watching baseball so it is part of the culture in other countries ppl grow up watching and playin soccer as a result it is part of their culture.
Soccer has its bad side with the diving and on some occasions fan troubles and some crappy matches.
Baseball is mainly N.America and some countries on the outside Cuba,Japan,Venezuela..
Soccer is way more international.
Anyhow I would prefer soccer anyday but if i get an opportunity I wouldn't mind going to have a look at a baseball match I'm open to it.

[FlamesPuck12]

I'd choose MLB over MLS but World Cup Soccer over MLB

[worth]

Baseball by a long shot. I think people in Canada unjustifiably bash both sports for some reason, but both are fun to watch. But i'd rather watch a good baseball game than a good soccer game.

Baseball games live are just great. Great atmosphere, the food the sights. Just so much history. I've never been to a real live soccer game, as i'm sure a game in England would also be unreal, and I would very much like to experience this as wel, but right now for me it's baseball.

[Thunderball]

Soccer, no contest. Played well, there's nothing better anywhere.

Baseball is the equivalent of watching paint dry. The best way to describe my experience at a baseball game was, "it was a nice time, good beer, good hot dog, good conversation, and there was also a game going on."

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

It seems that North American sports viewers and Americans in particular seem to prefer a game that features short action spurts and than a pause in between plays to analyze and prepare for the next play. Baseball is a game built on drama, and they have a chance to build up the drama on every play. Football is much the same way as a play takes 5 to 10 seconds to execute and than you have 45 seconds to get the next play together. Even Basketball in the last two mintues becomes a series of 24 second possession blocks with time outs between ever play. Even when it is moving earlier in the game there is a bit of a break between most plays and teams taking their time to bring the ball up court and set things up. Even with Autoracing how many laps in a Nascar race are under the caution flag? Theres a burst of action, a crash occurs and than it's caution flag time a pit stop and than a few more laps of racing sort of thing.

A game like soccer flows with continuous action and almost no stoppages, and the ones that do happen are quite brief. The only times you seem to get any type of pause to set something up is a penalty kick or corner kick which as a North American viewer I tend to find as the most entertaining parts of the game because drama can be built up and something could happen. So I guess my answer is that when I watch a game I have a short attention span and want to see potential action on every play. A series of nice passes to establish ball control, or slide tackle are plays that happen continuously, but in the end usually don't result in goals sort of thing. Seeing as you need goals to win thats what I'm probably looking for in a game and it's tough to predict what exact moments those plays will occur with the exception of corners and penalty kick situations where chances can arise. I think thats also a bit of a reason why hockey hasn't caught on in the U.S to a large degree as it's hard to predict when the real action is going to happen.

Although I'm tempted to go check out the U20 quarters here in Edmonton. I do like watching top level calibre soccer on T.V. as the skill level in World Cups tends to really stand out to me. Perhaps I need to see a decent game live to better appreciate it.

I think the biggest barrier to many North Americans enjoing soccer is not really about tempo, or the amount of 'excitement' there ie the question about comparing it to Baseball.

At least for me it is hard to respect the sport or the athletes because they spend half their energy faking injuries and flopping around like fish.

I grew up playing hockey and football and I look at these players rolling around like they have been shot, and think they are a bunch of babies.

I think if you want to generalize the NA sentiment it has to do with people here seem to respect a tough get'r done aspect to a athlete, and soccer players are about the opposite of that.