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The state of Major League BaseballOct. 28, 2009 Wrap, suggested lead: As the New York Yankees prepare to square off against the Philadelphia Phillies in tonight's opening game of the World Series, the eyes of millions of sports fans are focused on Major League Baseball. As Mark Schwerin reports, 2009 finds the sport doing pretty well. (1:09/Schwerin/STD) A bad economy and continuing steroids scandal haven't seriously impacted Major League Baseball. But "America's pastime" has always been pretty good at surviving tough times, says Dr. Ronald Kramer, a WMU professor of sociology and baseball expert who teaches a class on the sociology of baseball. (:39/Kramer..........................................of an issue.) Kramer says diehard fans tend to overlook controversy and concentrate on what happens on the field. From Western Michigan University, I'm Mark Schwerin. Actualities: CUT ONE: Kramer says attendance was down 6.6 percent this year, which is understandable given the poor U.S. economy. (:40/Kramer...........................................Yankees involved.) CUT TWO: Kramer says teams with big payrolls dominated the playoffs, with five of eight playoff teams having payrolls exceeding $100 million. (:35/Kramer................................................have an impact.) CUT THREE: Kramer says the sport needs to work on the competitive imbalance between teams, continue to crack down on steroid use and end the season earlier. (:41/Kramer......................................................in November.) For additional comments or an interview with Kramer, call (269) 387-5284. The Western Michigan University radio news service is produced by the Office of University Relations. If you have questions or comments about the service, call Mark Schwerin at (269) 387-8413. WMU Radio News Service Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 269 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu |