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Teams with improved attendance: AL (3), NL (7)
Teams with worse attendance: AL (11), NL (9)
Top 8 Teams (1-8): Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, Cardinals, Angels, Twins, Cubs, Red Sox
Bottom 8 Teams (23-30): Nationals, Orioles, Royals, Blue Jays, Pirates, Marlins, A’s, Indians

A look at the following numbers indicates that these phrases are about as meaningful as the records of the Pirates, Royals, and Blue Jays ever year: In 2008, the New York Yankees, famously dubbed the “Evil Empire”, took on more than $400 million dollars in long-term contracts to CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. No other team in all of sports has the ability to set and dominate the free-agent market like the Yankees. Included in the Yankees lineup during the 2010 season was the highest paid first baseman, shortstop, third baseman, designated hitter, starting pitcher and closer in all of baseball....Billy Beane, the star of Moneyball and general manager of the Oakland A’s, offered his assistance to Bud Selig during a game between the Blue Jays and Royals last season: “Toronto is playing good ball, and it’s an interesting team to watch. But if you know the end of the story, why start reading the book?” Beane went on to add, “My concern is that of the [fan’s] perception of how the season will play out. People may be afraid to get emotionally involved with teams like that.”

J-Roc wrote:And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

J-Roc wrote:
And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

LittleOzzy wrote:

J-Roc wrote:
And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

Fans like that suck... How can you say you like a team when you are so willing to move on?

Schadenfreude wrote:

J-Roc wrote:And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

You won't be missed.

LittleOzzy wrote:

J-Roc wrote:
And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

Fans like that suck... How can you say you like a team when you are so willing to move on?

distracted wrote:

LittleOzzy wrote:

J-Roc wrote:
And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

Fans like that suck... How can you say you like a team when you are so willing to move on?

So basically, even though a team hasn't made the playoffs in two decades, and is part of a playoff format that makes it much harder for them to make the playoffs compared to the vast majority of teams, it's not reason enough to become disenfranchised?

Or are you trying to assert that any person who follows a team less than they used to was never really a fan?

LittleOzzy wrote:Losing interest happens with so many losing seasons but by "Jump Ship" I took it as finding another team to follow that does better.

If that's the case J-Roc can go follow the Yankees or whatever bandwagon looks like it has room. He won't be missed as a Jays fan if that's the case.

CrookedJ wrote:I used to love the Jays back in the day. I was 14/15 during their championship seasons, and up to that point had watched or listened to almost every game of the season from as young as I can remember.

Then the strike happened, and I broke my baseball habit. I found all kinds of other things to do with my time in the summer, and when it came back I simply didn't care anymore. I really can't say why I used to love it, and two years later I didn't care at all. I have probably watched less than 5 games since, only 1 in person. Recently it has to do with the AL East BS, but I stopped caring in the mid 90's well before that was the issue that it is today.

NateHuffman wrote:

CrookedJ wrote:I used to love the Jays back in the day. I was 14/15 during their championship seasons, and up to that point had watched or listened to almost every game of the season from as young as I can remember.

Then the strike happened, and I broke my baseball habit. I found all kinds of other things to do with my time in the summer, and when it came back I simply didn't care anymore. I really can't say why I used to love it, and two years later I didn't care at all. I have probably watched less than 5 games since, only 1 in person. Recently it has to do with the AL East BS, but I stopped caring in the mid 90's well before that was the issue that it is today.

I've never been a huge of the jays especially when i was younger so i'm just wanting some clarification on this part. Why was it not an issue before? because the jays were a stronger team? or cuz the sox weren't the spenders they are now? or is it a playoff format change or something? anyway if anyone can fill me in it'd be greatly appreciated.

NateHuffman wrote:

CrookedJ wrote:I used to love the Jays back in the day. I was 14/15 during their championship seasons, and up to that point had watched or listened to almost every game of the season from as young as I can remember.

Then the strike happened, and I broke my baseball habit. I found all kinds of other things to do with my time in the summer, and when it came back I simply didn't care anymore. I really can't say why I used to love it, and two years later I didn't care at all. I have probably watched less than 5 games since, only 1 in person. Recently it has to do with the AL East BS, but I stopped caring in the mid 90's well before that was the issue that it is today.

I've never been a huge of the jays especially when i was younger so i'm just wanting some clarification on this part. Why was it not an issue before? because the jays were a stronger team? or cuz the sox weren't the spenders they are now? or is it a playoff format change or something? anyway if anyone can fill me in it'd be greatly appreciated.

LittleOzzy wrote:

J-Roc wrote:
And if this latest rebuild by the Jays doesn't lead to a playoff spot, I may jump ship, too.

Fans like that suck... How can you say you like a team when you are so willing to move on?

J-Roc wrote:

NateHuffman wrote:I've never been a huge of the jays especially when i was younger so i'm just wanting some clarification on this part. Why was it not an issue before? because the jays were a stronger team? or cuz the sox weren't the spenders they are now? or is it a playoff format change or something? anyway if anyone can fill me in it'd be greatly appreciated.

New stadium. A decade of winning seasons. We were able to have the highest payroll in baseball for those World Series wins. We were setting attendance records by selling out 50K per game, for every game. There were actually fewer playoff spots back then, too. After the lockout, the Yankess started spending. The Jays went through a typical rebuilding process. I don't think anyone faulted them for that. But over time, we came to realize we had no shot at winning. When the wildcard came in, it just meant some other richer teams would have a better shot. That's why I'm dubious of adding just another playoff spot. We'd just have to compete with some other team like the White Sox or Orioles.