At ESPN, Jim Allen looks at why the Korean Baseball Organization is facing a crisis as young Koreans skip the KBO to develop their skills in the U.S. major league system. (HT to reader)
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6 Comments
the pay difference is huge from the KBO to Major League Baseball.
You make il-uk ~ $100k a year in KBO, you’re doing pretty okay. Or I am quite behind the times from the olden days.
That’s nothing in the MLB.
Higher level of competition, prestige, fame, and money are all factors. However, I think the Japanese pay much better than the Korean system.
That’s why they’re “hungrier”, like the Cub scout (no pun) Mr. Lee says. So much more money just for being a bench player.
I go out and watch an occasional game at Olympic Stadium. They’re good and fun to watch. Solid defense. Pretty scant crowds however.
There’s cheerleaders. The price is low and the food and beer don’t rake you like the States. It’s kinda like watching the Rancho Cucamunga Quakes in single A. It’s a great value. Really!
Anyone who’s been around since at least 2002 knows that MLB is not to blame.
“football” is to blame? I thought support for K-league football was dismal, too.
Yep, the stadiums are pretty empty for football matches unless the national team is playing.
Anyone see the kids in their neighborhood have a throw around or a kick around? I can only recall them playing with anime cards.
No, what I was saying is that Koreans lost interest in baseball during the World Cup. The fact that the Korean baseball league hasn’t been able to regain the attention of their fans is its own fault. It’s not as if there is more than half a dozen Koreans playing in MLB.