Gary Sheffield at Odds With MLB as Alex Rodriguez Left Nostalgic Over Glory Days

MLB used to feel like jazz—unpredictable, fast, and with a certain room for improvisation. Now? It’s starting to sound more like a metronome—simply rigid, repetitive, and painfully mechanical. Now, this is not just a nostalgia rant from fans in the bleachers. Even legends of the game are starting to ask—What has happened to baseball?

Ask Alex Rodriguez! At a recent Fanatics Fest, the former Yankee painted a rather striking picture. A-Rod remembered the time when 60 million people had tuned in to watch Bill Buckner’s blunder in the 1986 World Series. “Those are footfall numbers,” A-Rod reminisced.

He added, “[Now?] My mom can’t even find the Yankees.” Five games, five different channels—it’s a media maze that even diehard MLB fans struggle with. But if A-Rod is worried about fans finding the game, Gary Sheffield is worried about what fans will find once they get there. Sheffield, well-versed in the game, expressed his concern by saying, “They’re turning kids into robots.” And anyone could hear the disappointment between every word. What Sheffield sees is a sport that has traded hustle for algorithms. The former All-Star sees the game now as obsessed with velocity and home runs and, in turn, as having lost the athleticism and hustle that once came with it.

“You take away speed… You take away athleticism,” said Sheffield. And when that goes, so does the heart of the sport. And honestly, his assessment doesn’t seem far-fetched, does it? Remember Rafael Devers‘ grounder against the Yankees just recently? He jogged to first, barely making any effort. Turns out that Devers was dealing with a groin injury, but the optics were ugly. In Sheffield’s era, such slowing down was not an option. When the ball was in play, players ran like their paycheck depended on it.

Sheffield added, “This brand of baseball. I don’t like to watch it.” He stated that every inning used to feel like a pressure cooker—not just three strikeouts and back to the dugout. He misses the stolen bases and, basically, when baseball had a heartbeat. Sheffield also tipped his cap to Bryce Harper and called him old school. “Bryce Harper is a little old school; he does it his way, his style, his brand, and he doesn’t compromise for anyone, and I think it’s wonderful, and I think people gravitate to that.” And definitely, Harper is a personality; everyone remembers his Vogue-style ‘What’s in My Bag’ videos. And yes, kids love him—and he is far from being the robotic machine that many feel players have become.

And as if all that were not enough, baseball struggles are not just showing up between the lines; they are creeping into the boardrooms now. Major League Baseball is bracing for a shake-up of another kind—the end of the broadcasting era.

MLB-ESPN breakup looms after 35-year partnership

So, back in February, it was reported that MLB and ESPN had decided to part ways after the 2025 season. That’s right, after spending 35 years in partnership, ESPN opted out of the rest of its deal. In a move that suggested that the breakup was not one-sided, MLB opted out, too. But as of now, it seems like the talks are still alive. According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, there have been recent discussions about a new deal. But really, the clock is ticking. If nothing is finalized by October, then Sunday Night Baseball, as everyone knows it, would be gone.

For now, Commissioner Rob Manfred is trying to keep things from completely falling apart. He said he hopes to get something sorted by the All-Star break. Now, whether this means ESPN stays in the picture or a new network takes its place remains to be seen. But the fallout is simply because ESPN felt they were overpaying. Their deal costs $550 million per year and includes the Sunday Night Baseball game, the Home Run Derby, and a slate of postseason games. Meanwhile, MLB has handed some of the broadcasting pie to Apple ($85 million/year) and Roku ($10 million/year).

ESPN, meanwhile, has a new direct-to-consumer app, which is expected to launch soon. This may play a role in bridging a gap, but if no deal is reached, then NBC, Apple, or even Fox could become the new home for some of baseball’s biggest games.

Things are changing in the baseball world. Aren’t they?