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New York Times
05-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What can MLB learn from the Savannah Bananas? A lot, it turns out
BALTIMORE – The sellout crowd of more than 45,000 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards stood on their feet, screaming and celebrating Saturday's walk-off home run. There had been a palpable buzz at the stadium all night long. It started hours before first pitch, as fans packed merchandise booths and waited in food lines — the kinds of lines typically only seen on Opening Day and in October — as soon as the gates opened. Advertisement Saturday's game was closely contested, with the crowd hovering near full capacity the entire night. When it was over, fans reluctantly headed to their car. They weren't there to see an Orioles game (the O's had trouble selling out their two home playoff games last year), or even a Major League Baseball game. They were there to see the Savannah Bananas, an independent barnstorming group of professionals who have, in founder Jesse Cole's words, 'removed the friction in baseball' and play a fast-paced, backflipping brand of 'Banana Ball' that's taken the sports world by storm, generating millions of fans and seemingly growing at warp speed. 'I get it now,' said former Baltimore manager Buck Showalter after the old-school baseball man served as an honorary coach during Friday's game against an opposing team called the Firefighters. '(The Bananas) are doing a lot of things right. My son said it was like a Caribbean World Series game on steroids.' While some of Banana Ball's 11 rules would be tough to envision implementing in MLB — like foul balls caught by fans counting as outs — there are a host of other lessons about the fan experience and growing the game that the Commissioner's Office (and MLB's 30 teams) might want to consider. That's the actual name of Cole's company, which more than lives up to its namesake. Cole has turned down what he says are 'stupid numbers' from outside investors, as well as a seven-figure offer from a ticket broker. Instead, the Bananas use an internal system for everything from tickets to merchandise and pay all their own fees and taxes on those items, meaning a $35 ticket is actually $35. Yes, it costs Cole money, but he said the decision was a no-brainer. 'I'm not trying to make a billion dollars,' he said. 'I want a billion fans.' Advertisement In Banana Ball, the gates open two and a half hours before first pitch, and there's a steady stream of player and fan entertainment that encourages people to get to the ballpark hours before first pitch (and potentially buy food and merchandise, too). Most MLB teams open their gates 90 minutes before night games, though select games or groups may get in two hours early. Most of the time, the home team is done with batting practice by then, and there's very little if anything going on other than a video blaring on the JumboTron. Fans may catch the end of the road team's batting practice, but for young fans, there's virtually no chance of seeing their favorite players or having any pre-game interactions with them. In Banana Ball, players go into the stands during the game (Cole does, too). And while it would be borderline irresponsible to ask Bryce Harper to mingle in the upper deck between innings, why can't stadiums open early enough for home fans to watch batting practice? Why can't players on the injured list and with the team be required to spend a half-hour pregame signing baseballs? This is how you create meaningful fan interaction and ensure loyal customers for life, which leads us to our next lesson. I attended Saturday's game and was struck with how popular many of the players were. Fans were wearing jerseys with names on their back I had never heard of (despite 15 years covering MLB, I'm a Banana newbie). My 9-year-old nephew waited more than two hours at a local Dunkin Donuts Saturday morning just to meet two Bananas and two Firefighters. Impressed, I checked TikTok, where Banana Jackson Olson has 2 million followers (more than MLB stars Harper and Mike Trout combined), as well as deals with Reebok and Gatorade. The Bananas have 10.5 million followers on their TikTok account, which is more than MLB's official account (8.3 million). Advertisement They will play in more than a dozen MLB stadiums this year, and they are selling out NFL stadiums, too. All four Fans First teams — in addition to the Bananas and Firefighters, there are the Party Animals and Texas Tailgaters — are made up of players who are recruited and paid to play at salaries higher than the minor leagues. All players on Fans First teams are carefully selected for talent, playing ability and makeup. The latter is perhaps the most important. Everyone on the Bananas truly wants to be there, and they don't complain about making trick plays or signing autographs. Cole says dancing was initially met with trepidation by all but a handful of players — until they saw how wildly popular it was. Now, everyone dances. The Bananas don't play Monday through Wednesday — 'Does playing on a Monday night in April serve our fans?' Cole asked — so games are held Thursday through Sunday nights. On this world tour, Banana games were played in warm-weather cities like Peoria, Ariz., and Miami, Fla., until May. MLB doesn't have that luxury in a 162-game season (the Bananas will play 73 games this year), and whether the sport should cut down games is a subject for another day. Still, there has long been the idea among baseball people for a universal off day during the season, perhaps Mondays. The league can't only schedule the first half of April in domed/warm cities because it would delay other clubs' home openers by so much. But there are ways to mitigate that, too. How about more day games — when the temperatures are higher — in the first month of the season? (And in the playoffs, so young fans can watch games until the end.) MLB and its clubs have done a better job of pushing up game times when weather is an issue, but having every Monday off would also make rescheduling postponements a lot easier. Blowouts don't keep fans engaged, so Cole tweaked the rules to make sure the ninth inning would always matter (a team gets an individual point for winning each of innings one through eight, but in the ninth, runs are unlimited). It sounds crazy, but it works, providing more thrilling late-game heroics, like it did on Saturday. There's also a two-hour game clock, though contests are often done before then. Under Commissioner Rob Manfred, MLB implemented the pitch clock to cut out the sport's dead time, a move that has received almost universal praise. Last year, Manfred noted that the sport is considering more rule changes, including the 'Golden at-bat,' which got some buzz at the owners meetings. That's a page right out of Cole's playbook. In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows a team to send any hitter to the plate in any spot once per game. Advertisement The pitch clock was just the beginning. MLB has been open to many rule changes and adjustments, and they should be. In an era of three true outcomes (walk, strikeout, home run), getting the ball in play and showcasing the players' athleticism, speed and defense is exciting. Some readers who have made it this far probably view the Bananas as the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball. (That comparison irks Cole, who points out that his players are very competitive on the field and that every night is a different show.) But the Bananas have more than 3 million fans who have submitted information to the team's ticket waitlist, so MLB should be paying attention. Some of what the Bananas are doing is impossible to replicate. Everyone wants to see the show when it's only in town one or two nights a year. But baseball may be barrelling toward another lockout. MLB's current collective bargaining agreement with its players expires after the 2026 season. Manfred has been meeting with players about a potential salary cap, and the relations between players and the league are already contentious. If it's not careful, MLB may find that fans have moved on, perhaps in favor of another brand of the game that's a little lighter on the wallet. Banana Ball is wacky, but it's also a competitive brand of baseball that prioritizes fun and fan experience. Isn't that what professional sports were supposed to be about in the first place?
New York Times
02-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What should the Mets expect from Cedric Mullins? Scouts, evaluators weigh in
Several years ago, when spring training reached that familiar monotonous stage, with every day starting to feel the same and the regular season too far away to count down, Buck Showalter wanted to add energy. Showalter, then the Baltimore Orioles manager, asked Brian Graham, the club's farm director at the time, to borrow a player from minor-league camp who could enter a game late and provide a spark. It didn't take long for Graham to think of someone. Advertisement That's how Cedric Mullins, whom the industry didn't deem as much of a prospect at the time, took the 30-minute ride from Sarasota, Fla., to Bradenton to play in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He took just one at-bat. The game ended up as his only appearance for the Orioles in that spring 2016. But he made a lasting impression by hitting a double, using his speed and flashing a big smile. There was life to his game. 'I'll never forget watching him that day in Bradenton,' Showalter said by phone Friday. 'It was like, 'Where has this guy been?'' Nearly a decade later, the New York Mets are hoping they got that same kind of player in Mullins after acquiring the center fielder Thursday in a trade with the Orioles, the only organization he had ever played for. Mullins arrived at Citi Field on Friday about 2 1/2 hours before first pitch (7:10 p.m.). Therefore, he was activated on the roster but not inserted into the starting lineup. In the Mets' 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Mullins appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and popped out, and then stayed in the game at center field. 'I'm just trying to be myself and bring the type of game I know I can bring,' Mullins said before the game. 'Using my legs, running, stealing bases, playing solid defense, showing a little bit of power here and there, bunts — just a little bit of everything.' Since Mullins was a late arrival, Tyrone Taylor started at center field with Jeff McNeil at second base. Before the Mullins trade, Taylor and McNeil split time in center field. Around 5:30 p.m., Taylor left manager Carlos Mendoza's office after a conversation about more of a bench role. New York sent Baltimore three prospects; Taylor and McNeil still linger as options, but Mullins is going to absorb most of the playing time in center field. Advertisement With McNeil set for more action at second base, Mendoza said his messaging to the group of young infielders — Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty — battling for time at third base and designated hitter was, 'There's a healthy competition … even if you're not in the lineup, you're probably going to get the biggest at-bat in the sixth or seventh inning.' With Mullins active, the Mets optioned infielder Luisangel Acuña to Triple A. Cedric's here 👀 — New York Mets (@Mets) August 1, 2025 People who know him well describe Mullins as reserved. Friday, he answered questions from reporters using a soft voice. In the clubhouse, he prefers to blend in. It's on the field where he can sometimes stand out. 'It is sometimes hard to find a guy who is both, but he has a strong work ethic while playing with some flair,' a longtime scout of an American League team said. 'Offensively, he is streaky, but he can do a lot to win a club games — hit a home run, steal a base, make a catch, plus the little things, like cutting balls off well, taking the extra base.' Added another AL evaluator, 'He runs hot and cold offensively sometimes, but whether it's offense, defense, base running, he gives you everything he's got.' The Mets swung two trades with the Orioles — they also acquired lefty reliever Gregory Soto from them — and talks between the two clubs started weeks ago. Mullins was a big part of those discussions. In 335 plate appearances with the Orioles this season, Mullins slashed .229/.305/.433 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Against lefties this season, Mullins, a left-handed batter, has a .866 OPS. After struggling significantly in May and June (.542 OPS), he bounced back in July, producing an .868 OPS. The Mets studied Mullins' production, particularly over the last eight weeks. For his career, Mullins has hit right-handed pitchers better than lefties, but Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns pointed to approach adjustments Mullins has made recently against southpaws (while citing the difficulty of putting too much stock in small samples of reverse splits). The Mets haven't hit lefties well, and it remains to be seen how much action Mullins will see against them. Besides lengthening the lineup a bit, the Mets need strong defense from Mullins. Despite his defensive metrics being down, Mets officials believe he has offered quality defense in center field since recovering from a hamstring tweak several weeks ago. Advertisement Mendoza, who spent four seasons as the New York Yankees' bench coach before replacing Showalter as the Mets manager ahead of the 2024 season, observed plenty of Mullins. He said Mullins' jumps, routes and speed make him a standout defender. 'There are years where you feel like, man, that's weird, that he's grading so low defensively,' Mendoza said, 'but when you watch this kid play, especially for the last, what, four, five, six weeks, he's a pretty elite defender out there.' With his strong base running, good defense and capable bat, Mullins seemingly fits the Mets' roster well. 'New York is a great place to land,' Mullins said. Not everyone who comes to New York via trade assimilates well over the final two months. People familiar with Mullins say he should adjust fine to a new team and a new city — one full of expectations — because of his personality and multidimensional skills. 'He is so sincere and so humble,' said Showalter, Mullins' first manager in the major leagues who spent a combined six seasons guiding the Mets and Yankees. 'He is going to smile easily, but he is a tough kid, too, who knows the seriousness of what's needed.'
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Former MLB manager Buck Showalter recalls security screening experience at US airport amid Iran tensions
President Donald Trump has said the Iran nuclear program sites targeted by American B-2 stealth bombers were "obliterated." The tense situation in Iran unfolded the same day former MLB manager Buck Showalter was traveling through New York City. Showalter, named the majors' Manager of the Year four times during his lengthy managerial career, recalled his experience during a recent appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich." "Let me tell you what, note to yourself, try not to travel in or out New York City on the day your country bombed Iran. Holy moly, full alert," the former New York Mets skipper said when asked by Dakich whether he had traveled as tensions in Iran reached its latest heights. Showalter added he is a proponent of tight security measures at airports throughout the U.S. "The airport was a lot of fun, Dan, let's put it that way. You know what the people at the security … I want them to check everybody. "Be diligent about it. Take your time, I will stand in line a few more minutes, get it right. Go head run that bag back through again. Make him go through it again. Everybody complaining about security. At what? What do you want them to do. Ah, it's OK. Today is a free day. Just go right ahead." While Showalter's most recent managerial stint was with the Mets, he started his coaching career in the Bronx with the New York Yankees. He was eventually promoted and named the team's manager. Showalter also managed the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Although U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranian sites were "destroyed," U.S. intelligence agencies continue to assess the damage. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency's preliminary report, obtained by The Associated Press, said the strikes caused significant damage to the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites. However, the report also noted the sites were not believed to be destroyed. Israel claimed it has set back Iran's nuclear program by "many years," the AP reported. The latest satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed considerable damage to the three nuclear sites. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Knicks handed harsh lessons in early days of coaching search
The Mets took their time, too. Buck Showalter was fired on Oct. 1, 2023. It was believed they had one solid target in mind as his replacement in Brewers manager Craig Counsell, but Counsell wouldn't be available for exactly another month. The wait seemed like only a wink-wink formality. He and David Stearns had worked together for years in Milwaukee. So on the 35th day — when Counsell decided to stay close to his Midwestern roots and sign a $40 million deal with the Cubs that obliterated what Stearns and Steve Cohen were expecting to pay for a manager — the Mets pivoted. And were ready. They were already comfortable enough to make Carlos Mendoza and his lifetime 0-0 record as a manager a viable Plan B. Advertisement On the 36th day, Mendoza became the manager. It's difficult to find anyone who will tell you today that was anything but an inspired choice. There is a lesson in that as we watch the Knicks take their time identifying and hiring Tom Thibodeau's successor as head coach. Thursday will only be their 10th day without a coach, and it is starting to look like the Mets' 35-day vigil is a likely model for how this might all shake out.
New York Post
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jim Dolan better have a Knicks Joe Torre all lined up
We have seen this before. We have even seen it go well before: That was Nov. 1, 1995, the day Buck Showalter's contract expired as manager of the Yankees. He'd done more heavy lifting than just about any skipper in team history, dragging the Yankees from 91 losses to Game 5 of the ALDS in four years. He was the toast of Yankees fans everywhere. Then George Steinbrenner decided to part ways with him. The resulting outrage made what happened Tuesday — when James Dolan ordered Tom Thibodeau to walk the gangplank — feel like a chorus of hymns. Steinbrenner was so shaken, he tried to hire Showalter back. Buck wouldn't budge. Instead, he had to settle for the man he'd already hired.
