Baseball America Purchased By Group Led By Alliance Baseball, LLC

[Doomtints]

Thoughts?

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/baseball-america-purchased-group-led-160000441.html

[Thrylos]

1. The previous owners of BA were almost 100% into automotive industry holdings, including Motor Trend

 

2. The current owners need to do something to minimize conflict of interest, since they also own Minor League teams, which are covered by BA.  If they do not, there might be some issues here... 

[Doomtints]

 

1. The previous owners of BA were almost 100% into automotive industry holdings, including Motor Trend

 

2. The current owners need to do something to minimize conflict of interest, since they also own Minor League teams, which are covered by BA.  If they do not, there might be some issues here... 

 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[DuluthFan]

Conflict of interest? Where?

 

Owning a minor league baseball team(s) and a newspaper that reports on baseball is not a conflict of interest.

[nicksaviking]

 

Conflict of interest? Where?

 

Owning a minor league baseball team(s) and a newspaper that reports on baseball is not a conflict of interest.

 

Seems like one of the most respected publications of prospect rankings has at least some influence on the industry. And if these guys are buying BA, what other ownership interests might they try to acquire?

 

To exaggerate the concern only to point out that there could be a conflict of interest now or in the future, there would be a huge cry of shenanigans if Hal Steinbrenner instead purchased BA.

[DuluthFan]

I don't see it.

 

It's a newspaper/magazine that publishes rankings. How can a conflict of interest come about by someone in the baseball world owning it?

 

I can forsee perhaps bias creep in, maybe a monopoly system develop. They can merge with another ranking system, fold it into a team's front office. I can't see how a conflict would develop.

[Doomtints]

 

I don't see it.

 

It's a newspaper/magazine that publishes rankings. How can a conflict of interest come about by someone in the baseball world owning it?

 

I can forsee perhaps bias creep in, maybe a monopoly system develop. They can merge with another ranking system, fold it into a team's front office. I can't see how a conflict would develop.

 

Higher ratings for your players = more revenue for you.

[Thrylos]

 

Higher ratings for your players = more revenue for you.

 

Of course that is the low hanging fruit.  Manipulating ratings for players who are playing in an owned team to increase attendance etc compared to the rest of the league

 

It is more than that.  Think the possibilities of artificially depressing the rankings of amateurs so they can drop to your team and/or sign with less $.  

 

And BA is not exclusively a "prospects" publication.   Part of it is about the business of  minor league baseball, team purchases, moves etc.   Direct conflict of interest there.

[biggentleben]

I just don't see how you can manipulate rankings for guys because as an affiliate, you have no control over which guys are on your squad.

 

I could see this more if this was a major league owner or even an indy league owner because in both cases, they influence who is on their team and could have sway with how their team is covered.