SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: A general view of the stadium as teams were announced prior to a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at PETCO Park on April 01, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
We are three weeks into the new Major League Baseball season. We were wondering with the new MLB rules: How's attendance? New MLB rules have sped up the game and condensed all of the action. A pitch clock keeps pitchers and hitters alike on their toes and ready for action. Also, the pitcher is limited to how many times he can throw to first to keep a runner close to the bag. I personally think this creates a huge disadvantage for the pitcher and catcher. But the upside is that stolen bases are way up. Again, more action is good, ultimately. The stolen base was becoming a lost art in the game.
Other rules include the sport getting rid of the full defensive shift. Now we have more singles punching through the infield. Baseball was getting to the point where everything was either a homer or a strike out. Boring!
The end result is the fan now gets tow watch a game in about two hours and forty minutes instead of three to four hour marathons.
So baseball is better. Great. Have the new rules helped attendance? Since northern teams are still playing in the snow, if at all, it's hard to tell. But through the first three weeks of the season we've ranked team's average attendance from worst to first on a per game basis. So with the new MLB rules: How's attendance? Judge for yourself.
30. OAKLAND A'S
11,025
They are moving to Vegas anyway.
29. MIAMI MARLINS
13,143
Not quite the World Baseball Classic.
28. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
15,645
27. KC ROYALS
15,874
26. CINCINNATI REDS
16,973
This city loves opening day. Then it drops out until summer.
25. TAMPA BAY RAYS
18,085
THERE SHOULD BE MORE PEOPLE! THIS TEAM IS GOOD!
24. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
19,346
Can't talk me into going to an April game in Cleveland.
23. MINNESOTA TWINS
19,475
22. DETROIT TIGERS
19, 476
I've seen their games. This includes season ticket no-shows.
21. CHICAGO WHITESOX
19,567
20. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
21,285
19. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
21,621
18. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
23,337
17. TEXAS RANGERS
24,705
16. COLORADO ROCKIES
27,395
Deion Sanders is outdrawing the Rockies with Colorado spring football.
15. SEATTLE MARINERS
28,578
14. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
29,214
They love their Brewers.
13. CHICAGO CUBS
31,363
Ferris?
12. BOSTON REDSOX
31,559
11. SF GIANTS
31,658
10. LA ANGELS
34,443
They have the two best players in the league. They should draw. I always enjoyed my time at their games.
9. NY METS
35,913
They paid a lot of money for this team. People better show up.
8. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
36,537
7. HOUSTON ASTROS
37,261
Always strong numbers in Houston.
6. ATLANTA BRAVES
38,482
They are good so people are coming.
5. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
39,457
Strong fan base for all sports.
4. NY YANKEES
39,559
No surprise here.
3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
39,881
Maybe the smartest fans in baseball.
2. SD PADRES
40,342
Pay them and they will come.
1. LA DODGERS
49,418
Another beautiful day for baseball. Every. Day.
