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.
–Craig Shemon
ESPN Southwest Florida
30. OAKLAND A'S
11,025
They are moving to Vegas anyway.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
29. MIAMI MARLINS
13,143
Not quite the World Baseball Classic.
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
28. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
15,645
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
27. KC ROYALS
15,874
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
26. CINCINNATI REDS
16,973
This city loves opening day. Then it drops out until summer.
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
25. TAMPA BAY RAYS
18,085
THERE SHOULD BE MORE PEOPLE! THIS TEAM IS GOOD!
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
24. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
19,346
Can’t talk me into going to an April game in Cleveland.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
23. MINNESOTA TWINS
19,475
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – MARCH 14: Kenta (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
22. DETROIT TIGERS
19, 476
I’ve seen their games. This includes season ticket no-shows.
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
21. CHICAGO WHITESOX
19,567
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
20. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
21,285
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
19. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
21,621
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
18. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
23,337
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
17. TEXAS RANGERS
24,705
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
16. COLORADO ROCKIES
27,395
Deion Sanders is outdrawing the Rockies with Colorado spring football.
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
15. SEATTLE MARINERS
28,578
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
14. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
29,214
They love their Brewers.
(Photo by Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images)
13. CHICAGO CUBS
31,363
Ferris?
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
12. BOSTON REDSOX
31,559
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
11. SF GIANTS
31,658
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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.
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
9. NY METS
35,913
They paid a lot of money for this team. People better show up.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
8. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
36,537
(Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
7. HOUSTON ASTROS
37,261
Always strong numbers in Houston.
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
6. ATLANTA BRAVES
38,482
They are good so people are coming.
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
5. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
39,457
Strong fan base for all sports.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
4. NY YANKEES
39,559
No surprise here.
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
39,881
Maybe the smartest fans in baseball.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
2. SD PADRES
40,342
Pay them and they will come.
(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
1. LA DODGERS
49,418
Another beautiful day for baseball. Every. Day.
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
