April 2018 (Baseball)

By a 2-1 margin, and In the first measurement of “speed-up” rule changes initiated this year by Major League Baseball, 46% of Americans believe that these changes, especially limiting visits to the mound, will make the game feel like it’s going faster.  Only 24% said it would not feel faster, (31% had no opinion.)

The Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted last week after three weeks of this season had concluded, presented a positive endorsement for MLB of its changes.

The poll showed 53% saying games took too long, with 40% disagreeing. When the same question was asked by the Seton Hall Sports Poll in 2011, only 44% said the games took too long, with 51% disagreeing.  The “feel” of the games having a faster pace was important to officials at MLB during the winter, when the changes were approved.   

By 3 to 1, a rule that was implemented only on the minor league level was soundly booed by respondents.  The minors are experimenting with allowing a runner to be stationed at second base to start an extra inning, but only 20% said they favored that at the Major League level, and 60% disdained it. 

Baseball still has at least a perception problem when it comes to performance enhancing drugs, with 39% saying they believe the problem still exists, with 31% disagreeing.

Asked if big market clubs have an advantage in acquiring the best free agent players, 80% said yes, compared to 84% when the poll asked the same question seven years ago.

The poll asked whether there are not enough African-American players in the Major Leagues, a question that was also asked in 2011.  Attitudes have shifted over seven years: Among white respondents this year, 27% felt there were not enough; while 43% disagreed.  Among African-American respondents, 61% agreed while only 19% disagreed.