It’s no secret that high-definition TV, internet updates, overpriced tickets and concessions and a plethora of entertainment options have made it difficult for pro and college sports teams everywhere to draw fans, but Major League Baseball appears to be particularly feeling the pinch. Those who did go to the ballpark Thursday night got to see Hyun Jin Ryu finish off an utterly dominant month of May. They can buy tickets to see the Cardinals and Cubs play in London next summer. They’ve also gotten to see Cody Bellinger have a historic start to the season. One thing they didn’t get to see? The highly anticipated Japanese showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi.
There are plenty of arguments to be made for why Major League attendance is down. Other sports face the same quandary. The question now is, what will teams do about it?
MLB attendance down for 4th straight year … meanwhile, ticket and parking prices are higher than ever. Hmmm, could there be a correlation, @MLB??? https://t.co/PJyV8AnPIK
— Eric Fisher (@fishbits) May 31, 2019
It’s hard to have a better month than what Hyun-Jin Ryu just twirled for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hyun-Jin Ryu this May:
6 GS, 1 CG, 1.000% W-L%
45.2 IP, 3 ER, 28 H, 0 HR, 3 BB
0.59 ERA, 0.679 WHIP, 7.1 K/9
5.5 H/9, 0.0 HR/9, 0.6 BB/9What I’m trying to say is that Ryu had a better month than your favorite pitcher.#LABleedsBlue
— Arrick Joel (@ArrickJoel) May 31, 2019
After London hosts the Yankees and Red Sox this summer, MLB’s top Midwest rivalry comes to the Old World next year.
Get your passport ready: the Cubs and Cardinals are set to square off in London next summer, AP says https://t.co/ieZakwCF59 pic.twitter.com/Rgh1T2ONtJ
— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) May 30, 2019
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger had an unbelievable April. He’s followed it up with a fantastic May. Sensing a trend here?
At least for the moment, it’s OK to mention Cody Bellinger and Babe Ruth in the same breath https://t.co/n6S6FXzFkQ
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 31, 2019
Angels manager Brad Ausmus had a decision to make Thursday night: Start Shohei Ohtani against Yusei Kikuchi, giving Japanese fans and media (and fans and media at large) the showdown they wanted to see, or put out the lineup he thought would best help his team win?
Ausmus said he isn’t starting Ohtani against Kikuchi because he preferred the matchups against the other 2 lefties this weekend. “Japanese baseball fans don’t like me now. Tell them I’m sorry.” #Angels
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) May 31, 2019
TOP STORIES
• MLB attendance down another 1.4%, 4th straight drop | Associated Press
• Ryu dominant again, Dodgers blank Mets 2-0 | Los Angeles Times
• Cubs-Cards set for London on June 13-14 in 2020 | Associated Press
• Brad Ausmus casually ruins anticipated Shohei Ohtani-Yusei Kikuchi showdown | Yahoo Sports
