South Orange, NJ, May 24, 2023 – Before the Major League Baseball season began (March, 2023), the Seton Hall Sports Poll found that fans embraced the new rules implemented for this season. In some cases, support from self-described fans, avid fans and Major League Baseball fans, was enthusiastic.
From Theory to Practice
Now, some two months into the season, the Poll again asked how the public felt about three rules in particular – the pitch clock, the larger bases, and the ban on overshifts. And in all cases, the approval response generally mirrored or improved upon the pre-season impressions.
These were among the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted last week among 1,509 adults across the country. The poll featured a national representative sample from YouGov weighted on U.S. Census Bureau figures for gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography and has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.
Pitch Clock
The approval rating for fans in general rose 3 percent to 62 percent and among MLB fans the approval rating stayed constant at 65 percent. There was, however, a slight drop (3 percent) for approval by self-described avid fans (now just 70 percent approval) of the pitch clock, which is largely credited for reducing game times by nearly 30 minutes.
“America’s Pastime is now passing less of it – and the end result could well be more fan engagement,” said Daniel Ladik, Marketing Professor in the Stillman School and chief methodologist to the Poll. “These numbers are compelling, and they’ve held from what was pre-season theoretical to actual in-season practice.”
“These rule changes were a major risk for Major League Baseball given a fan-base that is overwhelmingly steeped in tradition,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business, which sponsors the Poll. “These approval numbers for the rule changes seemingly verify that MLB made the right call.”
Respondents were asked if they agree with the implementation of a pitch clock:
[May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 46% | 65% | 29% | 62% | 22% | 70% | 58% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 41% | 20% | 59% | 25% | 64% | 19% | 28% |
| Disagree | 13% | 15% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 11% | 14% |
[March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 45% | 65% | 28% | 59% | 22% | 73% | 53% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 40% | 20% | 57% | 27% | 61% | 16% | 32% |
| Disagree | 15% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 17% | 11% | 15% |
Ban on Shifts
The ban on defensive shifts in the field were implemented to give hitters (especially left-hand hitters) a better opportunity for base hits. Acceptance of the ban is up slightly across the board from pre-season to in-season though the support overall is not as robust as the support for the pitch clock. The ban on shifts is favored by MLB fans by a 53-19 margin (remainder neither agree nor disagree). Among sports fans, that support drops to 49-18. Among avid fans, however, the support for the ban rises to 62 percent in favor with just 17 percent opposed – a more than 3 to 1 margin.
Respondents were asked if they agreed with the implementation of the ban on defensive shifts:
[May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 36% | 53% | 21% | 49% | 16% | 62% | 44% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 47% | 28% | 64% | 33% | 69% | 21% | 37% |
| Disagree | 17% | 19% | 15% | 18% | 15% | 17% | 19% |
[March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 34% | 52% | 20% | 46% | 15% | 59% | 40% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 45% | 23% | 63% | 31% | 67% | 16% | 38% |
| Disagree | 21% | 25% | 17% | 23% | 18% | 25% | 22% |
Larger Bases
Much like the approval numbers for the pitch clock and the ban on defensive shifts, the increase of base size approval remained steady or increased from pre-season to in-season. The larger bases have led to more base stealing, and presumably less contact between runners and fielders. The size of the bases had not changed since Major League Baseball began in 1876. MLB fans support the change 57 to 14 in this most recent poll, which essentially mirrors the data from pre-season. Among sports fans 54 to 13 approved (remainder neither agree nor disagree), while avid fans approved by 65 percent to 10 – up 5 points since preseason and fairly categorized as overwhelming support.
Respondents were asked if they agreed with the implementation of larger bases:
[May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 40% | 57% | 26% | 54% | 20% | 65% | 49% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 47% | 29% | 63% | 33% | 68% | 25% | 37% |
| Disagree | 13% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 14% |
[March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 39% | 55% | 24% | 50% | 21% | 60% | 45% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 48% | 30% | 64% | 36% | 68% | 24% | 41% |
| Disagree | 13% | 15% | 12% | 14% | 11% | 16% | 14% |
Questions, breakdowns and additional charts may be found below; an online version of this release may be found at https://blogs.shu.edu/sportspoll/
ABOUT THE POLL
The Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted regularly since 2006, is performed by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. This poll was conducted online by YouGov Plc. using a national representative sample weighted according to gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography, based on U.S. Census Bureau figures. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S residents. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell’s Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to CNBC, NPR, Yahoo Finance, Fox News and many points in between.
Media: Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034; Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com
May 2023 Seton Hall Sports Poll Results
This SHSP was conducted May 12th through May 16th and includes responses from 1,509 US adults with a margin of error of +/-2.5%. The sample mirrors the US Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region.
Data collected for the March 2023 Seton Hall Sports Poll shown in some of the tables below was collected March 6th through March 9th – before the start of the 2023 MLB season.
*Note: Presented in each table, Avid + Casual = total sports fandom in the data. Some tables break out the Avid and Casual segments.
Q1. Which of the following statements best describes you?
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB fan |
| I am an avid sports fan | 17% | 29% | 7% |
| I am a sports fan | 43% | 58% | 30% |
| I am not a sports fan | 40% | 13% | 63% |
Q2b. What is your level of interest in the MLB? [May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| This is one of my TOP interests | 16% | 25% | 2% | 38% | 19% |
| Somewhat interested | 31% | 42% | 14% | 39% | 43% |
| Not very interested | 22% | 20% | 25% | 14% | 23% |
| Not interested at all | 31% | 13% | 59% | 9% | 15% |
Q10. What is your level of interest in the MLB? [March 2023]
| N=1,534
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| This is one of my TOP interests | 18% | 27% | 1% | 46% | 19% |
| Somewhat interested | 29% | 40% | 12% | 36% | 41% |
| Not very interested | 21% | 20% | 24% | 10% | 24% |
| Not interested at all | 32% | 13% | 63% | 8% | 16% |
To what extent do you agree or disagree with MLB and the Players Association implementing the following rule changes?
The use of a pitch clock (like the NFL play clock or the NBA shot clock) is new this season. Pitchers now have 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on to throw a pitch. Pitchers must begin their motion in that time or be assessed a ball. Batters not in the box by the eight-second mark will receive a strike. Note: there will also be a 30-second clock between batters and a 2 minute 15 second inning break during regular-season games.
Q8a. [May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 46% | 65% | 29% | 62% | 22% | 70% | 58% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 41% | 20% | 59% | 25% | 64% | 19% | 28% |
| Disagree | 13% | 15% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 11% | 14% |
Q13a. [March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 45% | 65% | 28% | 59% | 22% | 73% | 53% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 40% | 20% | 57% | 27% | 61% | 16% | 32% |
| Disagree | 15% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 17% | 11% | 15% |
Defensive shifts are not allowed. All four infielders must have both feet on the infield dirt or grass when the pitcher begins his motion, and each team must have two infielders on each side of second base. A violation results in a ball, or the batting team can let the play stand.
Q8b. [May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 36% | 53% | 21% | 49% | 16% | 62% | 44% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 47% | 28% | 64% | 33% | 69% | 21% | 37% |
| Disagree | 17% | 19% | 15% | 18% | 15% | 17% | 19% |
Q13b. [March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 34% | 52% | 20% | 46% | 15% | 59% | 40% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 45% | 23% | 63% | 31% | 67% | 16% | 38% |
| Disagree | 21% | 25% | 17% | 23% | 18% | 25% | 22% |
With the goal of decreasing collisions at first base and stimulating more infield hits and stolen bases, all three bases were increased to 18 inches square from 15 inches. These larger bases will reduce the distance between first and second base, and second and third, by 4½ inches.
Q8c. [May 2023]
| N=1,509
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 40% | 57% | 26% | 54% | 20% | 65% | 49% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 47% | 29% | 63% | 33% | 68% | 25% | 37% |
| Disagree | 13% | 14% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 14% |
Q13d. [March 2023]
| N=1,553
|
General
Population |
MLB Fan | Non MLB Fan | Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Agree | 39% | 55% | 24% | 50% | 21% | 60% | 45% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 48% | 30% | 64% | 36% | 68% | 24% | 41% |
| Disagree | 13% | 15% | 12% | 14% | 11% | 16% | 14% |