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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has disturbed the baseball purists, but the statistics prove that his sweeping changes worked.
At the forefront of the 2023 season, MLB implemented a pitch, enlarged bases and shift restrictions. As the average length at stake is down more than half an hour ago its peak of 3:11 in 2021, participation has increased.
Participation has increased in each of the last two years. It was the first time since 2011 and 2012 that participation grew in back-to-back seasons.
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Alex Rodriguez and MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. Look at Before Game 3 in 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, October 28, 2024 in New York, New York. (Dustin Satloff/MLB photos via Getty Images)
World Series (assigned, two huge markets between Yankees and Dodgers) had its most viewers since 2017. But MLB on Fox viewing has increased by 10% compared to last year.
Manfred has had its reasonable proportion of dubious features, especially letting Houston Astros slip (on paper) to steal signs in 2017 and call the World Series trophy “a piece of metal.” He also taught the sport’s first work stop since 1994, and another lockout is threatening after next season.
At the end of the day, however, money negotiations have, and Manfred has rocked them in for the league.
Because there are now more eyeballs on baseball, Alex Rodriguez said he is “a big Rob Manfred fan.”
Hank Aaron Award winners make up for a photo with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron and Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. Before Game 2 in the World Series 2019 between Washington Nationals and Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Trautwig/MLB photos via Getty Images)
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“I think he deserves a lot of credit. Simple, with the changes he has made the last two or three years to truly save our games, he probably hears in Cooperstown,” Rodriguez said “The flock” Tuesday ahead of the All-Star game.
It is quite a compliment from Rodriguez when Manfred played a significant role in Rodriguez’s suspension throughout the 2014 season due to performance-promoting drugs-man peace led the investigation into the biogenesis scandal.
Manfred has also implemented the Negro League statistics to count to MLB numbers, renewed World Baseball Classic and reintroduced Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and others.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the first round of MLB Baseball Draft Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta. (Mike Stewart/AP Photo)
Currently, participation in 2025 is in the process of being lower than last year and the year before, but it should be noted that the rest of the summer will be played out and two teams play in smaller league stadions, which harms their participation numbers.
