… A YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adult citizens — including 347 baseball fans, or people who say they are very or somewhat interested in MLB — finds that baseball fans are more likely to support than oppose new rule changes.
Among the new rules is a measure called “defensive shift limits” that requires all four infielders to be on the infield dirt or infield grass with two infielders on each side of second base when each pitch is thrown. The rule is more supported (49%) than opposed (26%) among MLB fans, and people who are “very interested” in MLB support the rule by a wider margin (56% to 27%).
Another change will increase the size of the bases from 15 inches wide to 18 inches wide, which is designed to reduce collisions while encouraging more stolen-base attempts. The success of the larger bases during spring training has led some people to predict that the 2023 season will be the “year of the stolen base.” The new rule is supported by a margin of 49% to 29% among MLB fans. CONTINUED
Linley Sanders, YouGov
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