What? The Miami Marlins Are NOT Last In Attendance?

Apr 27, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo (21) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Based on my own low expectations for the team coming into the season, continued outrage against the villainous owner and the depressing yet entertaining tone of stories I had seen written recently (here and here), I assumed that the Marlins were last in baseball in attendance.  As a matter of fact, I expected that they would be last by a wide margin.

Much to my surprise, upon checking the MLB Attendance Report I found that this was not the case.  Actually, the Marlins are not even second to last or third or fourth, they rank 26^th out of 30.  Somehow, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Cleveland are all drawing less fans than the Marlins.   The Marlins do have the largest drop off as compared to last season at -31%, so they can count that as a minor victory.

TEAM

2013 Rank

2013 AVG

2012 Rank

2012 AVG

% Change

26

18,864

18

27,400

-31%

27

18,751

26

21,258

-12%

28

18,696

30

19,255

-3%

29

18,497

25

21,748

-15%

30

14,103

29

19,797

-29%

What I do not understand, though, is how these other teams are allowing themselves to be outdrawn by the Marlins?  I mean, c’mon Cleveland!  You once sold out 455 consecutive games.  Now you let Miami take LeBron James and you can’t even top the Marlins in attendance.

Hey Kansas City, your team actually traded away prospects to ACQUIRE more expensive veteran players not the other way around.  You know why? Because they wanted to put a winning team on the field this very season.  And guess what, it worked; you have a winning record and are in second place for the first time since the invention of wheel.  Go watch them win games.

Yo Seattle! – stop spending all of your time at Starbucks and go watch the Mariners.  Your team actually signed its best young player to a long term contract instead of having to speculate every week about where he will be eventually traded for a bunch of prospects older than him.

Tampa Bay, you play in the worst stadium in all of baseball so I kind of feel for you.  However, your owners are, in fact, smart and know how to evaluate baseball talent and are willing to risk signing their best young players to multi-year deals as soon as possible for the long term success of the team.

Wait…why am I rooting for the Marlins to be in last place in attendance?  Damn you Loria!  Why do you have to make things so confusing!