Could Orioles’ attendance be higher? | MAILBAG

Question: Is the Orioles’ ownership concerned about attendance? We have one of the best ballparks in all of baseball, a rich tradition, and some great young ballplayers, but we’re 24th out of 30 MLB teams in average attendance.

The arrival of the Nationals some years back heavily impacted our draw in the DMV, and being sandwiched in between Washington and Philly prevents us from being a regional team like Boston is in New England, for example. Maybe it’s simply too expensive to take the family out to a ballgame nowadays. But other teams are packing them in.

Are there other factors? I hear that the Inner Harbor isn’t what it used to be. Is that having an impact? Or is it just a matter of win more, draw more? From: Ron Somers

Answer: Ron, there’s a lot to unpack there. The Orioles are playing in one of the smallest markets in baseball, and attendance has never been as high was it was before the Nationals arrived.

In 2014, attendance was 2.464 million, and I think that’s realistically about as high as it can get. Traffic between Baltimore and Washington during the week is horrible, much worse than it was during the early years of the ballpark, and it’s unrealistic to think fans will come from Washington in large numbers except on the weekends.

Obviously, winning makes a huge difference. In 2014, the team reached the American League Championship Series, and in 2023, when the team drew 2.281 million, it won the AL East.

Going to games is expensive, but so is going to Ocean City and Disney World, but people do it. If the Orioles had a consistent winning team, I think you’d see attendance back well over 2 million, but it will never near 3 million again.

Question: I’m confused over the three-batter minimum rule. Sometimes it doesn’t apply. Please explain! From: Rich

 Answer: Rich, a relief pitcher must face three batters when entering the game—unless he ends the inning by retiring one or two batters. Then he doesn’t have to start the next inning. If a pitcher who retires the final batter of an inning starts the following inning, he must face two batters in that inning.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.