Some stats through the first month of the 2023 MLB season…

Hits are up 9%.
Runs are up 14%.
Steals are up 54%.
Games are 27 minutes shorter.

More baseball is happening in a shorter amount of time. The games feel more intense because they are. Almost every game seems to feel like playoff baseball.

All of this has a compounding effect.

Fans, especially younger fans, are more likely to tune in knowing they can watch more of a game. Watching more games keeps a fan more informed, and more bought into the season and the team.

The only thing most people are left wondering is why the change wasn’t made sooner.