1. The CBS/N.Y. TIMES Poll surveyed 1,190 adults from
February 22-25. Of that number 521 were identified as "baseball
fans" (those who said they were either very or somewhat
interested in following MLB). The margin of error for the full
sample ("TOTAL") is +/- 3%; for the subsample of baseball fans
("FANS"), +/- 4%. The poll shows that fans have "strong, if
somewhat contradictory, opinions on the underlying issues"
(Robert McG. Thomas, N.Y. TIMES, 2/28).
HOW INTERESTED ARE YOU IN WATCHING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?
TOTAL AGE BREAKDOWN
NOW 8/94 18-29 30-44 45-64 64+
Very interested 16% 15% 13% 15% 16% 25%
Somewhat interested 28 25 29 30 24 26
Not interested at all 56 60 58 55 60 49
IN THE CURRENT STRIKE, WHICH HAS STRIKE INCREASED OR
SIDE IS MORE IN THE RIGHT? DECREASED YOUR OVERALL
TOTAL INTEREST IN MLB?
Owners 43% TOTAL
Players 22 Increased 3%
Both (vol.) 4 Decreased 32
Neither (vol.) 12 No difference 62
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE ASKED OF THE 521 "FANS":
SHOULD OWNERS BE ALLOWED TO PUT HAS STRIKE RAISED/LOWERED
A "CAP" ON PLAYERS' SALARIES? YOUR OPINION OF MLB & THE
Allowed 69% PEOPLE INVOLVED IN IT?
Not allowed 24 Raised 2%
Lowered 54
No difference 43
IF THE PLAYERS ARE STILL ON STRIKE IN APRIL AND THE OWNERS
SCHEDULE GAMES WITH REPLACEMENT PLAYERS, WILL YOU ...
AGE BREAKDOWN
PAY TO GO SEE THOSE GAMES? FANS 18-29 30-44 45-64 64+
YES 39% 51% 34% 39% 33%
NO 57 45 63 60 61
WATCH THOSE GAMES ON TV?
YES 63% 71% 57% 58% 67%
NO 36 29 40 41 31
SHOULD CONGRESS CHANGE LAW AND SHOULD OWNERS & PLAYERS
MAKE BASEBALL ANSWERABLE TO BE FORCED TO SUBMIT TO
ANTITRUST LAWS, OR SHOULD MLB BINDING ARBITRATION, OR
REMAIN EXEMPT FROM ANTITRUST LAWS? NEGOTIATE THEMSELVES?
Change law 18% Arbitration 34%
Remain exempt 22 Negotiations 42
Don't know enough 57 Don't know enough 23
ARE PLAYERS BEING GREEDY OR ARE OWNERS BEING GREEDY
JUST TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH WHEN THEY ASK FOR A "CAP"
AS THEY CAN IN THE FEW YEARS ON PLAYER SALARIES, OR
THEY HAVE TO PLAY? ARE THEY JUST TRYING TO
Greedy 53% KEEP COSTS UNDER CONTROL?
Making what they can 42 Greedy 27%
Controlling costs 64
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN TRYING TO SETTLE
THE STRIKE? Get involved 14% Stay out 83%
2. The CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP Poll surveyed 499 self-
identified baseball fans from February 24-26. The margin of
error is +/- 5% (USA TODAY, 2/28).
WHICH SIDE DO YOU FAVOR? SHOULD CONGRESS TAKE AWAY
FEB. JAN. SEPT. MLB ANTITRUST EXEMPTION?
24-26 16-18 16-18 FANS
Owners 38% 50% 43% Take away 43%
Players 25 28 27 Maintain 43
Neither 30 18 21 No opinion 14
IF THE STRIKE IS NOT OVER BY THE TIME THE SEASON IS SCHEDULED TO
START, WOULD YOU APPROOVE OR DISAPPROVE OF USING (MINOR
LEAGUERS/OTHERS) AS REPLACEMENT PLAYERS
APPROVE DISAPPROVE NO OPINION
Minor Leaguers 68% 29% 3%
Others 64 32 4
IF THE STRIKE IS RESOLVED BY THE TIME THE BASEBALL SEASON IS
SCHEDULED TO START, WILL YOU BE ...
Less interested 29% As interested 58%
More interested 12 No opinion 2
