Announced paid attendance for Blue Jays-Yankees last night was 25,566, a "new low at the new Yankee Stadium," but most concerning is that the small crowd "wasn't a one-time thing," according to Randy Miller of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Last night was the "smallest crowd for a Yankees home game since they drew 10,732 on Sept. 20, 2004" at old Yankee Stadium. The "previous low at the current ballpark" was 27,532 for a September '15 game against the Blue Jays. On April 17, also a Monday, the Yankees had their "second sub-30,000 crowd of the season and fourth overall at new Yankee Stadium," which opened in '09. However, this season the Yankees are "averaging 35,588 for 13 home dates." That is "sixth best in baseball, which is where they were last season when averaging 37,819 for 81 games." The Yankees also entered last night "tied for the best record in baseball" and RF Aaron Judge, one of MLB's "most exciting young players, already has 10 homers" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/2).
MOVING THE NEEDLE: In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro wrote the Yankees this year are a "fun team" and are "fun to follow." Vaccaro: "Fun to watch. Fun to write about. Fun to talk about." And while there are "no playoff shares given out to 'fun' teams," sometimes that "actually does result in something tangible." Vaccaro: "1996, for instance" (N.Y. POST, 4/30).
