The D-backs have the seventh-worst attendance in MLB in "terms of total fans (656,820) and the eighth-worst based on the average number of fans at each game (22,649)" through the season's first two months. Those figures "shouldn’t be too surprising" as the team lost 93 games last season. However, the D-backs are "among the worst teams for year-over-year attendance drops, averaging about 3,000 fewer fans this season" than in '16. The D-backs are currently 34-25 and two games out of first place in the NL West (AZCENTRAL.com, 6/5).
WHY WAIT? The Yankees are 32-22 and in first place in the AL East, prompting co-Chair & General Partner Hank Steinbrenner to note the club is "greedy" and wants to "win the championship this year." Steinbrenner said the club is "doing really good this year with a mix of the young players and the veterans who we have now." Steinbrenner: "I still think it will be even better next year. But that’s not to say, ‘You never know.’ I mean even though Houston right now looks like the ’27 Yankees or maybe the ’65 Dodgers, you never know this year. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen this year. It sure as s--- could” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/6).
MOTION TO PROCEED: In Toronto, Peter Edwards reports lawyers for MLB, the Indians and Rogers Communications have "struck out in their attempt to have a discrimination claim thrown out on jurisdictional grounds." The claim, lodged by activist Douglas Cardinal, alleges that the Indians name and Chief Wahoo logo are "offensive and discriminatory." No date "has been set for a hearing before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario" (TORONTO STAR, 6/6).
GET OUTTA HERE: SI.com's Chris Chavez noted a Mets fan wearing a "Fire Terry Collins" T-shirt was "kicked out of Citi Field twice last week." A source said that the fan was dismissed from the ballpark last Tuesday and Wednesday for "being 'inebriated' and 'belligerent' while trying to sell his t-shirts inside Citi Field." The fan was also "holding up a sign" that called for the Mets manager's job (SI.com, 6/4).
