With two months of the MLB season completed, a few trends appear upon inspection of the social media numbers for each club, according to an analysis of Facebook likes and Twitter followers. Unexpected success plays a major role in the high percentage changes found in teams that are exceeding expectations on the field including the Nationals, Blue Jays, Marlins, Dodgers and Orioles. This success does not always crossover though, as the White Sox have not seen their division-leading success materialize in a significant bump. MLB itself is also seeing a 13.5% increase for its combined Facebook/Twitter figures to date. Popular, large-payroll teams such as the Phillies and Red Sox that have been struggling in the standings have seen sluggish social media gains for the first time since SportsBusiness Daily/Journal began tracking social media numbers in March '11. The Red Sox and Yankees remain the only two MLB clubs with over two million social media followers. Listed below are combined Facebook likes and Twitter followers for MLB teams’ official pages/feeds on March 30 compared to May 30.
| |
------ MARCH 30 ------
|
------ MAY 30 ------
|
|
| TEAM |
FB
|
TW
|
TOTALS
|
FB
|
TW
|
TOTALS
|
% +/-
|
| Nationals |
136,806
|
29,317
|
166,123
|
154,202
|
44,942
|
199,144
|
19.9%
|
| Blue Jays |
400,159
|
95,368
|
495,527
|
434,048
|
139,775
|
573,823
|
15.8%
|
| MLB |
1,099,360
|
1,875,220
|
2,974,580
|
1,276,041
|
2,101,073
|
3,377,114
|
13.5%
|
| Marlins |
239,553
|
31,213
|
270,766
|
259,406
|
47,026
|
306,432
|
13.2%
|
| Dodgers |
949,662
|
99,148
|
1,048,810
|
1,039,960
|
131,362
|
1,171,322
|
11.7%
|
| Orioles |
343,393
|
36,580
|
379,973
|
366,556
|
54,186
|
420,742
|
10.7%
|
| Rangers |
1,210,451
|
124,413
|
1,334,864
|
1,304,835
|
162,948
|
1,467,783
|
10.0%
|
| D'Backs |
234,871
|
32,335
|
267,206
|
252,378
|
41,304
|
293,682
|
9.9%
|
| Angels |
440,633
|
43,751
|
484,384
|
475,050
|
56,403
|
531,453
|
9.7%
|
| Pirates |
311,781
|
35,791
|
347,572
|
330,984
|
50,188
|
381,172
|
9.7%
|
| Reds |
519,008
|
74,339
|
593,347
|
549,609
|
97,959
|
647,568
|
9.1%
|
| Tigers |
951,689
|
77,895
|
1,029,584
|
1,008,204
|
109,941
|
1,118,145
|
8.6%
|
| Braves |
1,084,752
|
139,544
|
1,224,296
|
1,147,908
|
179,286
|
1,327,194
|
8.4%
|
| Mets |
544,870
|
75,181
|
620,051
|
572,913
|
98,994
|
671,907
|
8.4%
|
| Royals |
279,019
|
44,845
|
323,864
|
289,764
|
56,669
|
346,433
|
7.0%
|
| Indians |
501,753
|
46,062
|
547,815
|
522,593
|
62,861
|
585,454
|
6.9%
|
| Rays |
403,592
|
49,329
|
452,921
|
420,993
|
61,513
|
482,506
|
6.5%
|
| Yankees |
5,321,616
|
549,663
|
5,871,279
|
5,622,627
|
619,217
|
6,241,844
|
6.3%
|
| Rockies |
443,660
|
33,755
|
477,415
|
463,045
|
44,182
|
507,227
|
6.2%
|
| Cardinals |
1,218,606
|
118,224
|
1,336,830
|
1,272,036
|
145,985
|
1,418,021
|
6.1%
|
| Cubs |
1,572,433
|
101,540
|
1,673,973
|
1,640,265
|
132,149
|
1,772,414
|
5.9%
|
| White Sox |
848,831
|
50,333
|
899,164
|
885,217
|
67,240
|
952,457
|
5.9%
|
| Giants |
1,361,720
|
234,353
|
1,596,073
|
1,431,801
|
257,295
|
1,689,096
|
5.8%
|
| Mariners |
473,180
|
43,694
|
516,874
|
491,889
|
54,891
|
546,780
|
5.8%
|
| Brewers |
562,106
|
63,546
|
625,652
|
583,915
|
76,735
|
660,650
|
5.6%
|
| A's |
303,928
|
38,713
|
342,641
|
313,954
|
47,807
|
361,761
|
5.6%
|
| Astros |
402,685
|
27,014
|
429,699
|
416,573
|
36,208
|
452,781
|
5.4%
|
| Padres |
364,255
|
32,131
|
396,386
|
376,764
|
40,120
|
416,884
|
5.2%
|
| Red Sox |
3,483,436
|
219,629
|
3,703,065
|
3,607,247
|
271,298
|
3,878,545
|
4.7%
|
| Twins |
738,993
|
67,772
|
806,765
|
760,423
|
84,100
|
844,523
|
4.7%
|
| Phillies |
1,170,683
|
678,403
|
1,849,086
|
1,210,144
|
693,022
|
1,903,166
|
2.9%
|
