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FanGraphs | Travis Sawchik: Attendance is down by 6.7% in the early going of this season, and while the April weather certainly contributed in part, the biggest effect on the game has been tanking, which took out a number of would-be contenders before even leaving the gate. Now just six teams even have double-digit odds of making the postseason, so fans are opting to watch at home. The sport is relatively healthy, but this should get the league’s attention.
The Athletic | Max Bultman ($): It’s rare for analytics department employees to get interviews, but Maggie O’Hara is the only woman on a 14-person team in the Tigers’ analytics departments. She was awarded a fellowship for diversity in MLB front offices, and she is looking to not only break ground for other women, but establishing a network for them to succeed. I applaud her efforts, and hopefully diversity becomes a real priority for the league in the future. With all talk of “market inefficiencies,” alternate perspectives via diversity is an incredibly overlooked aspect.
The Ringer | Claire McNear: DC sports is back on the map with a Capitals Stanley Cup, and the Nationals aren’t slouches themselves, now with wunderkind Juan Soto (aka “Childish Bambino”) leading the charge. Soto has already made history with how young he is and the homers he has hit, and considering the track record of players who start their careers that early, it usually bodes well.
ESPN Insider | Eric Karabell: Miguel Sano was demoted to High-A Fort Myers on the backs of an 84 OPS+ 2018 performance, and the thinking is that working on his swing down in Florida could reignite his swing. Without the focus of the press and outside distractions, it could be a chance to get him back on track.