I don’t have a background in statistical analysis. Math wasn’t my most fluent subject in grade school. However, I find that it doesn’t take much to look at some statistical facts and draw some insights from them.
Over the weekend, the Mets saw stronger attendance numbers than they had all season. Below is a list of the attendance numbers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and in parenthesis, you’ll see the percent of the total stadium capacity:
- Friday: 36,066 (86%)
- Saturday: 39,744 (94.8%)
- Sunday: 36,093 (84.1%)
- Season Average: 29,863 (71.4%)
Now it’s important to acknowledge the other dependent factors that are playing a role in driving attendance. First off, it is the weekend and usually the number of fans in the ballpark will be highest on the weekends. Second, the first place Los Angeles Dodgers were in town that not only provided for some incredible pitching match-ups, but the Dodgers still have plenty of ties to the New York community.
However, these aren’t the most important driving factors in increasing attendance. The more important factors are the moves by the front office and Sandy Alderson to shake things up. He didn’t make any huge moves (yet). However, they did call up their top prospect Michael Conforto and brought in two, legitimate big league bats in Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson.
All three players have had an immediate impact already. Conforto went 4/4 on Saturday and has driven in at least one RBI in each of his first three big-league games. Kelly Johnson had two hits including a towering homer in his first game on Saturday and Juan Uribe delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning yesterday.
It’s funny what happens when there is some confidence among players. Some reassurance that your front office has your back. Some momentum in knowing that their are other players to pick you up when you aren’t swinging a hot bat. These weren’t huge moves, but they were impactful moves and it didn’t take big moves to improve this lackluster offense.
I didn’t attend any of the games this weekend, but watched each one on television and you can feel the stadium’s energy even through the television broadcast.
For the first time all year, I was feeling some serious FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out for those not up to date on modern college lingo) not being at the stadium. Now that I’m back in New York, I can’t wait to go to Citi Field to see a game against the San Diego Padres this week and hopefully make it to a game vs. the Washington Nationals this weekend. It’d be great to bring in another bat and/or reliever before this weekend’s series which is shaping up to me one of the biggest of the season.
Moral of the story: we now know what comes first. The team needs to perform and the front office must restore confidence and assurance to the fans and then they will come. To end with a cheesy baseball quote: “If you build it (a competing team), they will come.” Take notes Sandy.
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