GaryMrMets
10-21-2005, 01:28 AM
Results of AP-AOL poll on attitudes about baseball
.c The Associated Press
The Associated Press-AOL Sports telephone poll on attitudes about professional baseball is based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults - including 394 self-described baseball fans - from all states except Alaska and Hawaii and some areas recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The interviews were conducted Oct. 11-13 by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
Results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region and education. An X designates less than 1 percent.
No more than one time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than 3 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all Americans were polled. The margin of error for 394 baseball fans is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
There are other sources of potential error in polls, including the wording and order of questions. Results may not total 100 percent because of rounding.
1. Are you a fan of professional baseball or not?
Yes, 33 percent
No, 64 percent
Somewhat (volunteered), 4 percent
2. In your view, which one statement represents the biggest problem in Major League Baseball?
(Results from April poll in parentheses)
The players make too much money, 29 percent (33)
Players use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, 23 percent (27)
It costs too much to attend a game, 22 percent (22)
The games are too long, 11 percent (8)
Other, 3 percent (6)
None, 1 percent (X)
Not sure, 11 percent (4)
(QUESTIONS BELOW ASKED ONLY OF THE 394 SELF-DESCRIBED BASEBALL FANS)
3. Which Major League Baseball team do you root for during the regular season?
New York Yankees, 12 percent
Atlanta Braves, 11 percent
Boston Red Sox, 11 percent
Chicago Cubs, 5 percent
St. Louis Cardinals, 5 percent
Anaheim/LA Angels, 3 percent
Cincinnati Reds, 3 percent
Detroit Tigers, 3 percent
Houston Astros, 3 percent
Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 percent
Minnesota Twins, 3 percent
New York Mets, 3 percent
Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 percent
San Diego Padres, 3 percent
San Francisco Giants, 3 percent
Texas Rangers, 3 percent
Baltimore Orioles, 2 percent
Cleveland Indians, 2 percent
Florida Marlins, 2 percent
Milwaukee Brewers, 2 percent
Oakland Athletics, 2 percent
Philadelphia Phillies, 2 percent
Seattle Mariners, 2 percent
Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 percent
Chicago White Sox, 1 percent
Colorado Rockies, 1 percent
Kansas City Royals, 1 percent
Toronto Blue Jays, 1 percent
Washington Nationals, 1 percent
None, 2 percent
Not sure, 1 percent
4. As you may know, the American League allows designated hitters to bat for pitchers, while in the National League pitchers bat themselves. Which one of these describes your view:
Both leagues should allow designated hitters, 29 percent
Neither league should allow designated hitters, 40 percent
Keep the situation as it is now, with designated hitters in the American League but not in the National League, 30 percent
Not sure, 1 percent
5. Should American League and National League teams play each other during the regular season, or should they play each other only during the World Series?
During regular season, 56 percent
Only during the World Series, 42 percent
Not sure, 2 percent
6. Should the All-Star Game be used to determine which league's champion gets home-field advantage in the World Series, or not?
Yes, All-Star game should determine home-field advantage in World Series, 41 percent
No, All-Star game should not determine home-field advantage in World Series, 56 percent
Not sure, 3 percent
7. Thinking about the number of players from outside the United States and Canada in Major League Baseball today, do you think there are (RANDOMIZE: too many players from other countries, not enough players from other countries, about the right number of players from other countries) in Major League Baseball today?
Too many players, 22 percent
Not enough players, 10 percent
About the right number of players, 59 percent
Not sure, 9 percent
8. How would you rate the overall quality of the umpires in Major League Baseball today - excellent, good, only fair or poor?
Excellent, 24 percent
Good, 56 percent
Only fair, 17 percent
Poor, 1 percent
Not sure, 2 percent
TOTAL EXCELLENT/GOOD - 80 percent
TOTAL FAIR/POOR - 18 percent
10/20/05 13:52 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
The Associated Press-AOL Sports telephone poll on attitudes about professional baseball is based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults - including 394 self-described baseball fans - from all states except Alaska and Hawaii and some areas recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The interviews were conducted Oct. 11-13 by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
Results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region and education. An X designates less than 1 percent.
No more than one time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than 3 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all Americans were polled. The margin of error for 394 baseball fans is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
There are other sources of potential error in polls, including the wording and order of questions. Results may not total 100 percent because of rounding.
1. Are you a fan of professional baseball or not?
Yes, 33 percent
No, 64 percent
Somewhat (volunteered), 4 percent
2. In your view, which one statement represents the biggest problem in Major League Baseball?
(Results from April poll in parentheses)
The players make too much money, 29 percent (33)
Players use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, 23 percent (27)
It costs too much to attend a game, 22 percent (22)
The games are too long, 11 percent (8)
Other, 3 percent (6)
None, 1 percent (X)
Not sure, 11 percent (4)
(QUESTIONS BELOW ASKED ONLY OF THE 394 SELF-DESCRIBED BASEBALL FANS)
3. Which Major League Baseball team do you root for during the regular season?
New York Yankees, 12 percent
Atlanta Braves, 11 percent
Boston Red Sox, 11 percent
Chicago Cubs, 5 percent
St. Louis Cardinals, 5 percent
Anaheim/LA Angels, 3 percent
Cincinnati Reds, 3 percent
Detroit Tigers, 3 percent
Houston Astros, 3 percent
Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 percent
Minnesota Twins, 3 percent
New York Mets, 3 percent
Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 percent
San Diego Padres, 3 percent
San Francisco Giants, 3 percent
Texas Rangers, 3 percent
Baltimore Orioles, 2 percent
Cleveland Indians, 2 percent
Florida Marlins, 2 percent
Milwaukee Brewers, 2 percent
Oakland Athletics, 2 percent
Philadelphia Phillies, 2 percent
Seattle Mariners, 2 percent
Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 percent
Chicago White Sox, 1 percent
Colorado Rockies, 1 percent
Kansas City Royals, 1 percent
Toronto Blue Jays, 1 percent
Washington Nationals, 1 percent
None, 2 percent
Not sure, 1 percent
4. As you may know, the American League allows designated hitters to bat for pitchers, while in the National League pitchers bat themselves. Which one of these describes your view:
Both leagues should allow designated hitters, 29 percent
Neither league should allow designated hitters, 40 percent
Keep the situation as it is now, with designated hitters in the American League but not in the National League, 30 percent
Not sure, 1 percent
5. Should American League and National League teams play each other during the regular season, or should they play each other only during the World Series?
During regular season, 56 percent
Only during the World Series, 42 percent
Not sure, 2 percent
6. Should the All-Star Game be used to determine which league's champion gets home-field advantage in the World Series, or not?
Yes, All-Star game should determine home-field advantage in World Series, 41 percent
No, All-Star game should not determine home-field advantage in World Series, 56 percent
Not sure, 3 percent
7. Thinking about the number of players from outside the United States and Canada in Major League Baseball today, do you think there are (RANDOMIZE: too many players from other countries, not enough players from other countries, about the right number of players from other countries) in Major League Baseball today?
Too many players, 22 percent
Not enough players, 10 percent
About the right number of players, 59 percent
Not sure, 9 percent
8. How would you rate the overall quality of the umpires in Major League Baseball today - excellent, good, only fair or poor?
Excellent, 24 percent
Good, 56 percent
Only fair, 17 percent
Poor, 1 percent
Not sure, 2 percent
TOTAL EXCELLENT/GOOD - 80 percent
TOTAL FAIR/POOR - 18 percent
10/20/05 13:52 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.