Casey, I do agree with your post that interest in baseball is lower than, say 30 years ago. But that is not because the level of play is lower, which is where this thread started. There are a myriad of reasons for lower interest, including such otherwise unrelated factors as saturation on TV, other entertainment options such as video games and better/closer/more movie theatres, the breakup of the traditional American family, and resentment over salaries. I'll not be at all surprised to see attendance continue to drop, but that does not mean the play on the field is diminished.