In my view the issue with Baseball is much broader and much bigger than the current MLB standings. In the old days, Dads passed down their love of Baseball to their kids. Baseball was uniquely American, and everyone desired to play American sports. The kids played and developed a love for the game. Immigrant kids also attached themselves to the game (think DiMaggio brothers) to join the crowd of kids playing the game and demonstrate their integration with the American culture. Nowadays, with everything in Baseball done through adult organized leagues (Little League, Travel ball etc.), there is a smaller and smaller group of kids interested in the sport. There is less influence from Dad (as kids have too many other influences and entertainment options). Immigrant kids generally are much more interested in soccer and basketball. Baseball is a hard sell for them. In Silicon Valley, with the huge influx of Asian immigrants, Little Leagues are folding each year. Overall the culture is much more global and less devoted to all things American (not necessarily a bad thing...but maybe not so good for Baseball). Add to this the 'focus group decree' that no national talk show is allowed to talk about Baseball (only NFL and NBA are allowed) and it feels like the sport is drifting further from cultural importance.