An Associated Press-Knowledge Networks poll asked fans to name the biggest problem in baseball. The top answer by far was the high price of attending games.
In results released yesterday, 63 percent of the fans said the steep cost was the game's top trouble - up from 45 percent in a survey before opening day.
MLB attendance is down more than 6 percent this season. The average ticket price is $26.64.
The AP-Knowledge Networks poll was conducted from June 26 to July 5 and involved online interviews with 655 adults who said they were interested in major-league baseball. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Another Mets injury
Top prospect Fernando Martinez is the latest New York Mets player to go down.
The rookie outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right knee.
The move is retroactive to July 4.
To replace Martinez on the roster, the Mets recalled infielder Argenis Reyes from triple-A Buffalo. Reyes was optioned to Buffalo after Tuesday night's game to open a roster spot for lefthander Oliver Perez, who came off the DL on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Martinez is hitting .176 with a home run and eight RBIs in 91 at-bats.
He joins eight other Mets on the disabled list, including Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran.
Taking nothing for granted
After the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep with a 6-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, manager A.J. Finch expressed appreciation for the small step his team took.
Arizona, which had been in last place in the National League West since June 8, jumped ahead of the Padres with its fifth straight win.
"Looking at the standings every day, to not be in last place is big and a breath of fresh air," Finch said. "Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but to wake up tomorrow and be out of that is a nice feeling."
Noteworthy
Pop star Sheryl Crow will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Tuesday night's All-Star Game in St. Louis. . . . The Florida Marlins activated righthanded reliever Kiko Calero from the 15-day disabled list. Calero had been sidelined since June 17 with right shoulder inflammation. He is 1-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 36 games. The Marlins optioned righty Tim Wood to triple-A New Orleans. . . . The Milwaukee Brewers did not leave a man on base in a 5-1 loss to St. Louis yesterday. It marked the ninth time in team history that it did not leave a man on base in a game. The Brewers managed only three hits against Cardinals righthander Joel Pineiro.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
