Growing up with the Los Angeles Dodgers of the 1950s and 1960s and the Saint Louis Cardinals now I enjoy the thinking that goes on in the game a lot. Most non-fans don't have the understanding/background to properly enjoy the game. That is common to most sports.
But it is hardly a war gamer game TBH. Most of us want the instant conflict. NFL Football is for the HTH contact sort, Fútbol is the tactical equivalent of a night patrol in WW1 mixed with an air strike (only slightly less schizophrenic,) and Baseball is for the snipers out there (if you aren't ready for the action before it starts you miss it and it's over quickly.)
That said, I don't think it would be attractive as a table top game to most on this forum. Board gamers maybe, sports gamers maybe, change the game to a fantasy/SF Action oriented setting and maybe then...
Much as I love the game in real life, on the table top it would have to stop being "Baseball" (especially the perverted AL version) to attract most miniatures gamers.
Just IMO of course, YMMV.
Gracias,
Glenn'