MLB wants people to think that the decline in its popularity is due to things like labor issues and steroids... which distracts from the real problem... they have an antiquated product that does not work with the lifestyle of most Americans.
It's still the second biggest sport here, and it's spreading globally.
The reason it's not as popular as it was throughout most of the 20th century is that there is so much more competition for the public's time and money.