A group of avid baseball fans, supported by Major League Baseball, are

Conclusion (Claim): The only reason people find baseball boring is because the games are long and lack physical contact.
Premises:

1. Baseball games are relatively long.
2. Baseball does not involve much physical contact.

The question asks us to weaken this claim, meaning we need to find an option that shows other reasons or evidence that would contradict the stated reason people find baseball boring.

A. Over the past few years, baseball has become more of a recognized international sport, with professional leagues in Japan, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
This doesn't address the fans' claim about why baseball is perceived as boring => Irrelevant to the argument, eliminate.

B. Despite the lack of physical contact and long matches, both golf and poker are considered exciting games by spectators to watch.
This somewhat weakens the claim. If other sports that also lack physical contact and have long matches (like golf and poker) are still considered exciting, then the reason given by the baseball fans (long games and no physical contact) is not the only factor that makes a sport boring. This undermines the fans' claim to some extent. Hold onto this.

C. Baseball is a sport that is very popular in certain warm regions of the United States while relatively unpopular in colder regions where snow is common.
This discusses geographical popularity and doesn’t address why people think baseball is boring => irrelevant again.

D. Basketball and football are very popular sports in the United States because they are fast-paced and filled with physical action.
This provides reasons why other sports are exciting, but it doesn't directly weaken the claim that the specific factors of long games and lack of physical contact make baseball boring. It shifts focus to other sports rather than challenging the fans' reasoning about baseball => Eliminate.

E. While many people feel that baseball is slow to watch, they also note that there are many times when baseball is action-packed and filled with drama.
This seems to concede that baseball can be boring at times but offers a counterpoint. However, it doesn't weaken the specific argument about the length of the game and lack of physical contact being the only reasons people find it boring => Does not directly weaken the claim

The best answer choice is (B).