Look, I'm dead-set against scheduling World Series games in November. But this is one odd argument against them ...
Well, which is it? More, or fewer?
According to Major League Baseball, the postseason TV ratings are up 13 percent this October. As these things go, 13 percent is fairly massive increase, especially considering that TV ratings for just about everything tend to drop every year. Of course, it helps when all four semifinalists hail from huge markets. But, still: It's not enough to just claim that the schedule is driving fans away. You should actually present some, you know, evidence or something.
I hate November baseball in the Northeast. I don't believe that baseball players should have to wear earmuffs just to survive out there. But I'm in the minority. The local fans will show up regardless of the weather, because the stakes are so high. And the fans everywhere else will watch because it's plenty warm where the TVs are.
You might not like the postseason schedule. I don't. But you have to figure the TV people have a pretty good idea of how to get the most eyeballs on the games. Pretending otherwise says more about us than them.
- Playoff baseball in October increasingly has had to compete for the sports fan's attention with college and pro football. Now, with the league's showcase beginning four days before November, Major League Baseball will also be fighting the ratings game with pro basketball. Perhaps for the first time ever, the NBA regular season will begin one day before Game 1 of the World Series starts.
Major League Baseball is applauding itself for gaining more viewers for its recent playoff games compared to last year. But Carol Slezak of the Chicago Sun-Times recently described how the league is driving fans away with its scheduling decisions.
Well, which is it? More, or fewer?
According to Major League Baseball, the postseason TV ratings are up 13 percent this October. As these things go, 13 percent is fairly massive increase, especially considering that TV ratings for just about everything tend to drop every year. Of course, it helps when all four semifinalists hail from huge markets. But, still: It's not enough to just claim that the schedule is driving fans away. You should actually present some, you know, evidence or something.
I hate November baseball in the Northeast. I don't believe that baseball players should have to wear earmuffs just to survive out there. But I'm in the minority. The local fans will show up regardless of the weather, because the stakes are so high. And the fans everywhere else will watch because it's plenty warm where the TVs are.
You might not like the postseason schedule. I don't. But you have to figure the TV people have a pretty good idea of how to get the most eyeballs on the games. Pretending otherwise says more about us than them.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Rob Neyer
Neyer is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He began his career with legendary baseball author (and now Red Sox executive) Bill James, then joined Stats Inc. and wrote about MLB, the NFL and the NBA. Neyer joined ESPN.com in 1996, and it's believed that he's written more words for the site than anybody.
Neyer moved to Kansas City in 1976, just in time for the Royals' first division title, and fell in love almost immediately. He attended the University of Kansas the same four years as Danny Manning, and is now happy to wait another 20 years for the Jayhawks' next championship.