Another lackluster Series

[pretendastronaut]

The postseason overall has been decent, but the Series was a let down yet again. After we were spoiled with fantastic World Series from 2001 through 2003, we're knocking on the door of the 4th sweep in 5 years, which is pretty disappointing if you're just a baseball fan.

I had been thinking going into tonight that this playoff format, with no day games anymore, and everything scheduled around the prime time tv viewership, was really backfiring. Its hard to overlook Colorado sitting for 9 days before this Series and Detriot sitting for 7 days last year before the Series. But after double checking the numbers tonight, the White Sox sat for 5 days before the series and they swept the Astros who had only sat for 2 days, so its not really safe to say the scheduling is playing the most significant role. Perhaps the teams have just been that unbalanced, but I find that hard to believe, especially last year.

I do know that the long breaks in action take the fans out of the postseason pretty fast though. Hopefully next year it works out better, not only because the Crew will be there, but because its a pretty fizzling end to a record setting year throughout baseball.

[kgbaseball]

At least the best team in the MLB in 2007 won the WS this year. When was the last time that happened?

[AJAY]

Besides personally being so sick of the Red Sox, it was also disappointing that the Rockies never really had any kind of lead other than a tiny lead in Game 2. It seemed like they were always behind and that took the fun out of it. A sweep isn't much fun either.

 

As far as TV coverage, the post-season games seem to end later every year. I hate the expanded commercial breaks. They should also start the pre-game coverage 30 minutes earlier so it can end at a more reasonable hour. I also think they should not have days off for travel because it disrupts the flow for fans. We are used to watching everyday, and the players are used to the travel. So they might as well skip the off-days and get the fans into a more regular routine.

 

I'll pass on the idea of day games. Prime time is fine for me.

 

Anyway, I want to see the BREWERS play in the World Series now. Everything else is getting old now.

[logan82]

They would have to play day games if they don't take a day off for travel. That is unless you play Houston and they screw you like they have us at least twice now.

[pitchleague]

22 weeks from tonight there will be meaningful games again.

 

Ugh . . . 154 days without real baseball games! Can we do a countdown or something?

[colbyjack]

What bothered me is the fact that Arod becoming a free agent was more important than the fact that the Red Sox won the World Series. Peter Gammons was obviously pissed off about this on ESPN, as he was on the fritz during his post-game commentary in which he had more trouble than usual making sense. The teams and players can't make news during the World Series (and playoffs), but the agents can.

 

I have some understanding of the Boras thing having spoken with a couple of his reps, but they really don't get the marketing thing.

 

And while I'm with AJAY in that I could do without the Red Sox, they didn't seem to get their just due this year for whatever reason. The Rockies will definitely be one of the most forgetable World Series participants unless they can justify their inclusion next season.

[Mike Felder]

To me, the whole postseason seemed kind of meh. 5 of the 7 series were sweeps, one of them was a 3-1 series, and as a whole, I didn't find the one 7 game series to be all that dramatic.

 

Then again, I could just be harboring bitterness about the Brewers' season.

[BrewCrewRising]

This World Series has me both bitter and concerned. Here's why:

 

1) Though having a huge payroll doesn't assure you a WS title, it sure helps. Theo Epstein is pretty darn smart, but even then, it doesn't hurt having reserves that will amount to the second largest payroll to absorb your mistakes or to pad overrated signings with other overrated signings. If the Crew signs JD Drew, it's not a good signing because his .800 OPS is not going to justify 1/3 of the payroll. If you're the Red Sox, who cares?

 

2)The obvious sentiment from above leads me to this point. Would the Crew, even the Crew of April and early May, ever have had a chance against the Red Sox? It seems like it will be hard enough to get to the playoffs, but once there.....wow. The best teams really do look viscious.

 

All that said, I have to concur that this was not an inspiring WS at all.

[PeaveyFury]

It is simply mystifying that MLB is at unprecedented levels of attendance, revenues, popularity, etc, but can't seem to get anyone interested in the post season (and specifically the WS) anymore. I admit even I had no interest in watching the Series until about the 7th inning last night.

 

It'll be very interesting to see the ratings for this year.

[hawing]

22 weeks from tonight there will be meaningful games again.

Somehow that sounds more manageable than 154 days.

 

And Peavey, I thought I'd read that the ratings for the early WS games were favorable (I suppose due to the R.S. Nation tuning in, because nothing else would matter, would it?)

[JohnBriggs12]

Game 1: 3 hours 30 minutes

 

Game 2: 3 hours 39 minutes

 

Game 3: 4 hours 19 minutes

 

Game 4: 3 hours 35 minutes

 

I'm sorry, but no way I'm sitting through games that are as slowly paced as that. MLB spends all this work to speed up regular season games then allows it's showcase to turn into a sleep inducing bore.

 

The second game was 2-1 and took over 3 1/2 hours? Give me a break. Saturday night game 3 was a joke.

[Rightomac13]

Atleast we get free tacos tomorrow.

[trwi7]

Eww 3.75 hours per game? Glad I didn't watch. That sucks for those that did though. Way, way too long.

[hawing]

I'll pass on the idea of day games. Prime time is fine for me.

 

I understand your point, AJAY, but when "prime time" routinely lasts past 11 PM Central, that's practially counterproductive. Like JohnBriggs12, I'm largely turned off by these super lengthy game times, especially when they don't involve my team.

[JJHardy7]

Games are way too long and there's way too much time between games. Baseball is thinking the longer the game the more money they can make, but it doesn't make great sports tv by any means.

[JohnBriggs12]

Not only are the games being way too long bad enough, but who can stand listening to that announcer team that long?

 

Makes me long for the days of Garagiola and Kubek.

[pretendastronaut]

I'm sorry, but no way I'm sitting through games that are as slowly paced as that. MLB spends all this work to speed up regular season games then allows it's showcase to turn into a sleep inducing bore.

 

Which isn't to even mention the ALCS game 2 that took over 5 hours for an 11 inning game. It was after 1AM when that game ended on the east coast. I can understand how having both games in primetime should make money, but is having games go until 1AM making more money than a few afternoon games in the post season?

Overall the more I thought about it, the worse the whole postseason became. I really only enjoyed seeing the Cubs get swept, and Boston coming back from being down 3-1 wasn't as amazing as it should have been, but it was something. Other than that, not a lot of excitement at all. I do agree that Boston was far and away the best team this year, and they played like it, but that's not necessarily indicitive the World Series results. Twice in the past 7 years the Yankees lost to inferior teams, and St. Louis was an inferior team to Detriot last year. Of course in saying that, its been the National League that has been the inferior team every year.

I just think if you're baseball you have to be concerned about these poor World Series that really only alienate the casual fan. The entire playoff structure isn't meant for getting new fans or the casual fan, and that can only hurt in the long run. When even committed baseball fans such as ourselves cared to watch very little of the Series, you're really doing something wrong. To long of games, to much time between games, and then no drama plays out on the field, and you've got one bad end to a storied and successful season.

[owbc]

It's exciting, but only if you are a fan of one of the two teams.

 

I agree, the commercial breaks were terrible. I don't really care if they earn MLB a few bucks, that extra revenue will go away when people stop watching the World Series. The only game I watched was the end of game 3, and it was taking so long that I turned over to football for about half of it--and I don't even like football compared to baseball or hockey.

 

The other problem is that nobody compared to the Red Sox. They were better the entire year, and their combination of player development and high payroll is unbeatable. I know the layoff hurt the Rockies' momentum, but they looked like the Brewers offense, that is, the ball didn't carry so they didn't get the home runs, while the Red Sox were the ones playing National League baseball.

 

I don't like the Red Sox, but they are the model franchise right now and unless the Indians spend some money this offseason, I don't see how they will be stopped next year? And...what if they get A-Rod to top if off?

[danzig6767]

I watched about 3 innings of the Wold Series.It bored me so badly that i'd tune in to see the score,turn the channel during a commercial and then forget the game was still on.

 

What a yawner

[Invader3K]

At least FOX's production didn't seem as annoying as in years past. I really enjoyed having games on TBS...I thought they did a good job with the games they covered. Maybe FOX took some notes from them.