Low Ratings But Riding High …

Apparently, Tommy Lasorda isn’t enough of a pull to get baseball fans to click off Deal or No Deal and onto some fall classic. How disappointing is it if your name is Joe Buck and you just got beaten out in the ratings by Howie Mandel—who by the way sports a soul patch similar to Spiezio, who did an amazing disappearing act for the World Series. It’s like Tony Larussa told Spiezio, “Hey, you and your red soul patch helped us get past the Mets, but there’s no way you’re bringing that shtick into the World Series.”

In any case, any one who listens to sports radio or reads TV blogs probably have heard/read that this World Series (WS) has garnered the lowest TV ratings of any WS. Baseball pundits point out to the fact that geographically, they’re not the most ideal teams. New York or Los Angeles would have been ideal, and although the Cardinals and the Tigers both have storied franchises, there’s not enough sex appeal in both those cities. I mean, does the St. Louis Arch get you as pumped up as seeing a panorama-shot of Times Square. And Detroit … hmm, besides John Mellencamp and Chevrolet, what else is that alluring about Detroit?

I’ve also heard people argue that the ratings reflect what baseball fans really think about both teams—that they stink. Sure, both teams limped into the playoffs, Detroit losing its division and earning a wild card spot and the Cardinals almost having a historic meltdown. But to refute that, didn’t both these teams end up beating what were considered the best teams in the postseason—the Mets and the Yankees. Sure, the Tigers and the Cards didn’t come into the postseason smoking hot, but they turned it on when it matters most.

Here are my top three reasons why the ratings are especially low:
1) Weather. The rain delay absolutely hurt the WS ratings. Not only did hardcore fans get bored of waiting (seriously, how many “War at Home” episodes can we swallow), but casual fans just caught up with other shows and subsequently forgot there was even a series. Also, because the WS is played so late in the fall, most people aren’t thinking baseball. Baseball is predominantly played in warm weather, so when leaves turn brown and people start wearing parkas, the last thing they think about is baseball.

2) Marketing. When Fox had the opportunity to cover the Red Sox versus the Yankees, they milked every storyline until not one drop was left. From the curse of the Bambino to its fans to its starting players, Fox and its coverage left no stone unturned. Even last year, Fox did a great job of building up the Ozzie Guilin factor and the blue-collar sensibility of the White Sox opposing the veteran-led Astros.
The 2005 WS wasn’t even competitive as the White Sox swept the Astros in four straight, yet you’re telling me the Cards and Tigers don’t have any riveting storylines? Eckstein is 5’7” with cleats on and the epitome of scrappy. Rolen is having a breakout series after his discord with Larussa. Can’t there be some father-son storyline between Preston “K” Wilson and Mookie Wilson? Or better yet, Chris Duncan (Cards outfielder) and dad Dave Duncan (Cards pitching coach).
Why can’t we hear more about Larussa and Leyland’s friendship? These are two of the most respected managers of this era and yet Fox hasn’t done anything to make us care. Sure, those HP sidebars during the game are interesting, but unless you’re a fan of these two teams, Fox hasn’t done anything to make us care. And please, don’t tell me Tommy Lasorda’s plea will change TV ratings? I’m highly disappointed at the low ratings—mostly because I would like all of America to see why the Cardinals are such an easy team to love. You’re telling me you wouldn’t have an a-ha moment if sideline reporter, Ken Rosenthal, explained why Albert Pujols always prefers to outrun the baserunner and tag first base as opposed to flip it to the pitcher for the easier (and safer) out? Come on, why have broadcasters and sideline reporters if they’re not asking what we really want to know. Sports, at its essence, is the first reality television show, yet it doesn’t deliver the goods. I would care a lot more if Fox covered and marketed the WS with some more passion and relevance. If I was a sideline reporter, here are three questions I would ask, which would result in a ratings spike.
- “If baseball is the sport for young, impressionable boys, why do you [Chris Duncan, Brandon Inge, etc.] chew tobacco so conspicuously?”
- “Hey there Placido Polanco. Everyone in America is wondering, what size hat do you wear because your head is huge?”
- To a random fan in the crowd, “Give us your honest assessment of the broadcasting duo of Tim McCarver and Joe Buck.” To cut them a little slack, they’re getting more tolerable by the inning. I’m tell you, when your team’s winning, Dee Brown could be doing play-by-play and I would still be happy.

3) Starting time. Again, if you want the future of America to love your sport and to watch the WS, it would probably be logical to get the game in before Jay Leno is wrapping up his show. People watch a game to not only get into the whole spirit of the game, but to see it to decisive conclusion. But if fans going in know that there’s no way they will watch a game past midnight (for east coast fans and Midwest on occasion), this can determine if one will watch the game period.
Everyone at my work asks me first thing in the morning, “So, who won? I couldn’t stay up past the 4th inning.”

All that to say, I am deliriously happy. I’m kind of in a daze due to the late start of the games and the fact that on Wednesday night I had to actually sit through 34 episodes of “War at Home,” but still, I am functionally blissful. I prophetically called that the Cards would win in seven games and that Rolen would be crowned MVP. I totally would be ecstatic if the Cards can win tonight and Eckstein wins the MVP, but as long as St. Louis brings home the crown, I’ll have a wonderful weekend.

Also, I think my wife misses having her husband around and Jaden’s starting to call his teddy bear “Daddy.” Please, please, rain hold out and let the Cards clinch it tonight.