23
2011
Hey, Kids! How Do You Like The World Zzzzeries?
An article by 
Despite the “Hey, Kids!” in the title, I’m going to start this post by asking a question to our older readers. Tell me, my friends. Do you remember when you were in school and you rushed home every October to watch a World Series game at home? How about the times when your teacher would occasionally bring a TV or radio into the classroom so that you could watch or listen to the game in class? No? Well, it used to happen (unless if my father lied to me, which he would never do).
Unfortunately, like closers pitching three innings and Bobby Bonilla being a dependable Bronx tour guide, those things just don’t happen anymore. This year’s World Series between the Cardinals and the Rangers will have all its games starting at 8:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time (7:05 PM local time in St. Louis and Texas). While this is an improvement over the old 8:29 PM (or later) start times, it’s still not early enough for kids to watch.
Let’s take Saturday night’s Game 3 for instance. The Cardinals outslugged the Rangers, 16-7, to take a two games to one edge in the World Series. The game, as with all World Series games this year, started at 8:05 PM (actually, the first pitch was thrown at 8:06 PM because ceremonial first pitch chucker Dirk Nowitzki needed an extra minute to warm up his seven-foot frame). However, with all the runs and pitching changes, the game took four hours and four minutes to play. That’s what happens when you get 23 runs and six pitching changes in the middle of an inning (four made by Tony La Russa and two made by Ron Washington). Even with the “earlier” start time, the game ended at 12:10 AM on Sunday morning.
You don’t need a rocket scientist or a flux capacitor inventor to figure out that World Series games take longer to play than regular season games. Managers tend to yank their starting pitchers at the first sign of trouble, and this usually will occur during an inning rather than after it. Also, there will be more trips to the mound to talk to rattled pitchers and these trips will occur earlier than they would in the regular season. And of course, there are the commercial breaks. Having the games in prime time generates more money from advertisers, which means FOX has to squeeze out every penny from said advertisers. Simple translation: There are more commercials per break in the action than you would see from April to September.
This is not something new. In 2000, when the Mets played the Yankees in the World Series, no game lasted less than 3 hours and 20 minutes, with every game starting after 8:00 PM. Game 1 (a 12-inning game) was nine minutes short of a five-hour game. On average, each game in the five-game series lasted 3 hours and 46 minutes. Take out the extra-inning affair in Game 1 and the other games, all of which lasted nine innings, took an average of 3 hours and 30 minutes to play. There was no plethora of pitching changes and the games were relatively low-scoring (the Mets and Yankees combined to score 35 runs in the five-game series, an average of seven runs per game between the two teams).
With an earlier start time, more kids could have seen Roger Clemens attempt to make the Olympic javelin team.
Do you remember when the last day game was played in the World Series? That was in 1987, when the Twins forced a seventh and deciding game against the Cardinals by defeating them in Game 6, an early afternoon start in Minnesota. Even so, that game was played on a Saturday, when kids would have been home from school anyway. The 1984 World Series between the Tigers and the Padres also featured two day games in Games 4 and 5, but they were also weekend affairs.
To find the last weekday day game in World Series history, you have to go back nearly four decades. On Friday, October 20, 1972, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Oakland A’s in Game 5 of the Fall Classic. The Reds’ victory in Game 5 sent the series back to Cincinnati, where the A’s would win their first of three consecutive championships in Game 7. It would also mark the final time that lights were not needed during a World Series game that took place while kids were still in school.
Television ratings for World Series games have been in a steady decline for quite some time now. People have more choices when it comes to what they watch on TV at night, especially since the advent of cable television. There is nothing that seems to suggest that this trend won’t continue over the next few decades. And who is going to be watching those games in the next 10-20 years? That’s right, my friends. Today’s children are going to be the adults of tomorrow who would be watching those games. Unfortunately, if the games start too late for children to watch in 2011, then how will they develop an interest in the Fall Classic that would make them want to watch in 2021 and beyond?
Major league baseball doesn’t have to start their World Series games at 1:00 PM like they used to in the pre-cable days. They can start them at around 5:00 PM, when children would be out of school. Parents would be home from work before the games would end and they could watch the best teams in baseball competing for a championship together. Since World Series games take longer to play then regular season games, these earlier starting games would still run into prime time (which normally starts at 8:00 PM), so FOX can still generate ad revenue from their sponsors at that time. Since more people tune in to games in at the end, when the game might have the most drama and suspense, more people would be watching those ads between 8:00 and 9:00 PM.
It seems so simple, really. A late afternoon start time for World Series games would be beneficial to everyone involved. It would allow for kids to watch entire games without having to worry about games finishing past their bedtimes. It would allow for parents to watch the games with their kids, which would create more of a mutual love for the game, and it would allow the networks to not only generate more revenue from their sponsors during the most exciting moments of a game, but would also allow them to air their regular programming after the games end. Assuming games don’t go into extra innings, starting them at 5:00 PM would almost always allow the networks to broadcast their regular fall lineup at the conclusion of each game. After all, who really wants to watch the Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes after Halloween?
For over two decades, Major League Baseball and television network executives have turned the World Series into the World Zzzzeries. It’s time for baseball to use common sense and think of the long-term effects of starting World Series games at such a late hour. The future of the sport depends on it.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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I sure do remember rushing home from school to watch WS day games. I was lucky enough to have been a Met fan in 1969. Back then, you just took it for granted as a kid you weren’t going to get to see all the games. Attending a Catholic school, there was no bringing a TV or transistor radio in class for us kids. Just don’t think those nuns were into baseball – LOL. You didn’t think too much of it though b/c back then, you never got the opportunity to watch all 162 games as not all were televised.
5pm is too early for west coast kids as most aren’t home by 2pm and it’s way too early for west coast adults. How many are actually home from work by 5pm? This is the main reason I don’t think you’ll ever see it on earlier than 8pm.
As of right now, 22 of the 30 MLB teams are in the Eastern and Central time zones. Therefore, more fans would be home for an earlier start. Of course, Pacific and Mountain time zone fans might object, but even with a 5:00 PM Eastern/2:00 PM Pacific starting time, especially with games lasting four hours or more at times, the entire country should be home to catch the end of the game.
west coast fans should be used to early sporting events, such as 10:00 football games!
Serves them right. That’s their punishment for moving the Giants and Dodgers to the west coast.
You should have gone my Catholic school. The priests all had action on the games, so even if we couldn’t watch them, we got some pretty regular updates (even if we weren’t supposed to hear most of the words they were using).
And I don’t see the worry about West Coast not watching the earlier times. they aren’t watching them now.
A big part of why baseball became so popular is because of how, where and with who you watched the game. Standing outside the electronics store, jukin’ into the pub, the transistor radio, your friends house, the Y, where ever.
You missed some of it no doubt but all that you had to go through made it so special. I watched the entire ’69 series with no interruptions because my friends and I all made sure were were suspended from school that week. In ’73 my father told me told me to spare him the meeting with the principle and just stay out school sick but in those days four of the 7 games were scheduled for the weekend so you only had to cover 3 days. The Series always started on Saturday. Gradually TV interests pushed the Series to later mid week time slots and at one point were starting at 9:30 ET. I even fell asleep on the 7th game and woke up the next morning not knowing who won. That was a weird feeling. Now College and pro football are well entrenched on Sat and Sun afternoon because baseball gave up those slots and the only way to get them back will be on their own channel.
I would just start every World Series game at 4:30 or 7:00 and always start it Saturday. 90% of the country would be able to see 100% of 4 out 7 games and if they had to find the closest place to work in order to see the whole thing 3 times a year that would just make it that much more memorable.
it is about the advertising dollars of course.
and I don’t remember ever having a TV or radio for a WS game that wasn’t involving the local team.
The 1st 2 games of this series were great,good old fashioned type baseball.Last nights game was all about the greatest RH hitter since World War II IMO.That was an absolute display of a perfect swing. I know we all as kids looked at Ruth,Cobb,Gehrig,Foxx and Williams stats and said to yourself I wonder what it was like to watch players like that,well we’re all looking at one of those guys.
As always, Ed, a very good article with some valid points. When Carlton Fisk hit that unforgettable HR in Game 6 in 75, you know where I was? This 10 year old kid was asleep. My parents made me turn in and I missed one of the biggest HR’s in WS history.
HOWEVER…with all due respect I have to disagree with you. Now living out west (pacific time zone) it makes it difficult to watch the WS anymore. As someone who works until 6pm or so, by the time I fight traffic, get home and turn on the game, it’s usually the 5th or 6th inning. And who wants to watch half of a WS game? It’s like walking into a movie theatre half way through the film.
So, unless I have a real rooting interest–for or against a team–I sadly dont bother watching. I hate to admit this but I have not watched a single pitch of this year’s WS. Not that I dont want to–but due to work, it makes it difficult.
In 2006 when the Mets were in the post-season, I had to actually use vacation days, sick days or work half-days to watch some of the games vs. LA and then STL. In 2000, when we were in the WS, I worked later and wouldnt get home until almost 8pm–11 pm back east. My wife would throw a tape in the VCR, tape it and then I’d stay up until midnight watching it.
And yes, you also pointed out correctly 22 of the 30 teams play in the eastern or central time zones. However, if you look at the attendance stats, 4 of the 8 ‘west coast teams’ annually are in the top 10-12 of attendance figures: Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Rockies. And now that AZ is on the verge of becoming a legitimate powerhouse with their young players, you can probably soon add them to the mix too.
It is a good article and I agree with much of what you said. Just a difference of opinion. But definitely gets you thinking and that’s what a good blog is supposed to do.
What’s worse:
a) tuning into a World Series game in the 5th or 6th inning and getting to see a great finish (or even a blowout), but missing the first several innings because you live on the West Coast,
or
b) watching the first 5 or 6 innings, then falling or having to go to sleep because you have to wake up at 6 AM to go to work, and missing an amazing finish (or even a blowout) because you live on the East Coast.
I believe b. is worse.
If a game is tight and has an amazing finsish, West Coasters would be able to see the most important part of the game, even with an earlier start time. Imagine how many would-be East Coasters missed the ending of Game 6 because of the ridiculoiusly stupid late starts.
My kid has seen a couple innings. He’s 8 years old. He has to get up at 7 AM. Why would he care about watching something he can only see the first inning or two of? MLB is sacrificing future fans for profits today. They deserve what’s coming.
You must remember that baseball is now played deep into October (ridiculous-shorten the regular season to end the season at least two weeks sooner) How can you schedule weekend day games when you bump up against college and pro football, and hockey and if not on strike basketball. I bet the tv ratings for this series is abysmal and I doubt very few folks outside of Missouri and Texas talk about the games at work or school.
Baseball is no longer “The National Game” as football has taken that moniker and the championships have turned into more a regional event rather than a national event.
Always a good read.
It’s probably worth noting that the games don’t start late because they care about west coast viewers. They care about west coast dollars. Big difference.
as good as this series has been, the ratings are very low, it seemes america doesn’t care as much about the rangers and cardinals. this one is on pace to be top 3 worst World series ratings wise in last 10 years, with the 2002 being the worst, then 2008. it seems either small market teams or west coast team do not draw as much attention. is a shame because this series has had a little bit of everything so far.. ohh well..
Dallas-Fort Worth is the 5th largest television market in the country. St. Louis is 21st.
again, NUMBERS DON’T LIE RIGHT?!!? i am just saying the ratings are not as good as the series has been. not saying the series suck or anything, just that ppl are not tuning in. plain and simple.
the large majority tend to not watch when their team is not involved or they don’t hate the other team. People watch the Yankees because a) they like them or b) they badly want to see them lose.
Through Game 3, they had an average of roughly 13.6 million viewers. Through Game 3 last year they had 13.5. Yanks/Phils had 17.9, Phils/Rays 12.4, Sox/Rox 15.9, Cards/Tigers 15.4
So yea it sounds gloom and doom that its doing “so bad” but it’s not exactly true. Could it/Should it be doing better? Absolutely… but it’s not like people aren’t watching.
again, read again please and tell me where i say people aren’t watching?!?! of course they are watching, my point is they’re not watching as much. i watch, you watch, but others don’t and don’t blame them. pujols is a superstar, no offense but he’s not as attractive as other superstars because he’s less controversial, sometimes ppl not only wanna see superstars, but they wanna see controversial. this series not only lack the star power, but lack the juicy story that surround a team like the yankees or red sox.. but is been a good series so far
Right. People watch in large #’s based on popularity of team. The more popular the team, the most likely people will watch in hopes they lose also.
There are other things to watch these days. If you watch college football, and are not a fan of Stl or Tex, you prolly were more focused on Michigan St/Wisconsin to be honest.
People have more options, baseball isn’t the only show in town anymore.
welcome to the club, i was flipping back and forth but was more tuned in to my college footbal, although my oklahoma lost!! ugh, but that game i picked mich st to win outright and won a bottle of gold label.
All sports viewership is done across the globe. There are just way too many things to do that didn’t exist in 1986.
The Superbowl is more of a national holiday one Sunday a year deal but rest of sports programming has really suffered. Monday Night Football used to be a top rated program for years and years when there were 8 channels. ABC tried everything but nothing worked. TBS makes a lot more money putting on reruns than the Braves, that’s hard to believe.
The worst thing baseball ever did was move to late night mid weak time slots for five of the seven games. Sure it made the programming more valuable because 9:30 Tuesday night used to have nothing, all of a sudden they had a big ratings bonanza but kids subsequently only heard about the game, they didn’t actually see it. Baseball put their future in the hands of TV executives who’s only interest was maximizing their investment which happened to be the owners primary goal as well.
Same things going on right now with 12 teams making the playoffs. Twenty years from now “14 will be more fair than 12.”
Baseball should have marketed the World Series as the crown jewel of sports programming. I don’t follow Golf but I know the Masters markets itself as the crown jewel and TV doesn’t tell them what to do. Baseball should take a short term hit if need be to leave the back alley and come back to Main St. Insist on four 4:30 ET weekend starts and three 7:00 ET slots and grow the game back up and if that means putting it on the MLB channel and competing for market share so be it.
The basic problem is that unless your team makes it, baseball playoffs are tedious. Use to be a two-step process to WS, but now with WIld Card, we get the divisional step, and the WC tie breakers–occasionally.
Baseball is a long season. Multiple playoff spots means the best teams don’t always get to the WS, just the teams that did better in short series. I think this is part of the problem.
Still, I can’t complain too much: no Skanks, no Filth… I’m happy, just disinterested.
Cards-Rangers whoopdeedoo!
Well sorry you can’t appreciate great, insightful, strategy-filled baseball games.
By all definitions that exist, how on earth, Bayonne, could a baseball game be insightful? Insight into the human condition, or did you mean insightful with respect to baseball?
I’m at a bit of a loss.