9 ways to boost baseball in the postseason
Michigan
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in Sports Talk
From USA Today:
Money went for the mortgage. Most of the division races were colder than the vendors' beer. So what does baseball need, as it fights the annual autumn battle not to be swallowed by the NFL like a tailgate party chicken wing?
A compelling October. We're here with a few suggestions.
No. 1: A dramatic World Series, no matter who's in it.
Ironic, the to-do made about the All-Star Game deciding home field advantage. The World Series hasn't lasted long enough lately for home field advantage to make much of a difference.
Five straight years, the issue has been decided in five games or less — the longest streak in the history of the event. The seven-game series is disappearing faster than doubleheaders. From 1955-87, 19 of the 33 World Series went the full distance. In the 21 years since, only four have gone seven games, and none since 2002.
So how important is it to have a World Series that lives long enough for the plot to thicken?
"Very," Commissioner Bud Selig said over the phone. "I say it to myself every World Series, so it's a fair question.
"A commissioner has a lot of authority. I wish I could figure out a way to order that we have a six or seven-game series."
No. 2: Dodgers vs. Yankees. Not only would that be an echo from the glory days — they've met in the World Series 11 times — but it would put Joe Torre against the pinstriped empire that let him go. Can't miss with that.
No. 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're never, ever boring. Imagine Duke playing North Carolina for a trip to the Final Four.
Their season series was extraordinary. The Red Sox won the first eight games, the Yankees won nine of the last 10. Included were scores of 16-11 and 20-11, but also four shutouts and a Yankee victory that required 15 innings. They finished tied 9-9, New York having scored 101 runs, Boston 99.
Why let that be the end of it?
No. 4: The Phillies make a run at repeating, led by the suddenly resuscitated Brad Lidge.
We're talking an event seen nearly as infrequently as Haley's comet. The 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds are the only National League team to repeat as World Series champions ... in 87 years.
Lidge needs amnesia, forgetting an agonizing regular season when he blew 11 saves and went from beloved closer to gasoline can.
The public is a sucker for the old hero-to-goat-back-to-hero story. And the fact Lidge has been so graceful through his troubles would make it all the more exhilarating.
No. 5: Dodgers vs. Red Sox.
Now batting for the Dodgers in Fenway Park, Manny Ramirez. Enough said.
No. 6: An underdog story.
If Detroit wins Tuesday night, that means seven of the eight playoff teams began the season among the top 13 in payrolls.
The exception? Colorado. The Rockies always seem a suitable Cinderella, especially since they started this season 20-32. Only thing is, they're a sequel, having barged into the 2007 World Series.
The Twins, with a payroll down among the commoners, would be a feel-good story. The Tigers could be, too, given the sorry economic plight of their city.
They could be the inspiration Michigan State was in the NCAA basketball tournament. But Michigan State didn't have to beat the Yankees.
No. 7: Angels vs. Dodgers.
Who doesn't like to see neighbors go at it? Plus, a sentimental cause is always interesting, and the Angels have the memory of fallen teammate Nick Adenhart.
Of course, the last time they tried this sort of thing in California for a World Series — Oakland vs. San Francisco in 1989 — there was an earthquake.
No. 8: Mr. October.
For the casual spectators, teams don't get the meter going. Stars do. A hitting binge between two titans might help.
Paging Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez.
No. 9: Controversy.
Super Bowl week often comes with trash talking. In a combative NBA series, the two teams invariably develop genuine animosity, and it shows.
Baseball is kinder and gentler. Someone get mad.
"If you like the sport," Selig said, "you've got some fascinating things here."
Baseball needs them. If not October, when?
—
Money went for the mortgage. Most of the division races were colder than the vendors' beer. So what does baseball need, as it fights the annual autumn battle not to be swallowed by the NFL like a tailgate party chicken wing?
A compelling October. We're here with a few suggestions.
No. 1: A dramatic World Series, no matter who's in it.
Ironic, the to-do made about the All-Star Game deciding home field advantage. The World Series hasn't lasted long enough lately for home field advantage to make much of a difference.
Five straight years, the issue has been decided in five games or less — the longest streak in the history of the event. The seven-game series is disappearing faster than doubleheaders. From 1955-87, 19 of the 33 World Series went the full distance. In the 21 years since, only four have gone seven games, and none since 2002.
So how important is it to have a World Series that lives long enough for the plot to thicken?
"Very," Commissioner Bud Selig said over the phone. "I say it to myself every World Series, so it's a fair question.
"A commissioner has a lot of authority. I wish I could figure out a way to order that we have a six or seven-game series."
No. 2: Dodgers vs. Yankees. Not only would that be an echo from the glory days — they've met in the World Series 11 times — but it would put Joe Torre against the pinstriped empire that let him go. Can't miss with that.
No. 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're never, ever boring. Imagine Duke playing North Carolina for a trip to the Final Four.
Their season series was extraordinary. The Red Sox won the first eight games, the Yankees won nine of the last 10. Included were scores of 16-11 and 20-11, but also four shutouts and a Yankee victory that required 15 innings. They finished tied 9-9, New York having scored 101 runs, Boston 99.
Why let that be the end of it?
No. 4: The Phillies make a run at repeating, led by the suddenly resuscitated Brad Lidge.
We're talking an event seen nearly as infrequently as Haley's comet. The 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds are the only National League team to repeat as World Series champions ... in 87 years.
Lidge needs amnesia, forgetting an agonizing regular season when he blew 11 saves and went from beloved closer to gasoline can.
The public is a sucker for the old hero-to-goat-back-to-hero story. And the fact Lidge has been so graceful through his troubles would make it all the more exhilarating.
No. 5: Dodgers vs. Red Sox.
Now batting for the Dodgers in Fenway Park, Manny Ramirez. Enough said.
No. 6: An underdog story.
If Detroit wins Tuesday night, that means seven of the eight playoff teams began the season among the top 13 in payrolls.
The exception? Colorado. The Rockies always seem a suitable Cinderella, especially since they started this season 20-32. Only thing is, they're a sequel, having barged into the 2007 World Series.
The Twins, with a payroll down among the commoners, would be a feel-good story. The Tigers could be, too, given the sorry economic plight of their city.
They could be the inspiration Michigan State was in the NCAA basketball tournament. But Michigan State didn't have to beat the Yankees.
No. 7: Angels vs. Dodgers.
Who doesn't like to see neighbors go at it? Plus, a sentimental cause is always interesting, and the Angels have the memory of fallen teammate Nick Adenhart.
Of course, the last time they tried this sort of thing in California for a World Series — Oakland vs. San Francisco in 1989 — there was an earthquake.
No. 8: Mr. October.
For the casual spectators, teams don't get the meter going. Stars do. A hitting binge between two titans might help.
Paging Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez.
No. 9: Controversy.
Super Bowl week often comes with trash talking. In a combative NBA series, the two teams invariably develop genuine animosity, and it shows.
Baseball is kinder and gentler. Someone get mad.
"If you like the sport," Selig said, "you've got some fascinating things here."
Baseball needs them. If not October, when?
—
0
Comments
Oh chit...now ya got me worried.
<< <i>No. 1: A dramatic World Series, no matter who's in it. >>
Colorado vs. Minnesota might have the most dramatic WS ever, but nobody would be watching it.
It does scare me that Selig would mention he wishes he could make a call and make the WS go 7 games, especially when the umpiring was
shaky last year.
The play-in game makes for a great start. Baseball should try to figure out a way to have one every year. Have a flexible schedule going into September where teams next to each other in the standings will play each other in that final week
Make the first round best of seven with games six and seven scheduled as double headers. That could be awesome
<< <i>Agreed about the pitching, the WS has gotten slow. Managers often turn to other pitchers just to get one out.
It does scare me that Selig would mention he wishes he could make a call and make the WS go 7 games, especially when the umpiring was
shaky last year. >>
getting rid of Selig would help tremendously!
Cutting the season to 154 games so the WS can end before snow falls in Northern cities would be nice too.
#11 - Dollar Dogs;
#12 - Scantily clad cheerleaders (that would boost the TV ratings by drawing in the casual sports fan from the coveted 18-35 male demographic).
But looking towards the future, baseball needs guys like Kendry Morales and Matt Kemp to have monumental post seasons. Guys like that need to get their name heard by casual fans.
<< <i>I agree with everything on the list except for #7. I don't see how an Angels/Dodgers WS could help baseball. Outside of California, can the casual fan name more than 5 Angels? No disrespect to Angels or Twins fans, but baseball needs the Yankees or Red Sox in the World Series. More people tune in for their love or hatred of those two teams. Doesn't matter who the National League sends--each matchup would be compelling.
But looking towards the future, baseball needs guys like Kendry Morales and Matt Kemp to have monumental post seasons. Guys like that need to get their name heard by casual fans. >>
think of the ramifications for TV...LAA vs. LAD gives us 9:30 or 10:00 PM start times on the East Coast. Anyone going to tune in and watch more than a couple innings? Hardly. You make some good points!
There is no chance of World Series games starting at 9:30 or 10:00 ET. They would start at 8:30 as always.
Maybe it's because football is here now, but baseball seems to be slower than ever. And I'm not just talking all the pitching changes...pitchers walking around the mound between pitches, batters stepping out to adjust batting gloves, etc. As much as I love him, Papelbon has become almost unwatchable, he takes 30 seconds between each pitch.
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
<< <i>Speed up the game, start the games earlier, AND PLAY A FREAKING GAME OR TWO DURING THE DAY ON THE WEEKEND. SCREW THE NFL, MAN UP AND BELIEVE IN YOUR SPORT. >>
too much potential loss in revenue, they have no chance against the NFL.
Currently working on:
1955 Topps All-American
George Brett Master Set
2009 A&G's
<< <i>Baseball needs to start earlier in the year and football a little later so they don't overlap this time of year. Plus it would fill February with baseball preseason and football playoffs which is currently just a painful month to get through. >>
It would be tough to play regular season baseball games in March, especially in northern climates without
a dome.
It would be impossible to avoid baseball and football overlapping unless the number of games were cut, you also
have the problem of college football and that has to coincide with the start of fall classes.
<< <i>It would be tough to play regular season baseball games in March, especially in northern climates without a dome. It would be impossible to avoid baseball and football overlapping unless the number of games were cut, you also have the problem of college football and that has to coincide with the start of fall classes. >>
All good points, I was just dreaming. I just really hate the overlap. I follow baseball religiously until about Labor Day, then I might remember to check back in if the Rockies are in the playoffs. Otherwise its next March before I remember to check who won the World Series.
Currently working on:
1955 Topps All-American
George Brett Master Set
2009 A&G's