AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > October > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTV dragging World Series into irrelevancy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
This is ridiculous. It’s time the corn has been shucked and the pumpkins harvested, and the first frost is just around the corner. And the first World Series pitch hasn’t been delivered.
World Series, mind you. The jewel of our national pastime, but losing ground. When you stack up the game’s most glorious event behind two weeks of preliminaries, and you finally get around to it, the edge is worn off. The glow has faded. We’re dragging it along behind us like an afterthought.
The way it has been bedraggled, the World Series is beginning to look like a second cousin. We’ve had years when the team that won the World Series didn’t even win the pennant. Take this year, for instance.
Now, the first inclination is to blame Bud Selig. He’s the commissioner, you know. He was just standing there when some club owners decided Fay Vincent was getting too oatsy in the job. He resigned after getting a no-confidence vote. Then “Hey, you” over there was called in and said, “You’re the commissioner.”
He was just a commonplace one-time car salesman who owned the Milwaukee Brewers, but a harmless little guy who wouldn’t stir up the waters. He has been wearing the title a good while, and hasn’t done much damage, for in real life, the so-called commissioner is television.
The guys who push the buttons and schedule the shows and report to guys who sit around board rooms. You find Bud Selig somewhere down there in the middle of the pile smiling nicely and being harmless.
So baseball jumps when television says jump. The regular season ended Sept. 30, and for the most of three weeks since the two leagues have been working their way toward the World Series.
But first, Colorado had to take care of some overtime duty. You see, this is the third stage of the Rockies’ postseason. They had to play San Diego for the wild-card ticket, and that game ran on into extra innings, and ended when a Rockies baserunner scored the tie-breaking run, though it was obvious that he never touched home plate.
Then they had to play Philadelphia in the divisional playoffs, and won. Then they had to play Arizona for the league championship, and won. They just forgot how to lose, and here they are playing in the World Series, though they got here on a disputed play at home plate against San Diego.
Silliest thing is, after barely crashing the party, the Rockies have been sitting around nine days waiting for the American League to come up with a champion.
You see, the reason for that is television. The networks schedule games to fit in between the nut-house shows they book. It’s a game that has to take its place in line with television fare that wouldn’t pass kindergarten inspection.
This time television stretched it out to the very limit. Now, on the 24th of October, when both teams should have uniforms and equipment stowed, and spring training on their minds, the Rockies and Red Sox are just beginning to have it out in the World Series. Ridiculous.
Presumably, they’ll be through by Thanksgiving, allowing for Denver’s fractious weather. One day it can be 75 degrees and next day comes a blizzard. Not that Boston doesn’t spend a good part of its winters shoveling. Me, I’m pulling for snow. (You know, of course, that Cleveland got snowed out on opening day and had to move the series to Milwaukee under cover.)
With no thought to the younger generation - and a lot of us oldsters - television doesn’t vary from its bad manners. I never saw the last out of any of the first two series. It’s rare when kids have baseball heroes any more. They have to turn the lights out before the game is over. Thanks to you, Mr. Commissioner, and Mr. Push-button Television exec.
In addition to snow, I’m going for the Rockies. I’m a Helton, Holliday, Hawpe, Atkins and Tulowitzki guy, and especially Tulowitzki. Remember, he was the rookie who turned an unassisted triple play against the Braves.
Another thing, these were the guys who voted a full player’s share to the family of Mike Coolbaugh. Coolbaugh was the coach at the Tulsa farm club who was struck and killed by a line drive. He’d been with the team for only three weeks, and the Rockies barely knew of him. That’s what I call heart, and I like guys with heart.
As for the Red Sox, I’m getting pretty tired of Big Papi and Ramirez and his floor-mop hairdo, and oh, so tired of seeing Terry Francona spit the evening away. Somebody send him a spittoon.
Permalink | Comments (44) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher
Services »
Comments
By bullwinkle
October 23, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
Absolutely correct. I think “Commissioner Bisher” has a nice ring to it.
By Ken Stallings
October 23, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
A funny conclusion to a timely column, Furman. Yes, the season was dragged out too long. Too much dead time between the series played out a season already too long.
I remember a while back the Braves produced a television special on the 1982 season with TBS. They titled it “It’s a Long Way to October.”
This season won’t end before November. We used to end baseball in October. Be nice if we did again!
By maurice
October 23, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Very well put. I’m not a huge fan of either team in the series this year, but I watch every year. This TV thing is getting on my nerves.
By jlaneusmc
October 23, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
This may be a stretch but one possible reason you don’t see day games in the playoffs is that MLB has such a big following in the Far East. They are 13hrs ahead of us so day games would come on at 3,4,or 5 in the morning over there. I’m sure the Japanese pay a big price for the rights to MLB with all of their stars playing over here now. I don’t think the American audience is all that is considered. In this respect MLB is sacrificing long term loyalty for short term financial gain.
By broker627
October 23, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
Baseball!? Yes, it is too late to be interested. It’s prime-time football season with snow on the ground in Denver.
By Braves Fan
October 23, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Great job Mr. Bisher. **Rockies in 6 or 7. I like Heart also we all need it. GO NL.
By matt r
October 23, 2007 10:23 PM | Link to this
In my day we listened to the World Series on the radio while we were at work and we liked it! Teams that won 100 games didn’t even qualify for a postseason berth and that was just fine by us!
By matt r
October 23, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
In my day we listened to the World Series on the radio while we were at work and we liked it! Teams that won 100 games didn’t even qualify for a postseason berth and that was just fine by us! We had 16 teams and only two cities a year got to enjoy postseason baseball and that was fine by us!
By Jim from Boston
October 23, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
Would you care to lose $100.00 on the Series? I’ll take the Red Sox and your money in 6 games - max!
By Howard
October 23, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
A friend of mine pointed out to me that on Oct. 29th (and I cannot these two teams will still be playing baseball on that date…)there will be a Monday Night Football game in Denver and a WS game between the Rockies and Red Sox in Denver also…should be a wild day and night in the “Mile High City.”
By BeachGaBulldog
October 23, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this
I have only watched the playoff games that FOX has carried. After what TBS did to the Braves, I refuse to watch that channel. As for the Series itself, I don’t really care one way or the other. I would like to see the Rockies win, since they have never even been to the W.S., but I like Boston, too. I really enjoyed seeing Cleveland choke, since I hate Kenny Lofton.
By Craig
October 23, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
The late hours that these games are broadcast is absurd and baseball is losing the young audience. I was back east and had to watch the Rockies battle it out and the games went on until 1:30 AM. I’m sure Mommie let the boys stay up to watch, making sure they had a full supply of Starbucks espresso to keep them alert.
By Fred Hambrecht
October 23, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
Come on folks, we need a Mister November. Reggie will always be Mister October, once ensconced, we can go for a Mister December…
By The Big Bug
October 24, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this
Beisball been berry berry good to me! All professional sports, let’s face it are a joke, with the exception of golf.Who gives a crap about baseball once college football has started.College basketball is also better than pro anytime. The NCAA tournament is superior to any pro game there is, including the Super Bowl. America’s Pastime.HAH!Who wants to watch a bunch of crotch-scratching, tobacco-spitting self proclaimed primadonnas is beyond comprehention.
By MIKE MCCLINTOCK
October 24, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this
right on the button- and i’d take a wild guess that you’re also not thrilled with mannie glorifying himself at the plate, and pitchers and managers not having the balls to hit him until he wises up; that’s aside from football linemen down 21 points who finally get to the opposing QB and then do a well-practiced dance, i.e. the general idiocy of most sports become sound bites and replays pretty much gutted of the heart that used to capture kid’s imagination; thanks for the piece
By Hank
October 24, 2007 2:54 AM | Link to this
Here is a newsflash; people like to watch the playoff games, so that means that the LCS games are on alternating days. The Wild Card isn’t going away either, so get used to it. If you like baseball…why would you complain about there being more of it?
By bravefaninFL
October 24, 2007 5:54 AM | Link to this
Furman: Another one right on. For one who grew up with Ernie Harwell on WSB and later with Jim Simpson on WRC-Washington, today’s ESPN crowd are an abomination. Too many and minutes, to few game minutes. Not to mention 4 guysa in a booth to broadcast one game. Ridiculous.
By bravefaninFL
October 24, 2007 6:13 AM | Link to this
Last text should have read: “too many ad minutes, too few game minutes,”
By Big Ed
October 24, 2007 6:55 AM | Link to this
How obvious is it that a writer in a National League city picks the NL team to win it all. The Red Sox, aka the New Yankees, bought and paid for the World Series before the season started. They have more money invested in one pitcher than the whole payroll of the Rockies. The Sox in 5. Yes money can buy happines.
By JoeSAV
October 24, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
Recommendations to make baseball relevant again come October: Discard wild card and interleague play. 2 divisions in each league. LCS games played same day at 4pm and 8pm or 1pm and 4pm. I think there was a time, way back, when this was the case. Oh yeah, back when I used to watch playoff games.
By the way, 1991…Greatest. Year. Ever!!!
By DAinSAV
October 24, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
Ever since I delivered the AJC on my bicycle I’ve been reading Mr. Bisher. You, sir, are a national treasure in my humble opinion. I feel fortunate to have been able to read your column for the past 41 years-and columns like this are why.
To me, what tells the tale about the World Series is when I realize I have not heard 1 person in my office even speak of the Series. That’s a cryin’ shame. I’ll be lucky to last 4 innings before I have to sleep.
By-the-way, someone here said something about Japan. I spent 3 years there and listened on the radio to many WS games at obscenely early hours. That’s why us sports-fan Jarheads volunteered for night crew! :)
By DAinSAV
October 24, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this
Ever since I delivered the AJC on my bicycle I’ve been reading Mr. Bisher. You, sir, are a national treasure in my humble opinion. I feel fortunate to have been able to read your column for the past 41 years-and columns like this are why.
To me, what tells the tale about the World Series is when I realize I have not heard 1 person in my office even speak of the Series. That’s a cryin’ shame. I’ll be lucky to last 4 innings before I have to sleep.
By-the-way, someone here said something about Japan. I spent 3 years there and listened on the radio to many WS games at obscenely early hours. That’s why us sports-fan Jarheads volunteered for night crew! :)
By Raleigh Dog
October 24, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Somebody get Hurdle and Francona to wear a real baseball jersey instead of a pajama top!!
By GoSox
October 24, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
“We’ve had years when the team that won the World Series didn’t even win the pennant.” Uh, no we haven’t. You have to win either the AL or NL pennant to get into the World Series. Perhaps you’re referring to Division titles, which indeed are not a requirement since the Wild Card came on the scene - and made the regular season a lot more interesting for a lot more teams. Yes, it’s going to be cold(ish) and rainy tonight, but there’s no place I’d rather be than Fenway Park.
Red Sox in 5.
By Chris Verdugo
October 24, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher when it comes to MLB,TV and what this means for the World Series, you do not speak with fork tongue, you speak the truth and nothing but the truth. The simple capitalistic and mathmatical equation is: MLB + TV = $, period without a decimal. As for ‘Manny The Mop’ Ramirez, maybe they should accommodate him with a lawn chair where he can sit near home plate and marvel as he watches his homers sail over the wall. Oh, Babe, Micky, Roger and Hank (no steroids allowed in this club), what has it all come to?
San Diego Chris
By DOM
October 24, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Bud Selig, Mr. Personality, anything any schedule, please don’t offend the TV guys, or else they may start the games at midnight.
By Kramer
October 24, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
You know i caught Joe Dimaggio in a Dinky Donuts back in the mid 90’s and he was actually dunking his donuts into his coffee. My friends refused to believe that, one, this was actually joltin joe and, two, he was dunking his donuts. I tried to get his attention but he was completely focused and blocking everything out. But you see that’s the way he played baseball, HE DUNKS LIKE HE PLAYED THE GAME!
By Moultrieboy
October 24, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
I hope the series is snowed out until May!
By willdave
October 24, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
I agree with you, Mr. Bisher. However, as you well know, money talks, everything else—including sanity—walks. As long as the television networks are willing to pay MLB hundreds of millions of dollars for the right to broadcast its games, the networks will continue to schedule baseball games according to their needs and preferences. I do feel, however, that the exceptionally longer wait this year to commence the World Series should not be tolerated under any circumstances. MLB should insist that, barring some immense catastrophe, the Series should never commence any later than the third Saturday in October.
By binky
October 24, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Exactly right on all counts.
By GE
October 24, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
I will pass on the world series this year.It will be boring as hell. There are not enough African American players to spice up the games. I do not care to stay up late for four hours watching a bunch of slow footed white guys trying to give low and high fives to each other or hearing the announcers criticizing Manny and Big Papi for not acting white and respecting the game. Give me a break. I wish Barry was playing.
By Socrates
October 24, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
Good article. MLB could shorten the playoffs to three or five games and get to the series earlier in Oct. Day games were always an exciting part of the Series, and most fans my age remember sneaking a radio to school to follow the score. I like the chance for teams, like the Rockies, that the playoff system allows.
By Mike
October 24, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
I’ve always thought that after every team plays 162 games during the regular season (that’s a total of 2268 games in the American League, and 2592 in the National League), we should already have a pretty good idea of which two teams are the best. Line ‘em up and let’s play the World Series. The playoffs are ridiculous and makes the whole regular season a joke. While we’re at it, we can get rid of the wild card games in the NFL too. Only division winners advance. The NBA, with 82 regular season games and everyone playing everyone else (can’t do that in Football, so playoffs make sense there), can be like MLB and get rid of the playoffs too. Best regular season in the east plays the best in the west; 7 games for all the money. And yes, Mr. Bisher, I agree. Play the dang games during the day!! Amen.
By Ryder
October 24, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Mike, I’m going to assume that you’re high lol. You know TV would never let a cash cow like the playoffs get away that easily, even though that comment makes sense about bringing back the day games.
I say baseball will extend its playoffs to 5 teams per league in a couple of years, maybe even by next year.
Think about it: people have been screaming for years about putting the wild card team at a disadvantage right? What better way to do so than to have the top two teams in the wild card race have a one game winner-take-all matchup? We saw the excitement it generated during the Colorado-San Diego game (not to mention the ratings it brought in).
Since the sport is now being dictated by TV ratings, what better way to do that than to have an elimination game the day after the season in the AL & NL? This way baseball doesn’t have to stop playing 162 games, more teams are in the playoffs which means more fans are spending money. In addition, the playoffs can still start on Wednesday without any more delays.
Face it, if baseball really cared about the fans there’s no way a playoff game would start at 10:30pm. Also there would be no need to have the stupid off day unless it’s a travel day.
By Oneiron
October 24, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
If I had my way, baseball would end on Labor Day, wityh the playoffs and Series to be ended before October. Money is the only thing driving the train at this point, no one gives a flip about fans.
By Tanja
October 24, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
I must say, I love baseball this late in the year as it is the absolute last remnant and reminder of summer! Yes, I agree that baseball and other sports are kowtowing to the networks but, if there were no networks, would baseball exist? I myself don’t watch the post-season, wildcard, pre-World Series foofoo. I save my precious time for the (lean) meat and potatoes of the World Series. Honestly though, what more can you expect from a sport that is strictly a money-making machine and doesn’t give a “crud” about fan loyalty? I really love baseball but frankly, will never be able to love it as fans of Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio eras because I can’t give my heart to the heartless, money-grubby professional baseball player ego or the millionaires that own the teams. Who remembers what happened after the Florida Marlins won the series? The team was broken up and sold here and there. Give me a break! That was a real downer! Because I know these things, I know not to expect more from baseball or to risk losing my heart over what it has become.
By Sour Grapes
October 24, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution?
“We’ve had years when the team that won the World Series didn’t even win the pennant. Take this year, for instance.”
This explains a lot. If the Braves were in, I doubt this would have even been written.
By bob
October 24, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Everything you write, Mr. B., is true, BUT………..I love baseball. I have sports almost every night during the season to watch on t.v., I like both the Rockies and the Red Sox in the W.S. and will be pulling for both. I do not care how late the games are shown since I will stay up and watch them to the end…or dvr them and watch in the morning……oh, wait, I am retired and have all the time in the world. LOL When recorded, I can fast forward through the commercials, I can mute the incessant talking of the many announcers. With so many depressing events in the world, give me good old baseball in any form and at anytime during the day, week, or month. It’s all good!
By Spike
October 24, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Liked your column except for the piece about Matt Holliday not touching home plate. Writers swore he didn’t, the TV commentators said he didn’t, and ESPN announcers went on and on about him missing the plate. Funny thing, the people affected by it the most, the Padres, did not put up an argument and when asked in the locker room said he did get the plate. The Rockies got in because they won the game, not because of a bad call.
By ArkyTech
October 24, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Thanks Furman. You are right on. These extra off days are ridiculous and meaningless - and definitely hurting baseball. Glad to hear someone say it.
By Baseball fan in PA
October 24, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
Do you think that there is any correlation to the increasing popularity of students playing lacrosse vs. the decrease in students playing baseball, especially on the east coast ? Here’s another suggestion to get games to end before 1 AM in the morning….try getting the hitters to stay in the batter’s box after every pitch. Watch a game from thirty years ago and you’ll rarely see hitters adjusting their batting gloves, etc.
By Me
October 24, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
Henry Aaron respected the game and he wasn’t white as did countless other non-white players. Back when the superstations, WGN, WOR, and TBS were going, I used to watch tons of games on TV and go to many games in person. Now I can hardly ever see the team I want to see on TV and I haven’t been to a game in person in several years. You see Mr. Selig, your short term pursuit of $$$ has killed my long time interest in your game. You’re probably the only commish who could make Bowie Kuhn and Happy Chandler look good. As for Big Papi…why doesn’t he act like a baseball player and play in the field. The DH is an abomination from hell. It totally destroys the game.
By MP
October 24, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
TOTALLY AGREE WITH FURMAN. WONDER WHO MR. NOVEMBER WILL BE? REGARDING BUD SELIG AND CO. ANOTHER WAY THEY ARE RUINING THE GAME IS ALLOWING THE PLAYERS TO HAVE THESE LONG, BAGGY PANTS WITH NO SOCKS. MOST OF THEM ARE INTO HIP HOP LOOKS. BUD, YOU NEED TO REINFORCE A UNIFORM LOOK LIKE THE NFL. IT’S GETTING OUT OF HAND!
By Phil
October 24, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
I also am pulling for the Rockies in this series. Seeing Todd Helton get a title would be tremendous. I’ll be curious to see what the Rockies choose to do with the lineup and Ortiz in Denver. Whatever they decide, it’ll remind us once again that the DH is a total sham, Ortiz could never cut it in the NL, and AL baseball just ain’t real baseball.