The 2023 Running Baseball Thread

Take out the covid year World Series if you like, because it was the least viewed of all time (featuring the LA Dodgers).

The next two least viewed world series of all times were (checks wikipedia) 2021 with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves. And the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros and Philidelphia Phillies.

So what exactly is the problem with these two teams?

 

I don't think that ever happened. Milwaukee-Phoenix and Denver-Miami, yes.

 

I'm just so darned upset I won't be able to watch the Houston Astros in the World Series. I just love checking in to see what those plucky upstarts are doing. And it devastates me that I won't be able to watch another Nick Castellanos post game interview. Those are always super uplifting.

 

The only way the ratings would be gold is if the Red Sox or Yankees were in it. Maybe the Dodgers. I think this will be a pretty compelling series and I give no shits if no one else decides to watch. As has been mentioned, the NFL and (to a lesser extent) NBA are the only of the major sports to command a true national audience no matter who is playing.

 

Bingo. If it's a flyover Series, the "Who's gonna watch?" sniffing gets insufferable in very short order.

 

The only people who should care or comment about ratings are TV executives.

 

They're not the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs or Dodgers.

 

It's only a real Series if one of those teams (or the Cardinals) is in it.

 

I was an Astros fan for forty years. I still kinda want to pull for them, but I have not watched a single game this season, to include the playoffs. Sucks.

 

Yes, and although I totally understand the comparative offensive value of the two, Nick Castellanos was just as painful to watch. Maybe more.

 

MLB desperately tried to stoke interest with way too much interleague play.

It killed the All-Star game.

Now it's killed the WS.