World Series afternoon games . . .

[Jason R. Maier]

Do you think we'll ever see another World Series game in the afternoon hours agian? (FYI, the last one was Game 6 of the '87 Series)

[hubkittel]

i guess it could happen but i voted no. three reasons why it won't happen: money, money, and money. or if you prefer: tv, tv, and tv (which is the same thing really).

[Dodgerfan1]

I voted yes, anticipating that there will probably be an afternoon game on a weekend sometime in the future, but I won't hold my breath on that. If there is one, I doubt it will be scheduled as such. Something unforseen, or conflicting, will probably force it to happen.

[geezer]

I voted yes, anticipating that there will probably be an afternoon game on a weekend sometime in the future, but I won't hold my breath on that. If there is one, I doubt it will be scheduled as such. Something unforseen, or conflicting, will probably force it to happen.

I second that motion, I want to see more afternoon playoff games.

[Jason R. Maier]

I voted yes because I think it's inevitable an afternoon World Series game will happen. With the ratings having really fallen, something's got to be done to boost them.

On a related note, what do you think of having the WS follow a Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday pattern next year?

[Seattle1]

You know what would be cool? A World Series double header with the first game starting at 11:00 am and the second game starting at 4:00 pm!

[Jason R. Maier]

You know what would be cool? A World Series double header with the first game starting at 11:00 am and the second game starting at 4:00 pm!

Even though it probably won't happen, you have a very good idea :)

Problem is it would be 8:00 am on the West Coast . . .

[Evangelion]

Most afternoon game should be begin around 4 PM, so the West Coast people can catch the game at a reasonable 1 PM start time. I prefer not having day games during the weekend since people tend to be working then, so afternoon games should be played during the weekend. Obviously, it will never happen since it's all about rating on TV and the image of a team winning the series in the afternoon might disgust the people at the network showing the series.

[Seattle1]

Even though it probably won't happen, you have a very good idea :)

Problem is it would be 8:00 am on the West Coast . . .

I assumed local time for whichever team was the home team. :)

[Jason R. Maier]

I assumed local time for whichever team was the home team. :)

Whoops, I misunderstood what you said. I had thought you meant 11:00 am Eastern time :)

[2Chance]

Yes we will.

Bud Selig wants to look at this issue, and he is in favor of it. That usually counts for something. :rolleyes:
If it happens, it's one thing he did right.

Traveling down memory lane, when they let us watch the Reds-Orioles Series while in school....:)

[PopTop]

With the ratings having really fallen, something's got to be done to boost them.I'm not so sure they will put a WS game on in the afternoon to try and boost the ratings for the game as much as, if the ratings do keep dropping, they will put one on in the afternoon so they can put something else on in prime time that they think will get higher ratings, if that makes sense.

On a related note, what do you think of having the WS follow a Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday pattern next year?That makes more sense to me than the current setup.

[Mattingly]

So who's going to show the World Series (and other playoff games) for the next gazillion years? Fox and ESPN, that's who. What are they? Networks that have other shows to play.

I'm guessing that the WS itself will only be shown on Fox, but once you're talking about a best-of-7 series, if this is done in primetime, they may be willing to accept that moreso than giving their other shows a 1-week holiday.

I'm not sure of Fox' scheduling, but if they have soap operas on during the week, there's no way in the world they're giving those up for the WS. That's your ca$h cow. It's like asking $cott Bora$ not to charge a fee on his A-List players. Won't happen.

Also, how many people are expected to take the entire day off to attend an afternoon game? A 2pm game (ET) will be about 10am or 11am on the west coast. Most of the 9-5 crowd will have to miss an entire game.

While an 8pm (ET) start is only 5pm on the west coast, it ends around 11pm on the east coast. If you instead started it at 5pm (ET), that may be feasible. I'd think that 6pm (ET) may work, but you'd be killing off your shows that begin before 9:30pm, including the 6pm news reports.

As much as I dislike the late starting time, from a network's broadcasting schedule, it may be the lesser of several evils.

[PhilWings24]

i guarantee that we will, one day.

what with scheduling conflicts, rainouts, all that jazz. i'm not sure we'll ever see one scheduled, but i'm positive it will happen.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I really hope that they do something. Either make them afternoon games (which would only happen on weekends, if they even happen at all), or start them at 6 or 7 pm. Having games finishing while the clock approaches midnight is just too much.

But throughout this discussion, remember:

It's all about the $$$.

[ACrank]

i'm not gonna vote - because my emotional vote would be yes (i can remember watching a Pirate/Oriole WS day game in 72 in school and being one of two kids cheering for the Pirates - and i live in NW PA) but the logical vote would be no...

why? its about money - ratings - and not conflicting with college football....

having said that its possible it could happen, but the only thing that would cause it would be some potentially severe weather related issue like when during the ALCS the Tigers/A's game was pushed up to the afternoon because of the possibility of being hit by snow...

i think a good compromise would be to have the first pitch for the games at 8:05 pm so there is a chance the game can be over before 11 pm (eastern time)

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Why not make it 7:05? That's even better!

[PopTop]

Why not make it prime time for the city and fans hosting the game? The west coasters have been screwed over for too long now. They (the networks) keep telling us nobody in NYC or on the east coast watch it unless one of their teams is in it, so why cater to their prime time viewing habits if that's the case?

[ACrank]

Why not make it 7:05? That's even better!

a 4:05 West Coast start? that would go over as well as an 11:35 East Coast start....

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I see your point... I'd be fine with it being a 7:30 start for the home team. No matter where they are.

[rockin500]

i think a 7:05 local time would be fine, BUT 705 should be the actual start time, not the 7:28 or whatever it is. have the pregame from 6:30-7:05 and first pitch is at 7:05 and games would theoretically get over at 10:00 or so (8 on the west, 11 on the east coast)

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Yup. I hate it when the "Start Time" is actually the "Start thinking about getting a game going Time". Just tell us when the first pitch is gonna fly!

[trosmok]

Kudos to JRM re; T-W-F-Sa-Su for the first five games! Best idea I've heard so far, and the game five, if neccessary could be like super bowl sunday. The NFL could have all their games at noon, and 8p.m., and let MLB have the 1:00 pre-game to 4:05 first pitch, barring extra innings be done around 7:00. (all times local). Guaranteed to boost ratings, unless it was a four game sweep, in which case it would be a moot point anyway.

[ACrank]

The World Series will never be like Super Bowl Sunday because you have no way of knowing when "the" game will be - is it game 4? game 5? game 6?

its all about east coast prime time - an 805 start is probably the best we can hope for, and even then thats still too late for a lot of people (since i started a new job where on occasion i am up and at work between 6-7 AM and other times im working until 930 -10 at night i ended up taping the last World Series and watched it at my leasure instead of risking sleep depravation)

not really sure what can be done....

a day game would be nice - but can you go up against College Football on Sat or the NFL on Sunday (granted this year they went up against the NFL anyhow on Sunday night - but keep in mind for a lot of years it wasnt a coincidence that there were no WS games on Monday night)