World Series pushed back - Game 7 in November

by danimal15 on May 14, 2007 5:02 PM CDT

From CNNSI.com:

The start of the World Series is being pushed back an extra day to Oct. 24, meaning Game 7 is scheduled for November for the first time. Because of extra off-days during the postseason, a team sweeping the NL championship series would have eight days off before its World Series opener.

MY THOUGHTS:

I think this is a lousy idea, and it's all about pleasing TV advertisers (they want the World Series to start in the middle of the week, when viewership tends to be higher.)

So to make the advertisers happy, the World Series is more likely than ever to be played in inclement weather. Let's assume (just for fun) that the Cubs are in the 2007 World Series. And let's assume (because I don't know yet) that Game Seven is a home game for them. And let's assume it occurs Nov. 1 (though since baseball hasn't specified, I suppose it could be as late as Nov. 2).

The average high in Chicago on Nov. 1 is 53, and the average low is 40. But on some November firsts in recent Chicago history, the temperature has failed to climb out of the 30s, and has fallen into the 20s at night (and of course, games would be played at night, this being the World Series). Even with average temperatures for that time of year, November is far from an ideal time to be outside in Chicago trying to decide the seventh game of the World Series. Snow is a distinct possibility.

I'm not saying the weather in Chicago 10 days before Nov. 1 would necessarily be a picnic, but the odds are worse as you get further toward winter, obviously.

It's a shame that with all the extra layers of playoffs, and all the extra off days for TV, the World Series has now become a November event (50 years ago, it was usually over before mid-October.)

It's also a shame that a team might have an 8-day gap between post-season games, as this article stated. I don't think anyone (besides the advertisers and perhaps the fat cats who run baseball) can believe this is good for players (or for fans, who'd be forced to twiddle their thumbs for so long waiting to see another game).

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

at least...

the baseball playoffs don't include more than 50 percent of the teams. Basketball, I'm looking at you.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on May 14, 2007 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

November 1...

... just SOUNDS later in the year. For the last ten years or so, the WS has gone to the last week in October, so this isn't that much later.

What the powers-that-be don't realize is that by doing it this way, they are relegating a possible game seven to a Thursday night, rather than a Sunday night, which has far higher TV viewership numbers.

All this in order to avoid doing a Friday night. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 14, 2007 6:17 PM CDT reply actions

The thinking is

to treat the World Series like a television miniseries. Make sure that as many people get hooked on the first night as possible. That wasn't working by starting the series on a Saturday night--the lowest TV viewing night of the week. By starting on a Wednesday, they'll get a bigger audience for Game One, and the thinking is that more people will then get hooked on the series.

I don't know how sound that thinking is. Unlike a regular TV drama, it isn't really hard to catch up on the plot of the World Series at any point. But I think it's worth a try and if you remember, as late as 1984 the World Series started on a Tuesday--which is why the Cubs would have lost home field advantage in 1984 had we made the World Series. It used to run Tuesday--Wednesday--Friday--Saturday--Sunday--Tuesday--Wednesday. They're just going back to that only moving the start day back one day.

And yes, I don't see how November 1 is a whole heck of a lot worse than October 30--which is when Game 7 would have been played last year had it gone that long.

by Josh Timmers on May 15, 2007 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Nov. 1

Psychologically, it just doesn't sound right. But you're right that the weather won't be much worse than two days before, I suppose.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on May 15, 2007 6:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Another terrible decision...

brought to you by Bud the Dud Selig and his bank of money grubbing owners. Yeah, let's play baseball in late October and cross our fingers that we don't play games in an ice storm. The college football bowl picture will be shaping up, and they will still be playing baseball? Good grief.

Baseball should go back to a 154 game schedule in light of the expanded playoffs. Of course they will never ever in a million years do that, because that means taking money out of their pockets.

Ah, come on guys... It's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. ...

by BlueMike on May 15, 2007 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

Baseball...

... lasts about 2-3 weeks longer than it did 50 years ago.

Contrast that with the NHL and NBA, winter sports whose postseasons last two months and last so long that on occasion, hockey playoff games have been delayed because it was too hot in the arena due to summer temperatures outside.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2007 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

October 24th is my birthday

Here's hoping I'm celebrating it at Wrigley watching the Cubs.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 15, 2007 10:07 AM CDT reply actions

Don't count on it

Would you settle for a shin-dig at Chucky Cheeses?

Ah, come on guys... It's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. ...

by BlueMike on May 15, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm just being optimistic

as for Chucky Cheeses..only if you show up for a game of air hockey

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 15, 2007 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's the real reason they want to do this...

... from Phil Rogers:

Instead of moving the schedule ahead two days, MLB agreed to move it back four days. That creates an abundance of down time and rest for starting pitchers, at least for this season, and is likely to be a precursor of the change of the division series format from best-of-five to best-of-seven.

Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz has long pushed to use the best-of-seven format in the first round, with many other GMs (probably a majority) in his corner. Expect them to push their bosses to make that change, as the owners' reason for opposing it in the past was that the postseason schedule was already too long.

Wow. A 7-game division series? Do we really need that?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2007 4:09 PM CDT reply actions