Are you watching this Series, Braves fans? (Didn’t think so)
We watched the night the Braves were handed this trophy, didn't we? (AJC file photo)
I was just on a Tampa radio show — primary topic: Georgia-Florida — when the host wondered if we Atlantans were watching the World Series. In a wicked combination of guess/generalization, I said I didn’t think so. (As for myself, I refuse to watch baseball on Fox. I listen on SiriusXM. But I’m of that advanced age where baseball on radio is a slice of nostalgia.)
I also believe this, and national ratings would seem to support me: Baseball has become what the skeptics used to say college basketball and college football were — a regional sport. (And didn’t we use to call it the National Pastime?) Gone are the days when you’d watch the World Series just because it was the World Series. Now there has to be a hook, and there’s really not one for us Atlantans.
(Unless you’re talking about unpleasantness. We could watch Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz work for the Rangers and think, “Hey, aren’t those the guys the Braves traded for Mark Teixeira?” Or we could watch the Cardinals and say, “Weren’t we leading that team by 8 1/2 games in September?” But who wants to be a masochist?)
Were the Braves in this series, we’d all be watching. Since they aren’t, we aren’t. And that’s not just the case here: That’s true in every city that lacks a dog in this fight.
Consider: In 1985, Game 5 of the World Series between St. Louis and Kansas City — two Midwestern teams in smaller markets — drew a national rating of 24.9; Game 5 of this World Series — St. Louis is again involved, along with another team from the Central Time Zone — drew an 8.8.
I blame many things for this: The failure of baseball to maximize its strengths in a medium that caters to quicker and sleeker; the failure of baseball to cultivate a younger audience back when, and the proliferation of entertainment choices, about which even baseball can do nothing. (It was a lot easier to pick the World Series as viewing fare when it was one of four options; now you’ve got 150 channels plus video on demand.)
Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. I also blame Tim McCarver.
By Mark Bradley
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214 comments Add your comment
Auburn Fan
October 27th, 2011
7:03 pm
What is it about Tim McCarver’s analysis that makes me want to destroy my TV?
durwood
October 27th, 2011
7:19 pm
This is pure sport. This is what October is about. The World Series. History is being made. And all of you are missing it! You’re missing what could be a first tonight if Texas wins. You’re missing the greatest turn around in two months in Baseball history if St. Louis wins. This is great, freakin great and you all are missing it!
MYRA
October 27th, 2011
7:21 pm
Im totaly watchin and rootin for Cards. They played their azzs off the last 6-7 weeks. They blew by us and everybody else. They are for real and deserve the hardware.
The Braves sukd at the end and they deserve their honey do lists and the Snuggie.
Hillbilly D
October 27th, 2011
7:24 pm
As bad as they were, the collapse of the Braves and the Red Sox, this year, weren’t nearly as epic as the Phillies in 1964.
WeBurn
October 27th, 2011
7:27 pm
I am watching, mostly because no other sports are on tv most days.
SUMTER SC is the arm pit of the world!
October 27th, 2011
7:34 pm
NO!
BRAVESFAN
October 27th, 2011
7:35 pm
Who wouldn’t watch a game being managed by a crackhead against an old drunk? Can’t wait to see what happens when they run out of their stuff in the ninth inning. Remember Tony, admitting you have a problem (rather than blame the pitching coach) is the first step.
pawpaw
October 27th, 2011
7:47 pm
It still baseball season right??? The braves will play again another day! But ts stll baseball season for a day or two.
pawpaw
October 27th, 2011
7:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Plate Appearance
October 27th, 2011
7:52 pm
How can a true fan not watch the series?
Got to root for the NL!
Lee in S GA
October 27th, 2011
7:56 pm
haven’t watched 1 damn out yet and don’t plan on it
braves bobblehead 3
October 27th, 2011
8:00 pm
I is watching because I like baseball.
Get rid of Gonzalaz
October 27th, 2011
8:09 pm
How about Tim McCarver is up for the Ford Frick award……..And will probably get it. That makes me mad espically because
SKIP DESERVES IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also the main reason we aint watching this world series is basically sour grapes. Were watching Texas with a bunch of Braves Prospects go up against the team that took our playoff spot. And we see our owners and management do nothing essentially about it and I don’t see any big trades or free agent signings coming so expect a sharp decline in attandance next year.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
Even if I liked watching baseball outside of the Braves, which I don’t, I wouldn’t watch solely because of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.
GT81
October 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
When I was a kid, we came home from school and watched the Series. I wonder if any of the current children are learning to be baseball fans. I kind of doubt it. In the short term, presumably the present setup makes money for the owners, but I’m wondering if we are raising a new generation of baseball fans.
Icon
October 27th, 2011
8:13 pm
Yes, I am a Baseball fan. Baseball losing “market share” to the NFL and other sports is no loss. If the average NFL fan thinks Baseball is boring, best they hit the trail. They don’t have the intellect to be a good Baseball fan anyway.
dawg4u
October 27th, 2011
8:18 pm
I am a channel surf watcher until the eighth or ninth inning and only then if it is a close game. I still have to mute McCarver though but I used to enjoy listening to him in my younger days. I guess he’s like one of those relatives that just wear out their welcome over time.
Want to hear Al Micheals call another World Series
October 27th, 2011
8:35 pm
I would be watching the World Series if They would change up Announcers every once in awhile. Since 1998 Tim McCarver and Joe Buck have been calling the World Series. Fox has been doing the World Series. I would love to have NBC do a World Series. Bob Costas or Al Micheals. I would love to Hear Al Micheals call another World Series. Many people dont know he has called more World Series than Super Bowls.
Paint
October 27th, 2011
8:36 pm
Baseball? I’d rather watch myself dry.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
Seriously, contract the baseball season. By the All-Star break it’s wearing thin, and once football starts, I tune it off for good. Maybe fewer interdivision matchups? I got so tired of watching the Braves versus the Phillies and Nats seemingly half of the time they were on. Ditch interleague play, too.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 27th, 2011
8:47 pm
IDEA: Have Derek Holland and Will Ferrell announce games while doing their Harry Carey impersonations.
Go Rangers
October 27th, 2011
8:58 pm
I want to see the Rangers devour those lousy cards. Chris Carpenter and his mouth need to go home. I am still very upset that we aren’t in this thing. But I also know as long as fredi the freeloader is there, and that useless lowe, we didn’t stand a chance. Maybe next year will be different, but I don’t think so.
Peter
October 27th, 2011
9:01 pm
Mark. You are not a baseball fan ? So you are NOT watching ?
That was dumb !
Braves #17 Fan
October 27th, 2011
9:02 pm
I’m watching. Collinsworth is more annoying for football, than Carver is for baseball.
Peter
October 27th, 2011
9:05 pm
Here’s an idea: Don’t listen to the announcers. Just tune them out. Watch the game. It’s been a fantastic series.
Peter
October 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
Here’s an idea: Don’t listen to the announcers. Just watch the game. It’s been a fantastic series.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 27th, 2011
9:09 pm
And for the love of god, shorten the playoffs.
athens dawg
October 27th, 2011
9:18 pm
blazerdawg, well said. October is football month, and the idiots that run mlb, and I truly
believe Selig and crew would mostly be homeless if not for inheritance, should take a look at the ratings shrinking every year for the Series. It’s not because of a waning in baseball popularity, it’s because its competing with NFL and CFB. Tonight I have a choice of two football games or the baseball game. I’m watching football.
blazer, don’t worry. Spring will roll around, Hanson and Jurjens will be healthy, the ajc will tell us how great Heyward is hitting in batting practice that Fredi is throwing, we’ll be looking at some new players since McWhiff and Kenshin are gone and money is available
our guys will gush about the new hitting coach and we’ll all be excited over opening day again.
TechRon
October 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
I am definitely watching the WS. The Cards are my NL favorite after the Braves and always have been since they overhauled the Phils in 64. The Rangers are my favorite AL team, though I do like a few more.
This series is fine with me either way, since the Phils and the Yankees are not in it.
athens dawg
October 27th, 2011
9:27 pm
McCarver will get Skips’ entry into the HOF/Ford Frick award and it’s going to be more sickening than the Braves folding, if that’s possible.
Never heard a more arrogant announcer since Milo Hamilton left town, or the guy that does Yankees now. Sterling, I think his name is?
Can’t wait for spring training. We’ll have a new shortstop, a new hitting coach and hopefully DLowe will be enjoying someone else’s facility.
This season is over, next one is coming. Go Bravos!
athens dawg
October 27th, 2011
9:28 pm
Braves #17 fan: impossible.
Hillbilly D
October 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
athens dawg
John Sterling is who you are thinking of. In my opinion, the very worst baseball announcer there is. He used to do Braves games back in the 80’s. I think he’s even worse now than he was then.
Grass
October 27th, 2011
9:36 pm
Baseball? I’d rather watch myself grow.
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:37 pm
John Sterling remains, to this very day, my least favorite announcer in any sport….he was truly horrid. He makes me love Chip Caray, and Chip is worse than Sterling…
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:37 pm
Fire FG…
dawg4u
October 27th, 2011
9:38 pm
If the Rangers somehow manage to lose the WS, then they would be the first team to lose in consecutive years since the ‘91-’92 Braves.
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:38 pm
Any team that has a rally squirrel deserves to lose…
frank
October 27th, 2011
9:39 pm
We’re the only sports town that hates and criticizes Tim McCarver. He is an alltime great baseball announcer. But then again, we’re a town that still has people say “FIRST” at the top of a blog. Bush league.
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:41 pm
The rangers still have a few more to lose to be as awful as our dawgs are against florida…
I shudder to think how we’ll screw this one up to.
dre
October 27th, 2011
9:42 pm
BILLY MAYS HERE has got it right
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:42 pm
All time great announcer?
Are you on drugs?
phil
October 27th, 2011
9:44 pm
Freese must be on drugs too….pitiful…
Conradesque…
The Pundits are Wrong About the World Series « Root For The Home Team
October 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
[...] TV ratings, comparing it to the 1985 Series featuring the Cardinals and Royals. His source was an article by Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports columnist Mark Bradley who poignantly asked if any Braves [...]
Baseball Forever
October 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
I love baseball. I’ve watched most of the playoffs, whenever possible. Sure, it sucks that my team didn’t make it, but that doesn’t take away from my genuine love of the sport. I spent the first round cheering against the Yanks and Phils, and have just been watching for enjoyment since.
In the off-season, baseball movies make up for the lack of baseball in my home.
Tim McCarver is awful, but if I can stand listening to Chip prattle on during the regular season, I can handle a little McCarver.
dawg4u
October 27th, 2011
9:50 pm
There is a good article in SI from last week that claims the St. Louis Cardinals have the best fans in baseball. It claims that Cardinal fans are basically the most knowledgable and polite of all fan bases in MLB. They never have signs or banners degrading or making fun of another team and always speak well of their opponents. I thought it was a tongue in cheek “fantasyland” article but seems to be genuine. As one who lives and breathes UGA football and loves the Braves and Falcons, that seems like either a tall tale or a city I would really like to visit at some point but Go Bravos next year!
Hillbilly D
October 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
We’re the only sports town that hates and criticizes Tim McCarver.
Go to the MLB website, pick a team, and read their blogs. Atlanta isn’t the only place McCarver gets roundly criticized.
dawg4u
I’ve never seen a game in St Louis but I have been to Wrigley Field. Fans there know the game of baseball.
P B Orr
October 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
Fox has all but destroyed the world series. Joe Buck and his perpetual adolescent smirk is impossible to stomach any longer. The stupid high-tech gizmos like infrared cameras was invented for – who? They should just txtmsg the whole shebang to their intended audience, teeny-boppers and hipsters.
Braves #17 Fan
October 27th, 2011
10:14 pm
Trivia: In what year did the two Cardinal birds appear on the St. Louis Cardinals’ uniforms?
P B Orr
October 27th, 2011
10:19 pm
I was working on a construction project on my friend’s house this summer – I had the TV on loud but could not sit in front of it. Well, Chip would not only not “call” the game like say Milo or Ernie, he would not even bother to call *pitches*. I’d hear the ball pop into the catcher’s mitt and then – silence – no call of balls and strikes. Nothing. A TV guy should always try at least to call the game so that the blind and the absent can get it. But not Chip.
urban redneck
October 27th, 2011
10:33 pm
i am watching…………but only because spring training is so far away. i watched a little of the alcs.
this game is terrible by the way. all these dang errors. i’m goin to bed because i really don’t care. mike napoli is a beast.
comeback kid of the 2012= jason heyward. i got a bunch of money invested in you, son. for my birthday i would like to trade jj for a left fielder.