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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
214 comments Add your comment
Ron Castillo
October 27th, 2011
10:34 pm
Buck is ok, McCarver is terrible in the class of Joe Morgan I’m watching with sound off. Checking MLB app radio feed for commentary if necessary. Love the technology even with the delay.
dawg4u
October 27th, 2011
10:45 pm
@Braves #17 fan – Would the two bird logo for the Cards have begun in 1922?
@Hillbilly D – I had always heard that the Cubbie fans along with the Phils and Yanks were really smart, savvy fans among the best if not the best in baseball!
Heisenberg
October 27th, 2011
10:53 pm
See that worked out perfect. Rangers hit back-to-back dingers right after switching over from the Beavis & Butthead permier. Did not miss anything important.
Sid
October 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
“Are the Falcons the Raiders of the NFC South?”
I see D. Led is off his medication again……………….
Ron Castillo
October 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
Phone must be out in Cards bullpen :@)
mirandalambert2012
October 27th, 2011
10:57 pm
I’m not surprised Atlanta people are not watching. Atlanta really isn’t that much of a sports town. THey have a limited understanding of baseball and the fact that the two sports talk channels get tiny ratings in evidence of that.
steve
October 27th, 2011
11:19 pm
I have watched a few innings. Bad fielding, bad umpiring and bad baseball. This may be the most pathetic World Series of all time.
When will the idiots realize baseball needs to be over by FH October. After that, football takes over and baseball is playing second fiddle. I am tired of seeing people dressed up for Winter for baseball games. MLB has their heads up their butts. I am old, but the glory days of baseball were World Series games played on Autumn afternoons. I have no use for this media generated crap.
Heisenberg
October 27th, 2011
11:38 pm
Miranda, I am a fan but your latest single on the radio about the baggage claim is lame. You are better than that.
Tomahawkin
October 27th, 2011
11:40 pm
@Mark Bradley!
Both Blow Buck and Tim McSlobber Are Horrible!!! They Should have the home teams commentators do the games on FAUX when the Teams are at home! (The cards commentators for the STL Home games and The Tx Commentators for the Rangers Home Games) America is Tired of Blow Buck and McSlobber not knowing the facts of teams not names New Yawk, Chicago, LA, or Boston!
Time for Change
And Mark Bradley???
Ur a Week Late in Mentioning about how the W. Series Sucks Now! Chuck and Chernoff did a topic about this a week ago…and was on point! No Disrespect! And I wouldn’t Be suprised if Beavis and Butthead kill’d the Ratings Tonight??? Baseball sucks Now w/o the roids and PED’s
And Yes I didn’t Watch out of protest of the Braves meltdown in which you and D.O.B. let them off the hook easily! Those Chokers Deserve attendance of 10,000 per game when they dont care about choking like that!
Amy
October 27th, 2011
11:41 pm
I am watching and enjoying the World Series, even though every mention of how the Cardinals got there makes me die a little more inside. But I love baseball, and I love any World Series that involves no teams from Philadelphia or New York, and I love the fact that the Rangers are three outs away from winning the first championship in franchise history. I will love the 2012 World Series much more, of course, when the Braves are there! (Power of positive thinking.) For now, though, GO RANGERS! (And I agree with those who said this is a really good series. Except for that Saturday mess, every game has been close and suspenseful. Very evenly matched, and interesting!)
John Cocktostin
October 27th, 2011
11:46 pm
I’m watching but Joe Buck and Tim McCarver have got to go. McCarver is anti Braves and Joe Buck is so arrogant when it comes to baseball play by play and then he is the worst when it comes to calling football on Fox. I’m sure Aikman wants to kick his arse after every game.
CARDINALS, RANGERS TIED 4-4 AFTER SIX INNINGS – ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION » SERIES, TEXAS, LOUIS, CARDINALS, NAPOLI, HOLLIDAY » DAILY NEWS
October 27th, 2011
11:58 pm
[...] Are you watching this Series, Braves fans? (Didn’t think so) [...]
Tomahawkin
October 28th, 2011
12:13 am
Braves need to be taking notes on fundamental baseball!
GTfan
October 28th, 2011
12:18 am
I’m watching in 10th now..Texas up 9-7 with Cards batting 2 on 1 out….
Bill
October 28th, 2011
12:25 am
Cards where down two runs in 9th and tied it up..Cards down 2 runs in 10th and tied it up…The cards just don’t quit…..
Braves #17 Fan
October 28th, 2011
12:40 am
I’m still watching and loving it. I’m hoping Joe Buck gets to say, “And we’ll see you tomorrow night.” And, yes 1922 is correct, Dawg.
Bill
October 28th, 2011
12:42 am
Bottom 11th Freeze Homers..Cards win!
raindawg722
October 28th, 2011
12:42 am
I am. Wow.
Bill
October 28th, 2011
12:45 am
Hell of a game….3 come backs…Tony damn good mgr.
Bill
October 28th, 2011
12:46 am
#7 tomorrow..winner take all!
aaron rodgers
October 28th, 2011
12:47 am
i hate baseball
Waffle House or Bust
October 28th, 2011
12:47 am
Wow! I’m glad the Cards got in over the Braves because this is great baseball to watch. Braves would have been out first round. Hope they are watching are learning what it looks like to play with heart. Leave that ho hum boring stuff at home in 2012 guys.
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:51 am
That kind of comeback is a feat that the Braves could never pull off.
CC
October 28th, 2011
1:02 am
Like they say on that special ESPN show: AW C’MON MAN!!! That to you Bradley.
If you watch The Series only with a Homies interest, then I propose you are NOT a fan of baseball at all and you therefore fail qualification as a bona fide writer. I watch ESPECIALLY because my bumbling Braves are not in it!!
The Rangers are trying to take it, again, for the First Time Ever, and I enjoy seeing first time things. Not to mention this game 6 has been the most exciting, exhilarating, and eye-popping “What kind of play was that – Wow, another unthinkable error” kind of game. Pure baseball enjoyment. and I’m emotionally free (Braves-free) from the outcome.
My heart is pulling for the Rangers.
John Kruk is my Daddy
October 28th, 2011
1:05 am
Well, that was probably the second best world series game I can recall….
But Tim McCarver needs to go the way of Joe Morgan….
CC
October 28th, 2011
1:06 am
You know, Mark…. we write for free. I seriously believe you do it only for the money.
the truth...
October 28th, 2011
1:06 am
I watch because I love baseball……..pure and simple….America’s game….
I grew up on it and love to watch it now that I’m too old to play…never too old to watch!!!
I called the Freese ab’s in the 9th and 11th tonights…
…better the Cards are there, cause like it or not the Braves wouldn’t have made it past the NLCS…
Mitchell
October 28th, 2011
1:25 am
Who are all these people wanting to talk to you, Bradley?
Does Tampa not know that everyone in Atlanta thinks you’re a complete idiot?
That’s hard to believe.
Mitchell
October 28th, 2011
1:26 am
BILLY MAYS HERE
October 28th, 2011
12:51 am
That kind of comeback is a feat that the Braves could never pull off.
You are correct, sir.
DawgDad
October 28th, 2011
1:41 am
Absolutely I am watching. Great, great series. Tonight – just a fantastic game. Freese goes from dropping routine pop-ups to game savior to walk-off series saver. Two great teams; MLB at its best on display here.
Say what you want about the Cardinals not belonging in the World Series – they are proving over and over they DO belong and the Braves deserve to be hiding away in shame. The late season roster additions have rounded out the team nicely and the big guns in the lineup show up to play. Nice Texas team, too. So refreshing to see a Midwest series; great fans in those cities, great tradition in St. Louis.
If you aren’t watching you’re missing an all-time great World Series.
Braves #17 Fan
October 28th, 2011
2:17 am
Not true, Billy Mays and Mitchell. The Braves have had some incredible comebacks including the 1992 NLCS. They had the most come from behind wins in the NL in 2010. Some of the Braves bashing that goes on in here, aren’t based on facts or sound evidence. They’re often thrown out as emotional and irrational outbursts. It’s almost like it’s become en vogue to hurl insults. It’s another one of those baseball fan-related actions that don’t make sense, sort of like the crowd booing when a pitcher throws to first.
Peter
October 28th, 2011
2:29 am
Of the games that I have seen that ranks right up there with the Game 7s in 1997 and 2001. Absolutely incredible, best World Series in years.
Peter
October 28th, 2011
2:30 am
Baseball > Football. I will take that to my grave.
Stinky Not
October 28th, 2011
3:00 am
I’m watching, big time. Watched a game for the ages tonight, Game 6. Freese and Berkman came through in the clutch in a big way. Where was our Freese and Berkman during the glory years of 14 division titles? I never saw anyone on the Braves stand up like that when we really needed it, other than David Justice in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.
And MB, if you are reading and listening to the radio at the same time, you aren’t doing either one very well.
SA
October 28th, 2011
4:38 am
I don’t care and don’t watch if it’s not a local team.
clay
October 28th, 2011
4:39 am
this is the best series ever
legionaire
October 28th, 2011
4:44 am
I’m so old I remember when baseball started when it was not freezing cold and ended before Halloween. MLB lost my interest when a team could sneak into the wild card and knock off the outright winner of the division ( fish did it to the Braves). After the SEC starts football I just could care less about MLB.
Hey hey Mark bradley stinks
October 28th, 2011
5:23 am
First all the Fish won wildcard n won 2 WS rings the reason we beat the cox teams was one better managers n we had no captain to cuss out anyone.And as for fox and why viewers dim if they would go back when NBC did it with all afternoon starts now u adjust say if west coast was NL host first with a 4pm start that 1pm in there time i sure they can get there if can find brothels n sex clubs easy…..back east home game be at night game at 5pm start u know…then be more viewersfor see games!…….Oh Tampa fans due to low crowds n bad advice and no new stadium Montreal be waitin for thee in 2014!
Hey hey Mark bradley stinks
October 28th, 2011
5:27 am
well steve u must be a Obama supporter are Jock one…go back to you tent and read you mail…..what u want everyone be prefect in playin be no fun see no errors are flubs at times after all we watch them play here at The Ted Now!
Go Go Pilots and bring baseball back to Seattle
October 28th, 2011
5:31 am
Another rant if folks can do any better then what bein done then u all go down n do it bet you can’t….If started World series at 4pm Game1 and Game 2 at 4pm u get higher crowds on tv watch.same if played 3 4 and 5 sure have a one at 8pm one time durin it say game for and fifth game at 3pm n u see viewers come on board Fox see games!
cloudodust
October 28th, 2011
6:37 am
Kinda sorta in a way reminds me of ‘91
Nate
October 28th, 2011
7:26 am
Yes I am watching. It’s fun to watch teams that have a pulse on offense. The braves will never win one with the lousy hitters and coach they have. Plus it’s neat to watch the team that benefitted from one of the biggest chokes in sports history win it all.
alex
October 28th, 2011
7:40 am
People who don’t like baseball after last night will probably be tailgating all day tomarrow in j-ville and boozing it up;they’re 40 years old,wear bulldog t-shirts and ,welll you get the picture…
Senor Coughee
October 28th, 2011
7:42 am
The Atlanta fans should watch and learn how real baseball fans support their team. Win or lose the St. Louis fans are the best.
alex
October 28th, 2011
7:43 am
S.E. is full of football morons who can’t appreciate baseball.Ergo, tailgating and boozing 50 somethings with beer guts at sec games. Thank god for baseball and the passion of TM…
Escaped from Email Purgatory
October 28th, 2011
7:45 am
Baseball is becoming a niche sport in America. It’s played primarily by affluent white kids in the suburbs. It ain’t lacrosse yet, but give it a few more decades and Duke and Johns Hopkins will be perennial college baseball powers.
Tuned in the WS during top of the tenth. The Braves connection wasn’t lost on me with Andrus – the high cost of renting Mark Texiera – I refuse to exert an ounce of effort to ensure I spelled that douche’s name correctly.
Also Saw Josh Hamilton (suffering from a groin injury since the LCS) come through with a two-run homer to put his team in the lead, albeit temporarily.
Which brought me back to the Braves. Does anybody think Chipper Jones would have even been in the WS line up under similar circumstances – let alone deliver in the clutch for his team like that?
It’s late Autumn. We got the climax of baseball post season upon us and the Georgia-Florida game is this weekend
Not usually a good time to be a Dawgs or Braves fan.
Mark Bradley
October 28th, 2011
7:46 am
For your enjoyment, here’s a little follow-up.
Mike L
October 28th, 2011
7:47 am
Yes, of course I am watching. I am a true baseball fan! What frustrates me is watching all the former Braves who are in the post season. Clearly, the Braves got “out-GMed” with both Wren and Schuerholz. Maybe we need a new GM!
Richard Alpert
October 28th, 2011
7:52 am
My favorite player growing up was Nolan Ryan so I’m cheering for Texas. They must have shown him ticked off every 5 seconds last night, thanks FOX
montana slim
October 28th, 2011
7:56 am
Loved the article! I do like to watch but I mute the sound. I like to watch mainly to see the slow mo replays. I never did understand the trade of Andrus and Neftali. I have always liked the Braves development of talent. Quick fixes to win don’t seem to have ever worked for the Braves but the player development has. Excellent writing Mr. Bradley.