Ken Davidoff's baseball insider

I think the delay makes things anti-climactic...unless you live in Phila or Tampa.

The momentum has been lost...people (viewers) have moved on already.

I guaranteed you the Obama infomercial between 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. will have bigger ratings than the completion of Game 5 of the World Series tonight. If McCain did the same thing that Obama is doing tonight, baseball would have done the same thing for McCain that they are for Obama.
JMH, let me just say that you have your own opinion and I have my own opinion. And I'll leave it at that.

Good idea.

Selig is a terrible commissioner.

JMH - you should qualify the statement.

Bud Selig is a terrible commissioner - for the fans but not for the fellow owners. His activities as a President/CEO have made his "shareholders" lots of money. He has satisified their desires.

One can calmly debate whether Selig or Fehr are worse for the fans of baseball. However, Fehr has a legal restriction in that he can only act on behalf of his union. There is no such restriction in federal law on Commissioner Selig to act in a way beyond the financial needs of his electors.

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If they do play tonight in between possible snowflakes, the audience will probably be larger than expected. The bashing of Selig and baseball and the constant attention to the weather has probably aroused the "slowing down to look at an accident" interest in the public's mind.

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As for doing the same thing for McCain - it is Fox telling MLB that they will broadcast Obama's infomercial and cover the game 15 minutes later than originally promised. MLB could have told Fox "no" - but that would upset the owners.

None of them want to lose pull in DC to avoid losing the last shreds of their antiquated antitrust exemption or be calle din front of Congress. With Obama leading and Democratic control of both houses of Congress, it behooves MLB to play nice with Obama via Fox.

Sandy,

"I think Fox News is very third-rate with on-air talent that is basically a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously."

Well Sandy, apparently the rest of the country thinks differently.
The ratings for Fox News dwarf CNN and MSNBC combined.

Fox also has to cuddle up to Obama because the new Congress is interested in censorship...errr. reinstituting the "Fairness Doctrine". Wait till it is applied to blogs!!!

Like Bud Selig, Fox will sell out fans/cusotmers in the traditional manner in order to assure their business enterprise is uninterrupted.

Fox didnt have to do the Obama commercial--ABC isn't doing it. But Fox is already looked at as a biased towards the right network, and not showing this thing would have proven that point. They really don't have a choice given their image in this country. Personally, I think Fox News is very third-rate with on-air talent that is basically a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously.
I think Selig actually believes that fans think he is a commissioner working for the fans. I think he has deluded himself into thinking that. His "good for the game" stuff really means good for the owners. I don't know anyone who thinks any decision he has made for baseball is truly good for the game. The wild-card is probably the best thing he has done. Yet if a person is a baseball "purist" it has ruined the game for him, though nobody can really argue it hasn't increased overall late-season interest. I think most of his decisions are good for television, which ultimately makes them good for owners and a rare decision is good for fans.

When the game resume tonight, if I were Maddon, I would not have Price warm up and come into the game in the bottom in of the 6th inning and I'll tell you why. Let's say Maddon brings in Price to pitch in the 6th inning. In the top of the 7th, the 6th, 7th and 8th place hitters are due up. Navarro, Baldelli and Bartlett are due up. Let's say the Rays have a runner at 2nd and 2 outs and the pitcher's spot is up with the game still tied and Price is already in the game. Maddon would have no choice but to pitch hit for Price to try get the runner from 2nd home to score. Maddon should used Howell or Miller first from the left side before he can used Price.

Wow...how did that happen?
Sandy posted his comment at 12:01.
I followed it up....and mine got posted ahead of his at "11:21"

Hey!! I am still 2 time zones away here.
It's currently 10:28 in 505land...which is 12:28 back in World Blog Headquarters.

505 the ratings of Fox News, CNN and MSNBC combined are less than any of the major networks on their worst days. If you even consider the former host of "A Current Affair" Bill O'Reilly a newsman or Sean Hannity or Alan Colmes or Larry King, three radio talk show hosts, newsmen then I don't know what to say. The people who actually broadcast the news on Fox and the others as well were second and third string at CBS and NBC or ABC. Fox's were mostly anchors of locally produced newscasts on network affiliates with no national experience. The "major" names like Chris Wallace or Brit Hume had run their course on major networks or never had major roles. Those three networks are all poor excuses for news programming, and have lowered the bar to such a dismal level it's appalling.
I think Bob Tufts comment right above my comment that you answered is supposed to be an answer to mine as well. Cablevision sux! :(

Bob, you were safe last night...I was at my Broomball game (its not curling!).

Like I've said a milllion times, Fehr and Orza and Miller are great at their jobs, and I'm sure if they were the Commissioner they would have handled it better. Whatever it is at the time.

But not this time. I think Selig did a very good job. He was in a no win situation, and according to Ken the weather should have held out. You CANT CANT CANT CANT CANT CANT CANT end the World Series on a rain delay. Just CANT. And it has nothing to do with DVD's. I'm hoping the Phillies wouldn't want to end it that way. So whatever he needed to do to play 9, he had to do. I think Bud is the worst Commissioner of all time, but I have no issue with how he handled this World Series. Maybe, he could have stopped it after 4/12 and said we will continue. But the Phils still lose Hammels.

Ken, of course they will go with their Ace on Friday. But there wont be a Friday.

I pray the Phils win and that way I can say that non-hustle cost the Rays a chance at the Championship.

If the World Series is THAT important, they shouldn't have started the game. Once they did start, they shouldn't have purposely played through awful conditions just to give the Rays a chance to tie. The Phillies won the game. It's not the greatest way to end a World Series, but that's they way it goes.

Selig is the worst. But he is tied with the 30 owners. They keep allowing this guy to make baseball look bad. They never learn. The only thing they are smart at is making money. But, as Bob has so intelligently pointed out, the owners used tax dollars to become much richer. We, the taxpayers, are the fools.

JMH I agree that we are the fools. And I agree with Bob that Selig is only bad to us fools and not to the other owners.

But no matter what, you cant end the WS in a rain delay. And I'm glad Buddy didn't. He's allowed one good move in his 20 years in office! (And I do mean one)

I am a baseball fan and I do not watch the other three major sports or even follow them. I am into baseball. Period. That said, I hear absolutely no one talking about the World Series. I come across an awful lot of people every day and there is no interest. This "Selig Delay" is the final nail in the coffin. There are people that would rather watch a test-pattern than these games on TV.

The commissioners in all sports always work with the owners. Its no surprise Selig works closely with the owners than he does with the Players Union. But Roger Goodell, David Stern and Gary Bettman were not owners when they took over for there respected sports.
People would rather watch a lousy regular season NFL game than watch the World Series. The NFL get 40 plus ratings for the Super Bowl. While baseball gets under 10 ratings for the World Series. That goes to show you that the NFL is the most popular and best run sport in America.

JMH, the reason the NHL is no longer one of the four major sports is many fold.

1) Expansion ruined the game. Talent became dilluded and coaching created ways to beat talent. 3 goals in a game was a shootout.

2) They tried to become the NBA and get their fans, while assuming that they would hold onto their own fans. I dont need to see a fight to see a great game, but I like the fact that one may occur. But what I really dont need is a flaming puck.

3) Politically Incorrect to say it, but too many Europeans. We want to see the top Euros play, but not the rest. We cant pronounce any of these names, and its just not the same gritty sport it used to be. And I know I may get slammed for that, but it is a major reason why the NHL fans left.

Dennis - don't get me started.....as for football.. it is untraviolent and antisocial and played by recidivist criminals who cannot humanly get as large as they are without chemical assistance.

The league uses college as a free minor leagues and corrupts American higher education in the process.

Cheerleaders in fromt of men with beer...

The people you mention were not owners, but were attorneys who worked for owners - just like Bowie Kuhn was an attorney at Wilkie Farr who ended up as an attorney for MLB. They're still a blunt instrument to be used at ownerships' deiscretion.

Football fans start drinking at 9am on Saturday or Sunday and continue throught the end of the game, doing things like asking women to bare their breasts, picking fights, throwing whatever they can get their hands on at anyone they perceive to be vulnerable. How many people drive away from the Meadowlands at blood alcohol levels way north of Joba Chamerlain? How many destroy property and/or maim innocents on the way home or to the next bar.

We criticize baseball - but that's because we want to hold it to an idealized standard - and that's a good thing!

if you have standards, you have to be or stay a baseball fan, for better or worse. Football's popularity doesn't mean it is right or ethical - it's just a way to drink and watch men try to decapitate each other on a weekly basis.

Does Bud Selig belong in the HOF? He is definitely going there. Bud was one of two ringleaders in the $280 million dollar collusion case won by players. Does this guy belong in the HOF? That's a rhetorical question, folks. I already know the answer. Heck, I'd rather see Anthony Rieber elected that Selig. ;)

Bob, I always knew you were a smart guy. Your response was brilliant. I wish that I had your energy because it is nearly identical to the one I would have typed out.

If there was a live show that featured people being fed to the lions, that too would get high ratings. The lack of brutal fighting in the NHL probably has doomed that sport. It's the reason why 99% of viewers tuned in during the 1970's.

While some baseball players have received some deserved bad PR, if there was ever a public examination of the NBA and its players, all the children produced by post-game liaisons, etc., it would be eye-popping. I have read how girls are literally lined up outside the locker rooms like a meat market. It is disgusting.

Greetings from the campaign trail. (I am in the Chicago burbs, helping out Mark Kirk's re-elect.) I miss not being part of the back-and-forth here, but whadduya gonna do?

Regarding MLB's response to the wet weather in Philly, here is a link worth checking out:

http://vegaswatch.net/2008/10/what-joke.html

... "So there were special rules in place. Silverman, Selig, and Gillick knew about them. But FOX obviously didn't. DuPuy very clearly didn't. The players didn't. The managers didn't. Everyone directly involved in a World Series game did not know the rules which were in place, and nobody in a position to alert the viewing audience in a timely fashion knew either. That is absurd.

"Second, if they had this plan in place, why did they play the top of the sixth? That was not baseball. Hamels couldn't throw a curveball (Stark reported this on OTL, but check the Gameday; no curves in the 6th). Rollins couldn't field a ground ball. It's a wonder that Upton made it all the way around the bases without falling over. Burrell couldn't make a decent throw to the plate. Okay, maybe that last thing isn't so rare. But still, it is mind boggling that they played under those conditions with a clearly superior contingency plan in place." ...

All you baseball fans out there take a look at this post I came across on Peterman's Eye. It talks about the demise of our "national pastime." Basically, we need to get it back to the level it once was.

http://www.petermanseye.com/interesting-times/day-s-events/304-our-national-pastime

Richie, as I wrote in my column today, I appreciate I represent a minority of one in my belief that a rain-shortened World Series finale would be fine. I'm a "by the book" guy, as you know. What can I tell ya?

Let's start our list regardsing making baseball a more enjoyable....my suggestions..

No DH.

No music at the ballpark between innings. I'd rather talk to my friends than hear "Cotton Eyed Joe" or "Welcome to the Jungle"

Volume controls set down to a dull roar for pre-game activity.

No cheerleaders....never. Market baseball more towards to women by comparing the conduct and marketing of the NBA, NHL and NFL to MLB. The NFL used Shawn Merriman as a national ad campaign spokesperson after a steroid suspension and now Lawrence Taylor is making a blaspehmous commercial for a video game? The NBA and a child, "girlfriend" and a pot party in every city. Guns, gansta, groping, etc. -

No cellphones - remove anyone talking and waving behind home plate during a televised game. Idiots!

Ban beer after the 5th inning...also authorize the local police to do DUI tests at the parking garage post-game.

Start games at 7pm - start playoff games at 730pm or 8pm sharp with no exceptions.

Doubleheaders on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day.

Fans will boo home players who transgress via drugs, sex or unlawful conduct the same way they'd treat a visiting team's player who broke the law.

JE, Kirk is solid in my book. I don't particularly like his 2006 numbers after comfortable victories the previous two times out, but he should make it, even in IL during a Dem year. He's not on the "watch list," as you know. I realize this is a rematch, but he's one of the good guys and needs to be pulled through.

Thanks, JMH. I have known Mark for almost 15 years and he is indeed a good egg. The campaign is confident but no one's taking anything for granted. (After all, this is Illinois!)

Salut!

who is anonomoys?? I agree with almost everything you said.