Breaking News: The Play-offs are here - News Paper

Some thoughts on the playoffs. (Yes, I know – a “baseball” post. See most of you tomorrow.)

The Wild Card games always seem to be spectacular and this year was no exception. I’m convinced part of the reason is that it’s a one-game winner-take-all series. So every play is heightened, every moment is exciting.

Personally, I think there are too many playoff games. It’s ridiculous that the World Series practically ends at Thanksgiving.

The World Series is also watered down by interleague-play, so it’s no big whoop anymore to see a National League team play an American League team. Also, the World Series games start so late in the East that kids (the game’s future) are usually in bed by the third inning.

If I were commissioner here’s what I would do: One-game playoffs for the Wild Card. Three-game series for the Division. Five for the Championship Series. And the only series that goes seven is the World Series. Also, only one travel day per series. If the teams have to travel a second time they can do it in the middle of night like they do during the season. Do all of that and each game becomes more important and dramatic, and you cut out a week. You can watch the World Series and still have a few days to decorate your house for Halloween (instead of Christmas).

I’d make it easier for the fans to find the games. They’re currently on Fox, FS-1, ESPN, ESPN-2, TBS, TNT, MLB Network. And in a number of cases different networks cover the same series. And it doesn't stop there.  Your game could be listed on TBS but if the game before runs long (which they all do) the start of your game may be on TNT.  Good luck setting your DVR.

But wait -- there's more.   Beyond the first few games, the start times of future games aren't even announced.  The networks decide last minute who should go where -- meaning: if you're the Yankees, Dodgers, or Cubs you're probably playing in primetime.  If you're Houston you're not.  The casual fan is not going to go to the effort of finding these games. And it’s the casual fan you need to attract – the person who only follows baseball during the post-season.

Keep Harold Reynolds away from any broadcast booth. He’s the current Joe Morgan.

Bring Jon Miller back.

And ESPN – find a place for Jason Benetti (pictured above). You have the best young baseball announcer in the country in your fold. Use him.  Instead, ESPN has Chris Berman calling a series on the radio.  He's maybe the worst radio baseball play-by-play man ever.

If you have the MLB app or Sirius/XM and you want to follow the Cleveland-New York game, listen to the Indians radio broadcast.  Tom Hamilton is exceptional.  

Have you ever seen so many first inning home runs as in these playoff games so far?  Off of pitching aces no less. 

Jose Altuve is the single best player in baseball.  Disagree all you want.  

What World Series match-up do you think Fox is rooting for? Dodgers vs. Yankees or Diamondbacks vs. Astros?

Best of luck to YOUR team.

from By Ken Levine http://ift.tt/2y69To2
Breaking News: The Play-offs are here - News Paper