World Series games to start earlier

Monday, May 18, 2009
World Series games to start earlier
Detroit News wire services

Major League Baseball is going to turn back the clock for the start of World Series games this season.

The first pitch of World Series games will happen shortly before 8 p.m. this season, shortly after Fox's pregame show, which will now begin at 7:30.

The new first pitch time is approximately 40 minutes earlier than World Series games in past years. This year will mark the first time in more than 30 years a World Series game will begin before 8 p.m., according to MLB.com.

"Our goal is to schedule games so the largest number of people can watch, and Fox has gone to an enormous amount of effort to make this happen. It's been a great joint effort between the two of us," commissioner Bud Selig told MLB.com.

American League Championship Series games, also televised by Fox, will have the same earlier start times. According to USA Today, Selig said it is undetermined whether postseason games on TBS will start earlier.

"World Series games have been running longer," Fox Sports president Ed Goren said, "and we made the adjustments with the acknowledgement that young kids can only stay up until a certain hour.

"In all fairness, I haven't seen that as an issue in other sports, but that aside, there is a potential benefit in this with regard to young fans -- as well as a possible ratings benefit with games not running till midnight."

But they can't play day WS games on Saturday or Sunday Afternoons in the Eastern or Central Time Zones

World Series games will start earlier
MLB, FOX Sports respond to concerns of fans

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

05/17/09 11:50 PM ET

World Series games this October will start approximately 40 minutes earlier, a concerted response by FOX Sports and Major League Baseball to concerns about late broadcasts inconveniencing East Coast and young fans.

First pitches will be scheduled for shortly before 8 p.m. ET, following the conclusion of pregame shows now scheduled to go on the air at 7:30.

The last time a regularly scheduled weekday World Series game started before 8 was 38 years ago, when the Orioles faced the Pirates in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who recommended the change in starting times to FOX Sports, called it "a terrific announcement, something I have waited a long time for."

"I really feel good about where we are," said Selig, who indicated the American League Championship Series games on FOX also will follow suit and start prior to 8 o'clock. "Our goal is to schedule games so the largest number of people can watch, and FOX has gone to an enormous amount of effort to make this happen. It's been a great joint effort between the two us."

Seconding the sentiment, FOX Sports president Ed Goren said: "This is a very special relationship between FOX and the Commissioner and his staff. It's the gold standard. We've worked very well together through the years, and this is just another example of why we've been able to accomplish so much."

According to Major League Baseball's records, the change will mark the first time a regularly scheduled weekday World Series game will start before 8 p.m. ET in over 30 years.

Of course, the advanced start time really is more about when World Series games end than it is about when they begin.

In last fall's World Series, featuring the Philadelphia Phillies against the Tampa Bay Rays, the start of games ranged from 8:30 p.m. to 8:38 p.m. ET. With an average duration of three hours and 16 minutes, final outs consistently pushed midnight on the East Coast.

"World Series games have been running longer," Goren said, "and we made the adjustments with the acknowledgement that young kids can only stay up until a certain hour.

"In all fairness, I haven't seen that as an issue in other sports, but that aside, there is a potential benefit in this with regard to young fans -- as well as a possible ratings benefit with games not running till midnight."

Selig also introduced a more dramatic, retro idea: weekend afternoon World Series games. The network ultimately deemed that impractical.

"It certainly was considered," Goren said, "and the Commissioner has certainly expressed his interest in it. But it gets back to economics: What I do know, from our research people, is that if we played Saturday afternoon, viewership would be 30 percent lower. And there would be an economic impact to that."

"It's not going to happen in 2009, but we'll certainly continue to talk about it," Selig said. "But, as I said, our goal is to have the largest number of people watching, and the truth is the potential audience is 30 percent greater in primetime at night.

"This really is a reasonable hour. Young fans were one of the reasons we wanted to do it, but, again, our goal was to have the largest possible audience. This is a real change for us, in a very positive way -- something I have had very strong feelings about for a long time."

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

gs78 wrote:

But they can't play day WS games on Saturday or Sunday Afternoons in the Eastern or Central Time Zones

Quote :

Selig also introduced a more dramatic, retro idea: weekend afternoon World Series games. The network ultimately deemed that impractical.

"It certainly was considered," Goren said, "and the Commissioner has certainly expressed his interest in it. But
it gets back to economics: What I do know, from our research people, is
that if we played Saturday afternoon, viewership would be 30 percent
lower. And there would be an economic impact to that."

No, that would cut into their all mighty dollar!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gs78 wrote:

But they can't play day WS games on Saturday or Sunday Afternoons in the Eastern or Central Time Zones

Quote :

Selig also introduced a more dramatic, retro idea: weekend afternoon World Series games. The network ultimately deemed that impractical.

"It certainly was considered," Goren said, "and the Commissioner has certainly expressed his interest in it. But
it gets back to economics: What I do know, from our research people, is
that if we played Saturday afternoon, viewership would be 30 percent
lower. And there would be an economic impact to that."

No, that would cut into their all mighty dollar!

Maybe!



But what would be so bad if the WS started even say at 6pm or 6:30 EST
on at least Sunday games


Heck even the Super Bowl starts at 6:18pm or so EST each year



That is the biggest advertising day in the nation

I agree with you gs!

While we're at it, how about putting the World Baseball Classic back in the Olympics where it belongs???

laprimamirala wrote:

While we're at it, how about putting the World Baseball Classic back in the Olympics where it belongs???

ugh what a waste of manpower THAT was!!!!

laprimamirala wrote:

ugh what a waste of manpower THAT was!!!!

You got that right


Selig's baby


More like Rosemary's Baby if you ask me

mowed a lot of MLB players down before Spring Training...not good

And how many of the guys came back injured or messed up because the coaches messed with the players mechanics.

Maggs was one of the guys that they tried to change his batting stance to try for more home runs. It is taking forever for Maggs to get back to his normal method of hitting!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

And how many of the guys came back injured or messed up because the coaches messed with the players mechanics.

Maggs was one of the guys that they tried to change his batting stance to try for more home runs. It is taking forever for Maggs to get back to his normal method of hitting!

gs78 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

And how many of the guys came back injured or messed up because the coaches messed with the players mechanics.

Maggs was one of the guys that they tried to change his batting stance to try for more home runs. It is taking forever for Maggs to get back to his normal method of hitting!

did this happen in 2006 also?

Would not surprise me if this did go on that year also. Leyland must be pissed over the way these WBC coaches mess with his best players! I say--no more Tigers playing in the WBC!

The games are still too late. Games ending at 11 or later is too late. Even in high school I didn't stay up that late. Obviously it doesn't matter to me in CA but you could start the games at 4:00 here and be done by 10 Eastern which is a lot more reasonable.