Why are we force fed the Yankees and Red Sox?

Saturday April 10, 2010

I turn on MLB on Fox for the national game and what team do I see? If I turn on ESPN networks what teams will I see most often?

Well the odds are that I will see either the Yankees or the Red Sox or both of them.

Those two teams were seen on national games (Fox, ESPN & TBS) more times last season than any other division in baseball with all their teams combined.

This year they are currently scheduled for more appearances than any other division in baseball this season. NOT including the Opening Day game on ESPN a day before any other team got to play, there are 18 scheduled for the Yankees so far, 18 for the Red Sox of 109 total games.

Of the 7 TBS games currently scheduled, 5 include either the Yankees or Red Sox. 71.4% of the games!

National Broadcast Schedule

Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sun, Apr 11	1:40 PM	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	TBS
Sun, Apr 11	8:05 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Mon, Apr 12	4:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Minnesota Twins	ESPN
Wed, Apr 14	8:15 PM	Houston Astros	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN2
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	Chicago White Sox	Cleveland Indians	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	San Francisco Giants	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sun, Apr 18	1:35 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	TBS
Sun, Apr 18	8:05 PM	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Mon, Apr 19	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 PM	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sun, Apr 25	2:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Milwaukee Brewers	TBS
Sun, Apr 25	8:05 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, Apr 26	7:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	Houston Astros	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sun, May 2	1:05 PM	Chicago White Sox	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 2	8:05 PM	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	ESPN
Mon, May 3	7:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, May 8	3:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 8	3:10 PM	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sun, May 9	1:35 PM	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 9	8:05 PM	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Mon, May 10	7:05 PM	New York Yankees	Detroit Tigers	ESPN
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Houston Astros	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sun, May 16	1:05 PM	Minnesota Twins	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 16	8:05 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Mon, May 17	7:05 PM	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	New York Yankees	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, May 23	1:35 PM	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 23	8:05 PM	New York Yankees	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, May 24	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, May 29	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, May 30	2:20 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	TBS
Sun, May 30	8:05 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	ESPN2
Tue, Jun 1	7:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Mon, Jun 7	7:05 PM	Boston Red Sox	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 PM	Chicago White Sox	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Jun 14	8:15 PM	Seattle Mariners	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Mon, Jun 21	9:40 PM	New York Yankees	Arizona Diamondbacks	ESPN
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, Jul 4	8:15 PM	Kansas City Royals	Los Angeles Angels	ESPN
Mon, Jul 5	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Detroit Tigers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, Jul 11	8:05 PM	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	ESPN
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	FOX
Sun, Jul 18	8:05 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Chicago Cubs	ESPN
Mon, Jul 19	8:15 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	Colorado Rockies	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	New York Mets	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Mon, Jul 26	7:05 PM	New York Yankees	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Aug 2	7:10 PM	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 PM	San Francisco Giants	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	FOX
Mon, Aug 9	7:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Cincinnati Reds	ESPN
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	San Diego Padres	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	Baltimore Orioles	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Wed, Aug 18	7:05 PM	Detroit Tigers	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	San Diego Padres	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Wed, Sep 1	7:10 PM	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Oakland Athletics	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	New York Mets	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Wed, Sep 8	7:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, Sep 11	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	New York Mets	FOX
Wed, Sep 15	8:15 PM	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Colorado Rockies	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Wed, Sep 22	7:05 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	ESPN
Wed, Sep 29	8:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Chicago White Sox	ESPN

ESPN only schedules their Sunday Night games into July and after that they can pick any teams they want. Last season more often than not that was the Yankees or the Red Sox.

You wonder why those two teams have more money than other teams to spend on players and scouts and the other things that make you a consistent winner? Wonder no more.

They get paid for each of these appearances. If they get more of them than all the other teams, how is that creating an even playing field?

All the national games also means more Yankees and Red Sox merchandise being sold because all those people not living in the 30 cities that have MLB teams are buying the stuff of the teams they see on TV most. How is that creating an even playing field?

How many times were the Padres on national TV last season? Twice. (They were scheduled for 3 games just as they are this season, but only made two broadcasts)

How many times were the Yankees on national games last season?
15 games against the Red Sox (of 18?). 26 games against other opponents. For a total of 41 games.

How many times were the Red Sox on National Games last season?
15 games against the Yankees. 26 games against other opponents. For a total of 41 games.

How many games were broadcast nationally on ESPN, Fox and TBS total?
As far as I could find - 108.

You may have noticed I have not included MLB Network. I did that because its viewership is too small to be called national.

Richard on target. Padres batters are not.

Saturday April 10, 2010

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Clayton Richard showed why the Padres had enough confidence in him after a mediocre showing in spring training to give him the #4 slot in the rotation.

Even in a losing cause, Richard kept the Padres in the game with 7 innings of effective pitching. He gave up 7 hits and 3 runs while striking out 4 and walking 3 in the thin Colorado air.

Meanwhile the Padres batters could manage just 1 hit off Colorado Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa. Other than a single by Everth Cabrera, the Padres seemed baffled by De La Rosa's change up, often swinging at pitches a foot or more out of the zone.

The Padres batters didn't fair any better off the Rockies bullpen, getting just one hit in the final two frames off Rafael Betancourt and rookie Esmil Rogers.

Sean Gallagher sealed the Padres fate by coming in and surrendering 5 hits and 4 runs including a 3 run blast to Clint Barmes in the 8th inning.

Although he was once one of the most promising pitching prospects in baseball and has seen time in the major leagues for parts of 4 years, Gallagher showed today why the Padres felt he was not ready to be a starter.

The final score was 7-0 Colorado and the Padres dropped to 1-3 on the season.

Good News and Bad News, which do you want first?

Saturday April 10, 2010

The Good News
Chris Young will probably not be traded this season.

The Bad News
The reason Young won't be traded is he is injured already.

The San Diego Padres announced yesterday that Young will not make his scheduled start on Monday for the Padres home opener because of "tightness" in his surgically repaired right shoulder.

Young threw 6 innings of 1 hit, shutout ball in his first start of the season on Tuesday in Arizona, but felt tightness on Wednesday. He was pulled from the start after just 86 pitches, but Black and Young both said it was just being cautious since it was his first start since June of 2009 and the Padres had a 5 run lead at the time. Many who were watching his velocity decline sharply during the game wondered if something was wrong. I guess we now know it was more than just cautiousness.

In 2009 Young went on the DL to stay on June 14th after having been held out of several starts earlier for extra rest because of tightness in the same shoulder that he is experiencing tightness in now. He eventually had debradement surgery on the shoulder.

Grrrrr. Looks like another injury filled season is coming for Chris Young and the Padres.