So I stayed up until 11:30 last night watching the Red Sox/Rays LCS Game 2 (I would have stayed up later, had I not been drifting asleep on my living room couch). The Sox took the lead 6-5 in the 5th inning, and then the Rays went on to answer right back. Then I asked myself "well, who do I really want to win this series?"
I couldnt come up with a straight answer. Yeah, the Rays have made an amazing turn around this season. It would be cool to see them go all the way.
On the other hand, who could pass up a chance to see the Red Sox face Joe Torre, Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers?
Then I thought about who Bud Selig and MLB officials want to see in the World Series. Obviously, Red Sox/Dodgers. But would that be the best thing for baseball?
From a monetary standpoint, you would have to think so. The average viewer, or average baseball fan, would tune in just to see the Boston fans react to Manny. Or to see the reception for Joe Torre in Fenway (do you think he would be boo'ed or cheered?) Bud Selig knows this, and knows that TV ratings for that World Series would go through the roof.
But think about the Tampa Bay Rays for a moment. They made an amazing turn around this season, winning the American League East division and out-dueling the Red Sox and those New York Greenbacks (er, I mean Yankees...my bad). What if they make it all the way to the World Series? Would that be just as fruitful as a Red Sox/Dodgers series?
Think about fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals, not to mention any other small market team. Year after year, their team stinks. They don't have the money or payroll to compete in free agency with the big market teams like Boston and New York.
But what if the Rays make it to the World Series? What if they WIN the World Series? That would have to give hope to fans of small market teams. The Rays went from last place to first in one year. In a league dominated by large markets and big money, the Rays could give hope to fans who have experienced years of futility.
This change could save baseball. Think about it - why is the National Football League so popular? One big reason is parity. Any Given Sunday. For example, the Patriots and Colts are good, but that doesn't mean they're gonna make the playoffs every single year. And who could have predicted the Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys all making the playoffs last year? Thats what makes people tune into the NFL - unpredictability.
To baseball's credit, I need to mention the '07 Colorado Rockies. Talk about unpredictable. However, look at what happened in the end - they were swept out of the World Series by the Red Sox, a big market team with a much higher payroll (The Sox began 2007 with a $146 million payroll, compared to $63 million for the Rockies).
Baseball is different. Baseball is a competition between the same teams every year (give or take a few). You can put money on the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees being in some sort of playoff race in September.
If Tampa Bay were to play in the World Series, everything would change. Baseball would become college football. Baseball would become the NFL. Pirates and Royals fans would have a reason to maintain hope, if they haven't restored that hope already (the Rays postseason run to this point has already been impressive).
Either way, Major League Baseball will be reaping the rewards (Sky-high TV ratings vs. an increased fan base among small market teams).
Well, except if the Phillies play the Red Sox. Then baseball will just continue to be...plain old baseball.
(^photo at top of story taken from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3638442)
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