Chapin: Baseball playoffs slip in stature

I have been tasked by my younger son Patrick to do the impossible — convince sports media managers that they should focus more on Major League Baseball’s playoffs than football this time of year.

In a Facebook post early Sunday, Patrick wrote: “I’m a big college football fan, big as the next guy. But when did the shift go from baseball playoffs to college football. Lead story is Mississippi football?!? Two perennially poor teams (who will both likely lose next week) over some great postseason baseball.

“Royals (bad for years) are doing work against a powerhouse, Angels. Historically great teams battling, Dodgers vs. Cards. Orioles vs. Tigers (epitome of needing a bullpen) and the culmination of a good farm system, the Nats, against a team that always replenished through their farm system, Giants.

“Great stuff! If this was the ‘90s we’d all be glued. What happened, any thoughts? Dad, you need to write a column.”

My first thought was the cynical answer. If he was watching ESPN, then it should be no surprise the lead story was about college football (or the NFL for that matter) over baseball. The Disney people don’t have as large an economic interest in the baseball playoffs these days.

In the past, when ESPN was one of baseball’s major postseason broadcast partners, then SportsCenter probably would lead with the playoffs. But the Disney folks have put a lot of money into promoting the four-team playoff in college football this season so you can bet they will do all they can to hype that storyline as we progress through the season.

If he had been watching whatever scoreboard/highlights show Fox Sports has, then he might have seen baseball as the lead story since Fox, under the current contract, is heavily involved in telecasting the playoffs.

What, you didn’t think media outlets would favor one sporting event over another for monetary reasons? You thought stories were chosen and ranked simply for their importance to the readers/viewers? Yeah, right.

If there is an advertising tie-in with a particular event or a chance to hype another media product, you can bet that will happen.

The other possible reason a media outlet might play college football over baseball at this time of year is one that I don’t like to admit.

Baseball just isn’t as popular as it was in the past. Yes, the game has been setting attendance records at stadiums in recent years, but its appeal to the casual fan seems to be waning.

The biggest complaint, which I hear a lot from co-workers, is the games take too long. No one wants to commit four hours to one game, three is long enough.

When I was a kid games lasted, on average, less than three hours, not that I was counting.

There are many factors at play here including the fact that the networks want the games to last longer so they can cram in more commercials and promos.

But the time factor used to be considered one of the great things about the game. A team making a comeback didn’t have to worry about running out of time.

Obviously, that still is the case on the field, but in the stands and in living rooms, I guess time is running out on the Grand Old Game.

Doug Chapin is a sportswriter with The Vindicator. Write him at dchapin@vindy.com.