An Open Letter to ESPN
Dear Programming Director,
I am pleased that ESPN is commited to showing Major League Baseball games on Sunday Night Baseball, as well as during the week on Monday’s and Wednesday’s. However, it may come as a surprise to you to learn that not everyone who watches Sunday/Monday/Wednesday Night Baseball is a Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees fan.
In truth, since their are thirty MLB teams, it would be nice to see some variety in the coverage shown on ESPN. To wit, last night (27 July 2008) ESPN broadcast a game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Tonight (28 July 2008) ESPN will again broadcast a game featuring the Boston Red Sox (this time the opponent will be the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
I am curious as to why ESPN is not showing ANY games featuring the Tampa Bay Rays who are having a “Worst-to-First” season? It would seem to me that ESPN would, at least, cover them in some curisory fashion. After all, there are a great many Tampa Bay Rays fans who do not live in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area who enjoy hearing about how their Rays are doing.
And while the occasional coverage on Baseball Tonight or Sportscenter is nice to see, it in no way comes close to the coverage granted to the current Manny Ramirez trade talks currently buzzing around the Boston Red Sox.
In closing, Sir or Ma’am, I would encourage ESPN to consider adding some Tampa Bay Rays games to their programming schedule. Does ESPN have some contractual obligation to broadcast Boston or New York games? If so, then these obligations can be met by showing either of these teams playing against the Tampa Bay Rays. (Ah the miracle of interdivisional rivalries!)
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Sincerly,
WonderGoon
Baseball Fan
mlblogswondergoon
Hi,
Just read your open letter to ESPN regarding their baseball programming. Not bad at all. You make some very valid points. I am indeed a Yankees fan, but I do sympathize with fans of teams who are never shown on national broadcasts. You could’ve written the same letter to Fox for their national game of the week every Saturday. Unfortunately, more Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets and Dodgers merchandise is sold than all of the other teams combined in any given year. ESPN caters to the larger market teams, and where do most advertising dollars come from? Madison Avenue and the bigger markets. That my friend, is why you see what you see each and every week. ESPN is about as concerned with what the fans want as Bud Selig is. I’m sorry, but that is the painful truth. I enjoy your blog, keep up the good work.
Best,
Billy Brost
http://westcoastyankees.mlblogs.com
Thanks for the comments, Billy.
You are right about the bigger market teams getting all the attention. I just wish that Bud Selig’s “There’s parity in baseball” rhetoric trickled down to the networks so each team would get equal face time with the national broadcasts.
As you say, it’s a painful truth.
Thanks for commenting.
Goon