Why ESPN Is Bad For Baseball

Major League Baseball has made a major mistake in its deal with ESPN. They put ESPN's ratings above their fans. Case in point: August 26, 2007 N.Y. Mets vs L.A. Dodgers.

This game, scheduled to be played in New York's Shea Stadium, has long been on the schedule as an afternoon game featuring the Mr. Met Dash. For those of you not familiar with Mets promotions, the Mr. Met Dash comes along only a few times a season. It's where kids ages 12 and under get to run the bases at Shea Stadium with Mr. Met. It's the only chance most kids ever get to be on the field at a major league ballpark (at least legally).

The Mets and Dodgers, at the time of this writing, are first place of their respective divisions. ESPN decided it would be draw better ratings for them if the game were moved to be their Sunday night game. So Major League Baseball accommodated them, moving the game from 1:10 in the afternoon to 8:05 at night, canceling the Mr. Met Dash in the progress.

Now, most kids who would have participated in the dash will have to be in bed before the game ends, robbing them of not only the chance to be on the field, but of seeing the game in its entirety. Why? So someone in Iowa in Kansas City who couldn't care less about the Mets or Dodgers can have the opportunity to watch.

Baseball ratings have been steadily dropping. Why? Disregard for its fans is a big reason. (Steroid-using players settings "records" is another.) Dismiss the kids and you lose the next generation of fans. Both of my children were looking forward to being on the field at Shea that day. Now, they won't even see the game. I'd like no one to see this game. I'd like everyone to turn off ESPN that night. Let's show them that they can't get ratings, by screwing the fans.

Correction: The information about the Dodgers standing was erroneous. The Dodgers at the time of the original post were 7.5 games out of first place, making ESPN's decision that much more confusing.