Let's see-the Braves game was on ESPN on Monday night(that's stupid because TBS had it also)--and ESPN2 has the Braves game on Wednesday night.Come on ESPN show some other teams-no wonder your baseball ratings are down.

You may not like the Braves, but other than the Yankees, they have the largest fanbase in the country. Thanks to Ted Turner, anyone interested in baseball who didn't live in a major city could tune in and watch the Braves. It builds fans. Ever watch a Braves/Expos game? There are literally more Braves fans in the stands than Expos fans.

While I'd rather watch Skip & Don do pbp/color for the Braves, sagging baseball ratings are hardly a result of ESPN broadcasting the most popular National League team in the country, a team that has been to the post season for the past 11 consecutive seasons. Other than the Cubbies, no team even comes close to the Yankees and Braves in terms of out-of-market viewership.

Like 'em or hate 'em, they bring in ratings. And considering last year's tight pennant race, a Braves/Phillies game seems like a pretty good draw for early in the season. Same with Dodgers/Giants in the night game. ESPN also picked up two games from the Braves/Mets series ... one of the highest profile rivalries in recent NL play (other than more historic rivalries like aforementioned Dodgers/Giants). After that Mets series, it's 12 weeks before the Braves will appear on ESPN. Seems like ESPN picked the two best possible Braves series to televise before the All Star Break. Makes perfect sense to me.

Sagging ratings are more likely attributed to the fact that the average American has the attention span of a fruitfly.

das

Yeah it's basically been Mets, Yanks, Braves, and Mariners w/the Giants and Indians on ESPN Alternate since opening day (actually seems about the same as the last half of last year.) But that's not what bothers me the most...what does is that baboon Berman. I tried watching the Phils/Braves game last week and he spent at least 5 minutes talking about Jefferson Starship. Meanwhile there was a great AB, and two outs made in what was a close game. I guess if someone isn't rumblin'-bumblin'-stumblin' or going back-back-back, he doesn't have the ability to focus. I guess others love him because he seems have done 3 games now in primetime.
Anyways, sorry for the mini-rant...I understand where you're coming from dvd-4-life, the Yanks are the team MLB "allows" me to watch (prior to this year) and the Braves are on about 4 days a week on TBS so seeing those teams on ESPN gets on my nerves a bit too.

Berman's the worst. He used to be fun to listen to, but that was in the 80's. He does nothing but waste airtime on stupid antics that aren't even funny anymore.

As for ESPN, they start and end the season with big inner-divisional rivalries featuring teams who will likely be fighting for the post season. I don't have a problem with it. As long as the other teams get their airtime too, then that's fine. Seattle used to never be on ESPN, but then they got good, and here they are. The Braves and Yankees are not only hugely popular, but they contend for a ring every single season. It's hard to justify not televising them often.

das

Boy, you have a comment for everything, don't ya?
I understand your point. I see why they do it, but I don't like it. And I'm probably just part of the vocal minority, so there's not much reason to listen to me but with ESPN's resources they could at least designated certain timeslots for regional interest games, or games that are potentially good match-ups.
Well...I can dream...can't I?

I've only seen the Indians on ESPN once this year. The Mets I've seen everyday, including when they showed the Mets/Pirates during the afternoon on Monday and Wednesday. The Dodgers/Mariners/Giants will be on a lot to fill the 10:30 time slot because there aren't too many west coast teams.

Maybe because you're in Ohio?
They were on ESPN2 ALT today, and opening day. I'm pretty sure they were on one other time too. (Yes I understand not everybody gets ESPN ALT, I'm just trying to point out the "B" game is very often the same teams, just as the main channels carry the same teams.) Yeah I know, that's really beyond ESPN's control. And they are showing the SD/AZ game tonight (although it's not the "A" game) so I can't complain about that.
I'd still like to see some of the other parts of the country's teams though. Like have a Houston or St Louis game on at 8:00 or 9:00 eastern with no 10:30 game that Wednesday. I know that they do it from time to time, but it seems few and far between.

edited to add:
Okay I'm shutting up now. First I complain about Giants/Mariners, so ESPN has SD tonight and Sunday. Then I say they should show Houston or StL...and just now I see an ad for Friday night's game: Cards Vs Astros.

Braves fan base


Having lived in Atl for four years, there is only one fanbase -that is the Georgia Dawgs. Look at a game on TBS , almost the whole upper deck is empty and the lower decks and Lexus levels are predominately coprorate owned. This team has won 11 straight division titles and practically no one in Atlanta cares.

The braves national fan base is only by osmosis. If TBS showed Good Burger as much the Braves, they would be on their fourth sequel and Denzel would be short an Oscar. This is something ABC should learn- show anything on end- people will watch and eventually tune in. If you play practically any music cd over and over you eventually like it - you dont have a choice.


Carey and Sutton are insipid. Give me Joe Simpson and Van Wiern anyday.

Well, it is a discussion board.

And I understand yours. Like I said, I'd rather never see a Braves game on ESPN, because I can already watch them elsewhere. While a Braves fan, I still follow baseball intently and want to watch other games as well. I should just suck it up an buy MLB Extra Innings from DirecTV, but it's a little more than I'd like to pay.

das

Re: Dawgs. Loudest and drunkest doesn't equal largest.

Re: Braves. Fan interest has lessened in recent years which is a shame. I blame ticket prices. I'd go to more games if it weren't so damn_expensive.

Never said differently. The national fan base is because the Braves were the only team on national television every single day. They were nationally popular when they were last in the division.

Caray is old as dirt, so he's forgiveable. In the 80's he was a giant (not physically). Sutton sounds like Bill Walton but gives great insight to the game. Those little Sutton Moments where he explains exactly what happens on certain picthes are great. I wish they'd do more of that. He was an excellent pitcher and knows an assload about the game. They should use that knowledge more often. Pete and Joe are great as well. No argument there.

das

Too expensive? I thought that the Braves had one of the lower average ticket cost in MLB. Heck, the last time we went we sat in the $5 section and loved it. Sure, they aren't close up... but, IMO, it was a better view of the field as a whole than several of the more expensive sections!

More on topic, I like it when the Yankees or Braves are on TV. With either you generally get to see a pretty good/popular team play... much more interesting that watching something like an Expos/Marlins game!

Braves - 2nd largest fan base in the country? I think not. They don't even sell out playoff games in Atlanta. Yes, they are probably the most watched team in the country (over even the Yankees) because TBS is in every cable home. Therefore, they earn that honor by default.

I always wondered why ESPN picks up so many Braves games since cable homes are already saturated with them thanks to TBS.

Of course the Braves have a huge fan base...after all they are "America's team!"

I said second largest "out-of-market" fanbase. ESPN doesn't care who goes to Braves games. They care who watches Braves games on television. Why that is the case (TBS) is of no concern to ESPN.

das

For years, this was a very true statement, though not as much anymore. Because of TBS, every city without a major franchise had a large Braves fan base. The Braves would travel to other stadiums, and even though they sucked, they'd have large numbers of fans in the stands. More availability of televised games had balanced things out more, but when TBS used the term "America's Team" it was quite warranted.

das

I think ESPN would draw higher ratings showing the Mets, Red Sox, Cubs or Cardinals. Those teams have larger national followings IMO. Ask Fox whether they would rather see the Cardinals or Braves in the Fall Classic vs the Yankees.

Without Big Mac, do the Cards still draw the same audience? Mets, Bosox, and Cubbies all have strong followings. That's for certain. And the Cards do well since they hit so many states with location. Check ESPN's lineup, and you'll see these teams featured highly as well. It's certainly not just Braves and Yankees. They just seem to be starting with the Braves (likely because Braves/Phillies and Braves/Mets are great early season matchups). The Braves don't play many important games before the All Star break, so ESPN's getting these while they can. After this Mets series, it's 12 weeks without any Brave action on any ESPN station. Considering at a minimum ESPN televises 8 teams each week, this balances out to me.

As for the Fall Classic, I think the fact that the Braves have been in the hunt every year is a drawback for ratings, but probably a small one. A Braves vs. Yankees series would still bring in great numbers, although having the Cards being there would definitely be a plus. And FOX does love the Cards.

das

Now I see why we don't see eye to eye on much.

signed,
a Mets fan

I would doubt it's the same huge numbers, but I'd be shocked if they're not in the top 5 or 6. Even though the casual fan may have lost interest in them, I think of StL as being a team of tradition along the lines of, but not completely equal to, Yanks, Redsox, Dodgers, Giants.

Also even if I'm completely wrong about what teams generate ratings, having more mid level teams could help build future interest. If you begin to showcase the teams that have a chance at being winners, when a mid-late season match-up like ChiSox vs Twins occurs I would think previous coverage of the teams would get people into it more, and possiblly carry the benefit over to next year.

the Cards vs. Cubs series are always classics.......including in the stands.

I almost never watch the crappy ESPN games.......and the announcers of the Braves games have been horrible for years.


Harry should have steered his kids in other directions besides broadcasting.

Chip makes me puke when I happen to catch a Cubs game. Steve Stone was Jesus Christ Jr. compared to him.

Former Mets fan, here. Back in the 80s, the Braves were my favorite team, but we were always out of the hunt by June, so I had to root for someone else. The Mets of the mid-late 80's were a great team to cheer for. Unfortunately, the most disgraceful man in sports, Bobby Valentine, is running them now, and it's impossible to have anything but hate for them. They're better now that Cook is gone, but not by much. And I cannot stand the stadium fans. Booing your own team is unacceptable. Same with throwing batteries at opposing players. Some lines shouldn't be crossed. I'll still love the great teams of the mid-late 80's, but it's a different franchise now.

das

i love the braves and i love tbs for showing a ton of braves games!

(Hate him too.)

Another week, another Braves game.
At least it's a rival match (vs the Mets), so I can't complain. I feel bad for others though.

Go Orioles!

There are actually few teams I really enjoy watching, and most of them suck. What I do like is to watch certain players. Although I will always root for the hometown team, players are what gets my interest. It was really fantasy baseball that got me to know and follow other players around the league. And after playing it for 10 years, you get to see some great things.

still it would be nice if the Orioles weren't run by monkeys