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Monday, October 17, 2022

MLB could certainly use marquee team in Yankees advancing to ALCS

If they can beat Cleveland on Monday night, the Yankees have a date with hated Houston. Of the teams that despise the Astros, the Yankees are probably first on that list, making for a great storyline. An Astros-Guardians series wouldn’t bring nearly the same buzz.

The upstart Guardians are a nice story, sure, especially for hardcore fans. But to draw in the casual fan, the historic franchise is a near necessity. Folks either love the Yankees, or love to hate them. Indifference is no option.

One positive sign: The Yankees’ confidence never seemed to waver, even after the walk-off defeat Saturday night that pushed them to the cusp of elimination…

This isn’t always said aloud. But as far as the country is concerned, it’s enough already. The Guardians, while deserving of our admiration for getting this far after trading off a trio of stars (including Mr. Smiles himself, Francisco Lindor), can remain mostly anonymous for another year.

The nation wants to see the Yankees back in the World Series, where they belong but haven’t been since 2009, when CC Sabathia was their ace, all-time winner Derek Jeter was seeking a fifth ring and Alex Rodriguez was only a one-time drug loser. The Yankees have won a lot of games in the 12-year interim, just not the right ones. Deciding games will determine their fate.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: October 17, 2022 at 10:02 AM | 27 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: yankees

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1. Obo Posted: October 17, 2022 at 10:28 AM (#6101187)

...says the New York Post.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: October 17, 2022 at 10:36 AM (#6101189)

MLB media is always so anxious about TV ratings. I never seem to hear this in the NBA, despite the fact their Finals ratings are falling too and are actually worse than the World Series. Why the hell should anyone care what the TV ratings are? The networks seems to keep shelling out big bucks despite falling ratings.

3. The Gary DiSarcina Fan Club (JAHV) Posted: October 17, 2022 at 10:55 AM (#6101193)

No, thanks. We've already got one evil team in the ALCS. We don't need two, ratings be damned.

4. Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network) Posted: October 17, 2022 at 11:56 AM (#6101208)

If the Evil Empire hasn't "been [to the World Series] since 2009," then maybe -- juuuust maybe -- they don't "belong" there after all.

5. . . . . . . Posted: October 17, 2022 at 12:16 PM (#6101210)

Everyone is super excited to see the 3rd through 6th best teams in the league fight it out

6. Bob T Posted: October 17, 2022 at 12:36 PM (#6101211)

The 6th best team in the NL is the one that has the guy who does most of the national commercials for active players.

7. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: October 17, 2022 at 02:40 PM (#6101230)

I'm obviously rooting for the Yankees to win tonight, but if the Guardians can pull it off then more power to them. They're a well managed team, and one with the rare virtue of having hundreds of more hits than strikeouts. (As do the Astros.)

The upstart Guardians are a nice story, sure, especially for hardcore fans. But to draw in the casual fan, the historic franchise is a near necessity.

If the only thing that draws the "casual fan" to baseball is familiarity, then fuck the "casual fan".

8. Walt Davis Posted: October 17, 2022 at 02:55 PM (#6101238)

It's for the good of the country!!

9. Obo Posted: October 17, 2022 at 05:22 PM (#6101265)

MLB media is always so anxious about TV ratings.

Part of it might be that whether the story is "Ratings are Up!" or "Ratings are Down!" the articles pretty much write themselves. Either way it's easy content.

10. cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE

Posted: October 17, 2022 at 09:19 PM (#6101321)

It's Heyman so one might suspect the Guardians roster has fewer Boras clients.

11. KronicFatigue Posted: October 18, 2022 at 09:45 AM (#6101375)

I never seem to hear this in the NBA, despite the fact their Finals ratings are falling too and are actually worse than the World Series.

Really? My defining characteristic of the NBA is a semi rigged sport that's driven primarily by TV ratings. Patrick Ewing going to the Knicks to help a big market, stars (especially Jordan) getting favorable calls, the 90's Knicks being bad for ratings, the Kings/Lakers fully rigged WCF, the NBA hating the (small market) Spurs dynasty, refs extending playoff series generally, playoff schedules trying to land on weekends, the whole coverup story beyond Tim Donaghy.

12. base ball chick Posted: October 18, 2022 at 10:29 AM (#6101388)

11. KronicFatigue Posted: October 18, 2022 at 09:45 AM (#6101375

Really? My defining characteristic of the NBA is a semi rigged sport that's driven primarily by TV ratings... stars (especially Jordan) getting favorable calls, the 90's Knicks being bad for ratings, the Kings/Lakers fully rigged WCF, the NBA hating the (small market) Spurs dynasty, refs extending playoff series

Husband, brothers, every person I know who watches been screaming bout this for years. the cheating refs are really obvious but the making different rules for STAHS!! and pimped treams hasn't decreased $$$ so until it does won't nothing happen. Husband and brothers don't watch like they used to just like i hardly ever watch baseball and refuse to watch any game with the pimped 4

ESPECIALLY

Y/RS. if th Y get in the WS i won't be watching thanx to endless Y worship and butt licking by the announcers. if you asked me 10 years ago could i possibly not be obsessed with baseball or not bother to watch the WS i look at you like you insisting the sun rises in the west.

its like it's a play and theres 4 stars and the chorus. and ain't nobody in the chorus supposed to out act the stars. only worse because people KNOW that for a play there is a script even though it is live. a "sporting" event should NOT be scripted to make sure one of 4 teams is in the finals.

it was great when the rangers and the royals made it to the WS. the very LAST teams i want to watch are the pimped 4. i am bigly rooting for san diego vs cleveland

13. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: October 18, 2022 at 10:36 AM (#6101392)

My defining characteristic of the NBA is a semi rigged sport

I'm sure the league cares about ratings, but I don't hear kvetching from Charles Barkley or Brian Windhorst about how the Milwuakee Bucks being in the Finals is bad for the sport and they need the Knicks/Celtics/Lakers/Warriors in the Finals to keep fan interest. Why the hell should fans care? I want a good matchup, I don't care how popular the team is.

14. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: October 18, 2022 at 11:15 AM (#6101400)

ESPECIALLY

Y/RS. if th Y get in the WS i won't be watching thanx to endless Y worship and butt licking by the announcers.

So what if it's the Astros? (smile) Have you forgiven them for switching to the DH league now that the DH is universal?

15. Rally Posted: October 18, 2022 at 11:18 AM (#6101401)

The assumptions made in articles like this sure do a lot to increase hate for the Yankees. They’ve been the evil empire for a long time. This year the emperor has introduced another arch villain with the outfielder who is not Judge but leads the team with 3 homers in the series. It took a while after the trade to reconstruct him. But just before this series Cashman donned a Sith robe and commanded “Rise, lord Bader”.

16. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: October 18, 2022 at 11:36 AM (#6101406)

The Yankees are both the most loved and hated team in baseball. Like Homer's alcohol, they're both the cause of and solution to everyone's rooting problems.

17. Baldrick Posted: October 18, 2022 at 11:44 AM (#6101409)

I will happily watch a Guardians/Astros series, but would find it very hard to devote any energy to watching it if the Yankees advance.

"People love to hate them" is an annoying thing that Yankees fans say. I don't 'love' to hate them. I just find them unpleasant and deeply annoying and would prefer to watch anyone else.

18. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: October 18, 2022 at 12:51 PM (#6101420)

The Yankees were annoying when they made the World Series every year. The Astros are much more unlikable at this point.

19. DL from MN Posted: October 18, 2022 at 01:48 PM (#6101431)

I will happily watch a Guardians/Astros series, but would find it very hard to devote any energy to watching it if the Yankees advance.

I'm actually excited about the World Series because it will be on broadcast television and I'll be able to watch the whole series. I haven't been able to watch a game in a while. For me it feels like 1970. I follow my favorite team on the radio and get to watch the All-Star Game and the World Series on TV.

20. TomH Posted: October 18, 2022 at 02:55 PM (#6101452)

primey for #15

21. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: October 18, 2022 at 03:57 PM (#6101460)

The Yankees were annoying when they made the World Series every year. The Astros are much more unlikable at this point.

I like many of the Astros players and admire their roster construction. And the presence of the Tiny Terror Tot would make me root for them over the Guardians and any NL team, though with Manny on the Padres it'd be a close call.

---------------

"People love to hate them" is an annoying thing that Yankees fans say. I don't 'love' to hate them. I just find them unpleasant and deeply annoying and would prefer to watch anyone else.

Other than missing the postseason for a decade or two, what could the Yankees do to make themselves less annoying? Move out of New York? Grow beards and mustaches? Get rid of Sinatra? Stop complaining about gift strikes against Judge? Fire Paul O'Neill? Stop mentioning their history? Ditch the pinstriped look for something in teal or mustard yellow? Bar the bleacher creatures from the Stadium? Stop referring to Yankee Stadium as "the Stadium"? Take an online course on how to win friends and influence people? I'm open to suggestions.

22. Mr. Hotfoot Jackson (gef, talking mongoose) Posted: October 18, 2022 at 04:22 PM (#6101463)

Mass suicide comes to mind.

23. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: October 18, 2022 at 05:04 PM (#6101482)

...aaand in the third inning, it's already 4-0, Yanks. Good night, -dians, good night.

24. Rally Posted: October 18, 2022 at 05:09 PM (#6101484)

Never overestimate the Yankee bullpen.

25. Rally Posted: October 18, 2022 at 05:09 PM (#6101485)

Ramirez with a big chance to make this a ballgame.

26. Rally Posted: October 18, 2022 at 05:13 PM (#6101486)

Not want they wanted but at least they didn’t come up empty

27. Rally Posted: October 18, 2022 at 05:14 PM (#6101487)

Cleveland needs to employ the high leverage crew now. Top relievers, 2 innings each.

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Monday, October 17, 2022

MLB could certainly use marquee team in Yankees advancing to ALCS

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