MLB Insider

November 3, 2008

Bad Timing = Bad Weather = World Series Flop… Free Agency

On Wednesday night, October 28^th at 9:58 p.m. the World Series came to an end when Philly closer Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske.  For the Phillies, the win gave them their first World Series win in 28-years and for the Tampa Bay Rays it ended a magical season of firsts for the once doormats of baseball.

No doubt, had Mother Nature not played havoc during this World Series it could have been one of the most exciting series ever played.  The series did get off to a great start and it was certainly poised to build momentum as the Tampa Bay Rays quickly evened the series in St. Petersburg before heading up to Philadelphia for Games 3-4- and 5.

The Rays and Phillies entered the series as mirror images of each other in so many ways.  Both teams had speed on the bases, both teams could hit the long ball, both teams had solid pitching – starting and bullpen and each had a very strong bench.  So, it was somewhat of a given that the series would likely go seven games and give the network (FOX) decent ratings.

Unfortunately, because of the weather and the fact that the series went just five games the ratings were well below than what had been expected.  According to FOX, the series drew an average of 8.4 – the lowest since 2001 when the ratings were 10.1.  

Game 3 was delayed until 10 p.m. and then there was the Game 5 suspension that lasted a day and a half.  On a positive note though, the Wednesday night conclusion of Game 5 had 19.8 million viewers tuning in – the biggest audience during the series.  In actuality, Game 5 itself (the start and conclusion) was the highest rated and most watched of the World Series broadcasts.

According to FOX Sports President Ed Goren, “The rain delay on Saturday and the suspended game on Monday combined with only going five games obviously worked against the Series reaching its maximum viewership potential.”

Nielsen Media Research, which has tracked the World Series since 1968 stated this year’s series, was the lowest-rated on record.  Additionally, it included the lowest ever rated game – 6.1 for Game 3.  The previous low was 8 for Game 1 in 2006.

Ratings have consistently dropped for World Series games over the last several years, mostly due to the fact that they did not go a full seven games and that with the addition of choices on cable viewers have more to choose from. Officials with FOX, which has televised 10 of the last 12 World Series, pointed out that the World Series over the years have proven more popular than the combined average TV ratings for prime time programs.

Despite heavy rains that delayed two of the games, the World Series’ this year again outperformed regular prime time programming by the margin of 33 percent.

At the culmination of all professional sports, players and fans are rewarded with the playing of a championship – which essentially determines the best team of that sport.  The NHL gives us the Stanley Cup, the NBA chooses just the NBA Championships, there’s the Super Bowl in the NFL and of course last but not least, the World Series in baseball.

Of the professional sports mentioned, baseball is the only sport with the least amount of post-season participants.  Major League Baseball is also the only professional sport that allows the networks to dictate the games starting times.

For those of us in our late thirties and older, I’m sure that we all remember those afternoon World Series games.   There was nothing like putting that ear piece in and sneaking a listen during history class – geez, isn’t the World Series part of history I would ask?  Better yet, I remember my 8^th grade math teacher wheeling in the big television so that we could watch the Mets versus the Orioles in the ’69 World Series.

Back then, even with afternoon games the fans still came out in person to watch the games.  Sure there were excuses as to why they weren’t at work, but it didn’t matter.  And, for those of us that couldn’t get to attend the games, at least we were able to watch each and every game to the bitter end.  There was never the voice of our parents’ saying, “It’s time to go to bed, turn off the television and lights NOW.”

Game 3 was just that – there may not have been school or work the next day but to start the game at 10:00 p.m. (on the east coast) was ridiculous.

Because of an extended rain delay, the first pitch actually took place at 10:06 (EST) – by the time the game came to its conclusion it was now 1:47 a.m. Sunday.  Basically, the only ones viewing the game up until the wee hours of the morning belonged to the fans on the West Coast that is if they even bothered to tune-in the game.

According to Major League Baseball, this was the latest start in World Series history, beating out the 9:24 p.m. first pitch of the 1993 World Series Game 3 between the Phillies and Blue Jays at Veteran Stadium.  This game endured a 72-minute rain delay.   Needless to say, waiting well over two-hours for this Game 3 by far is the biggest World Series disgrace in MLB history.

Can anyone tell me what the point was of starting this game?

Was it because of the sellout crowd of 46,000 plus who snuggled with their seat neighbors waiting for the game to start?

Maybe it was for the players, who had lounged around and were beginning to get antsy – or maybe it wasn’t for the players who had to wait and wait for the game to begin.

Who was to benefit?  The advantage of all this belonged to FOX.

The difference now as compared to games of yesteryear is that the networks aren’t concerned for the viewing public or more specifically the kids who have just one or maybe two non-school nights that hope to see the conclusion to a World Series game.

The networks today are concerned with not just baseball ratings, but the ratings of their particular network.  In this case it was FOX. 

FOX could probably care less, but when it comes down to all things FOX cares are heck of lot more then what means the eyes of the public.  First of all, all the advertising for the game was sold – all that needed to happen would be for those ads to run.  Bottom line is that those ads could have run at anytime during the game.

FOX was worried not so much about Saturday night being postponed, but about what would have happened forcing Game 5 to be played Tuesday night – a night that FOX airs two super shows with extraordinary ratings in House and Fringe.

Yes, House and Fringe lovers, those two shows would have been pre-empted and the ratings for FOX on Tuesday night would have gone in the dumper, worse than the ratings have been so far after four games.

The fact of the matter is that Commissioner Bud Selig has allowed this to happen and it’s another reason to hate him more than some of us already do.  It’s sad when a Commissioner of a professional sport allows the networks to dictate to him. 

Commissioner Selig just refuses to accept that baseball needs to be watched in order to gain momentum and prosper.  He speaks so bluntly about the Tampa Bay franchise needing a new stadium, he speaks so bluntly about the Florida Marlins needing a new stadium, he speaks so bluntly with a fork stuck in his mouth.  If the entire nation had the opportunity to watch some of these games at a decent hour, maybe, just maybe these two teams, and as well some other small market organizations will reap the benefits.

The FOX network or even TBS have dictated the times of most night games.  FOX prefers to go with the later time (first pitch - 8:37 p.m. EST) while TBS generally goes for the earlier start (first pitch - 8:08 p.m. EST).

Just the other night (after the Game 5 suspension) in the Commissioner’s post-game conference, Selig made it a point to state as to why the game continued as long as it did and why the game was stopped much earlier – “These fans obviously came and bought tickets for a night game, so they deserve to come back and see a night game.”

Like the fans really give two cents about buying a ticket for a night game and deserving to come back for a night game? 

He also stated that the scheduling of the World Series is done taking into account, first and foremost, the convenience of the attendees… “Fans have demanded an 8:30 local time for years”.  Yeah right, and I have a bridge to sell you real cheap.

How about when the play heads to the Pacific Time zone and those on the East Coast suffer if it’s a late start.  Bottom line is that MLB doesn’t give a hoot about one’s work schedules, nor do the networks.

Major League Baseball doesn’t dictate squat.  If the network says it’s a night game, then it’s a night game.  MLB doesn’t control its own scheduling (for television) during the post-season.

For Selig to say that the fans have demanded a late start time is a flat out lie.  You can’t tell me that people holding World Series tickets wouldn’t be happy with a 7 p.m. start… a 2 p.m. start or for that matter a 9 a.m. start.  People holding World Series tickets don’t give a hoot what time the game is played – as long as the game is played period.

Bud and his boys at MLB have allowed this to happen and it’s very sad.  One would think that after all these years Selig understands the big picture that fans want to watch the game, but allowing the networks to dictate starting times, well, that’s preventing them from doing so. 

Many fans didn’t have the opportunity to watch Game 3 in its entirety… it was one of the most exciting, wild and crazy game with an unbelievable ending.  Too bad so few saw it.

Free Agency

Okay, so the baseball season is finally over – well, maybe the games are, but baseball is far from over.  It’s time for the off-season and the Hot Stove. 

Players began filing for Free Agency the day after the World Series ended – Day 1 had 65 players putting their hat into the waters and beginning Tuesday (Nov. 4^th) the General Managers will get together in Dana Point, California to start laying the groundwork for their off-season.  Major moves, if any will in happen during the Winter Meetings (Dec. 7^th – 11^th) in Las Vegas.

The Free Agency filing period lasts for 15 days after the end of the World Series – meaning that the players have until midnight on Nov. 14^th to declare for free agency.  During this time, the GM’s can talk with free agents from other clubs or their representatives, but they can’t negotiate financial terms.

They can discuss length of contract, guarantee provisions and no-trade or limited no-trade provisions, the Basic Agreement stipulates.  Clubs also enjoy a 15-day exclusivity period with their own free agents.

Free agency isn’t the only topic at these meetings.  Last year at the Orlando Meetings, Instant Replay was the major topic of discussion in which the GM’s overwhelmingly approved of (for home run calls) when voted upon.  This year though, there are no major items on the agenda.

“As far as rules go, we’re looking at a few arcane things, but nothing that will have any impact,” said Joe Garagiola Jr., Major League Baseball’s vice president of baseball operations. “And that's the way we like it.”

Instant Replay which was implemented on August 28^th was utilized three times prior to the end of the season, but not at all during the post-season.  At these meetings, a report will be given to the GM’s on its effectiveness.  As well a report on the progress of the Health and Safety Committee’s ongoing analysis of maple bats will be handed out as well.

By Halloween’s end, the MLB free-agent pool reached 107 when 21 pitchers and 21 position players filed.  Kerry Wood (Cubs), Pedro Martinez (Mets), John Smoltz (Braves), Mark Prior (Padres), Curt Schilling (Red Sox) and Bartolo Colon (Red Sox) highlighted the list of pitchers now eligible to negotiate with other teams.  Sean Casey (Red Sox), Alex Cintron (Orioles), Jerry Hairston (Reds), Juan Rivera (Angels), Nomar Garciaparra (Dodgers), Moises Alou (Mets) and Frank Thomas (A's) are among the position the players.

Explanation of Free Agents… Type A, Type B and all the rest

Over the years we’ve all heard about Type A and B free agents and the compensation that teams can/will receive when certain free agents are signed by a new club.   Not all free agents will give compensation back to their former team when they sign, not all top free agents give back big returns to their former team.  Some of baseball’s biggest free agents give back a small return of compensation in the form of extra picks in the Rule 4 draft.

The Rule 4 draft was designed to give some clubs some sort of compensation for losing good players – mostly it was designed for the lower-payroll clubs that couldn’t or didn’t want to retain these types of free agents and to put a damper on the free agent salaries.  Too bad that this Rule 4 Draft has failed on both accounts.

In baseball’s most recent CBA, the rules were simplified.  Now, there are just three types of players:

•  “Type A” players:  Ranked in the top 30 percent of players at their positions.  A team that signs a “Type A” player gives its top draft pick to the club that the player is leaving.  The “losing” club also receives a supplemental pick in the “sandwich” round between the first and second rounds.

• “Type B” players: Ranked below the top 30 percent but in the top 50 percent of players at their positions.  A team that loses a “Type B” player receives a supplemental pick, but the signing team does not lose any picks.

• All other players, who carry no compensation at all.  There had previously been a third class of “Type C” players, but that was eliminated in the new CBA.

The rankings come from a formula that MLB and the players’ union agreed on in the early 1990s, delegating Elias with the task of generating the statistical rating for each player.  The formula, the specific components (no one seems to know)  looks at player statistics from the preceding two seasons, combining both bulk statistics (that is, ones that increase with playing time) and simple rate statistics (such as batting average).  It then ranks players in each of those categories and then assigns each player a point’s value inversely related to his ranking.  In this respect, the formula is based on where a player ranks in relation to his peers in each category, not how the player actually performed.

If a team signs more than one “Type A” free agent, its picks are circulated out to the “losing” clubs in an order determined by the ratings of the free agents the team signed.

The picks in the sandwich round follow the normal draft order, meaning that it takes place in reverse order of finish (but only includes teams that have received extra picks).  However, a team that has received two sandwich picks must wait until every team that picks in the round has selected once before it makes its second pick; a team that has received three picks must wait until all teams with two or more picks have selected twice; and so on.

There is also a set of quotas governing how many Type A and B players one club may sign as free agents in one winter, with that number determined by the total number of Type A and B players who elect free agency in that offseason.

•  If fewer than 14 “Type A or B” players elect free agency, no club may sign more than one such player.

• If 15-38 “Type A or B” players elect free agency, no club may sign more than two such players.

• If 39-62 “Type A or B” players elect free agency, no club may sign more than three such players.

• If 63 or more “Type A or B players” elect free agency, “the Club quotas shall be increased accordingly,” according to the basic agreement.

Each team may sign as many Type A or B free agents as it loses in any particular winter, even if those signings would put it over the quota for that winter.

The rating system groups’ players into five categories: catchers, starting pitchers, relief pitchers, infielders other than first basemen, and first basemen/outfielders/designated hitters. Players are ranked in five to seven statistical categories, with the specific categories varying by their position grouping (e.g., there are no fielding stats used in the 1B/OF/DH group, but the catcher and infielder groups each include two defensive stats).  Cumulative statistics may be adjusted for players who spent time on the disabled list, restoring stats for up to 60 days of missed playing time.

Each player is then given a point total for each statistical category that is inversely related to his actual ranking.  For example, if there are 100 starting pitchers in the ranking, then the pitcher with the lowest ERA gets 100 points, the pitcher with the second-lowest ERA gets 99 points, and so on, until it reaches the pitcher with the highest ERA, who gets one point just for writing his name.  Point totals within each position are then scaled to make 100 a perfect score.