Thoughts on Postseason Game Times

[Gwreck]

Titled the thread "thoughts" because MLB and their television partners will of course won't be announcing things until they know the wild card winners.

Friday, October 9 is the only day where there are guaranteed to be four playoff games.
In 2014, the games were at 12:07, 3:07, 6:37 and 9:37.
In 2013, they were 1:07, 3:07, 6:37 and 9:37.

Assuming a similar breakdown for this year:
Mets/Dodgers is the only game being played on the West coast and will have the highest TV ratings. It will get the 9:37 slot [crossout](which might be moved up to 9:07 or even 8:37).[/crossout]
The early slot would likely get Rangers/Blue Jays.
The 3:07 and 6:37 slot probably depends on whether the Yankees win the wild card game. If they do, they might play at 6:37 versus Kansas City. If the Astros win, the NL Wildcard/Cardinals game would get the 6:37 slot.

Saturday October 10 is an NL-only day.
TBS tentatively has the games listed for 5:07 PM and 8:37 PM. Mets/Dodgers would obviously be the late game. Edit: Pushed back to 9:07 EDT

Monday October 12 is another day in which there could be as many as 4 games.
The early slot disappears if one of the AL teams sweeps. Otherwise:
Royals at Astros would be the early game
Cardinals at Wildcard would be the 3:07 PM
Dodgers at Mets would seemingly be the 6:37 PM game
Blue Jays at Rangers is a good candidate for 9:37 PM

Things get trickier if the Yankees win. In that case, the Cardinals at Wildcard might get the first slot. I would think that Dodgers at Mets would get a better TV draw than Royals at Yankees, and accordingly the Yankees would play at 3:07 and the Mets at 6:37 but it could be the opposite.

Tuesday October 13
Same as Saturday October 10.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Guest

[Ceetar]

are they set to those times? It seems like in the past there have been complaints about them prioritizing primetime ratings over things like pacific time.

So like, Monday the 12th (Columbus day, if it matters) could be a 9:37 (or maybe 8:37?) NY start time to maximize east coast prime time?

Do we know if Fox gets to pick first over TBS or if it's all decided by MLB?

Also, do we have any idea of the booths? I assume Ron is involved with TBS. is Kevin with Fox?

[Gwreck]

The NLDS Games are TBS and the ALDS games are Fox/FS1/MLB Network.

The Mets/Dodgers will certainly get the main TBS announcing team which is Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr. and Ronnie.

[bmfc1]

All start times are predicated on whether the MFYs advance.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'm having a playoff party on Saturday and it's annoying that we don't know start times. They should at least be able to set Saturday as they know the games are in LA and STL, and there's no MFY factor.

[HahnSolo]

If the Cubs make the NLDS, don't be surprised if they get preference in the slotting. I could certainly see them getting the Monday 6:37 or 9:37 game at Wrigley.

[Fman99]

The fact that they won't have two games at once, to maximize television revenue, is some bullshit. Just play night games and let us watch the teams we want to watch, for fuck's sake.

[Gwreck]

As noted in the game thread, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reporting a 9:45 EDT start for game 1 on Friday and 9:07 PM EDT start for Game 2 on Saturday.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll have to try to sneak in a nap beforehand.

[HahnSolo]

I sort of understand Friday because all four games are taking place and they don't want games competing with each other, and the game is in LA.

But with only 2 games Saturday, that game could start before 9 ET.

I got a Mets-crazy 12-year old and he has my permission on a weekend to watch these games, but who knows if he'll make it.

[Gwreck]

I am a bit surprised by the Saturday choice too.

One would think an 8:00 or even 8:30 start would maximize the two TV markets but since they are all about the money in these decisions I guess I am wrong on that.

[Fman99]

Fboy's normal bedtime is 9 PM. He'll have a chance to stay up at least for part of game 2 but I don't see him making it much past 10. What a shame.

[Guest themetfairy]

Thank goodness my 5K on Saturday morning is less than two miles from my house.

As it is I'l be sleepwalking my way through it....

[TransMonk]

At least we don't have to spend all week hearing about the Dodger Stadium shadows.

[dgwphotography]

I'm happy that it won't conflict with NYCC this weekend.

[ashie62]

Afternoon naps assured.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

This would have been a leisurely 12:30pm game for me back in Sydney. Now it's a fucking 4:30am start.

Nothing is easy with this team.

[Guest themetfairy]

That's the answer - we should fly to Australia and watch the games there!

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

Or perhaps even fly to the United States to watch the games, like at a ballpark.

[Guest themetfairy]

That works too

[Guest cooby]

TransMonk wrote: At least we don't have to spend all week hearing about the Dodger Stadium shadows.

Yeah really

[Lefty Specialist]

Keith must be pissed if he's doing the post-game show. He won't get back to Sag until 4 in the morning.

[G-Fafif]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Keith must be pissed if he's doing the post-game show. He won't get back to Sag until 4 in the morning.

He actually addressed this over the weekend. Said he'll be staying over in the city.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Keith must be pissed if he's doing the post-game show. He won't get back to Sag until 4 in the morning. He actually addressed this over the weekend. Said he'll be staying over in the city.

wait Keith's actually doing the post-game show?

[TransMonk]

Per Rubin:

Mets-Dodgers Game 3 set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

Another late start...sorry kiddos.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm happy with this news. I would have preferred a 6:30 time, but I'd rather have 8:30 than 1 p.m.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: wait Keith's actually doing the post-game show?

Yes, him and Gary on SNY... it's a contract year for Keef,
he's being a good soldier haha...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Rubin's source is TBS's website. On Monday, they have Cubs-Cardinals at 5 p.m. and Mets-Dodgers at 8:30.

For Tuesday, they have one game slotted at 8 p.m. The rest of the day is sitcom reruns of Seinfeld, Friends, and New Girl. It's possible that only one of the two National League series will go to four games, and if so, that one gets the 8 p.m. game. If both series have a Game 4, then it will be bad news for fans of Seinfeld, Friends, and New Girl. Mets-Dodgers would probably get the 8 p.m. slot over Cardinals-Cubs.

[Gwreck]

Rubin walked that 8:30 start time announcement back:

---
As discussed earlier, an official game time is not likely to be announced too far in advance. MLB will likely wait to know how many games need to be played on Monday. If any of the AL series are a sweep, then there won't be a full schedule of 4 games that day and they can move them around based on the TV ratings.

I maintain that it is likely that the Mets would have an evening game on Monday but it's not a guarantee.

[G-Fafif]

Acquaintance of mine who used to work for MLB said nothing's official until league issues times, probably tomorrow, possibly Saturday.