I can't imagine why anyone would bash the Yankees or Red Sox with posts like this.
First, I'll describe the kind of viewer I am. I haven't watched a single regular season game this season or last year. Unless I have Fox Sports Arizona which I don't, I catch The Rockies when they face Arizona. Nationally televised games always feature the same teams, not to mention teams I don't care about. I get sick of seeing the Cowboys on my TV screen. Not only that, there is so many other sports that I'd watch over baseball. Even though, I'll watch post-season baseball, the NFL or even an Indiana Fever-Minnesota Lynx WNBA game caught my attention. Also this new format kills it for me. I always hated the way LDS was set-up because I'm a firm believer in 7-games. (it gives the best chance for the best teams to advance) Instead of fixing that which the NBA wisely did years ago, they added an even more unreliable way of seeing the best teams advance. 2012 I felt like I needed more from Rangers-Orioles & especially Atlanta & St. Louis. Then witnessed every LDS go 3-2, again felt like I needed more. I only paid attention to San Francisco-Cincinnati. Since then, I haven't seen much post-season. Now finally, I'm more likely to watch the up and coming teams in Baltimore, Kansas City, Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Washington much more than Yankees or Red Sox or for that matter Detroit, LA teams, and St. Louis. I'd rather see Detroit and LAA play Tuesday night but mostly because of the A's. They're a legit team that is good at everything and Josh Donaldson may be a no name but it isn't his fault. Not to say Kansas City isn't for real, they have great pitching and Alex Gordon caught my radar a few years back.
All the teams that are there are all teams that have been in the mix recent seasons so I don't know how you expect significant change. I can't take your no name teams/players comment seriously w/ both LA teams, San Francisco, Detroit, & St. Louis in a post-season which will feature Mike Trout, Kershaw, Andrew McCutcheon, Adam Jones, Bryce Harper. Tigers & A's and St. louis & Pittsburgh drew better ratings than Red Sox & Tampa Bay. There could be a slight drop-off due to fans assuming the Giants, Dodgers, or St. Cardinals will roll but I think interest in AL will be strong w/ a fresh team like Baltimore playing like a power.
Boston & St. Louis did have great ratings but so did San Francisco & St. Louis . In 2012 I watched Baltimore-New York more than any AL series because I had strong interest in Baltimore. Would have watched them against anyone. A big thing that helps Boston ratings wise is storylines, 2003 was a big one for obvious reason but when NY & Miami went instead I barely paid attention. 2013 they had the worst to first thing but it wasn't enough me.
Point is I expect to be about the same because there are already established national ratings teams, they will still get smashed by primetime. However the early format kills it for me as a viewer.
On edit = sorry for the long post, I felt like I had to include so much detail to counter a remarkably ignorant post. I wish I could bet on "lowest ratings in history" prediction but it is so easy predicting the opposite as easy as predicting firms will use bullshit in there advertising.
= new reply since forum marked as read
