MLB - 2008 Season

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by rah
Are you willing to admit that there is some bias in their reporting or are you oblivious to it?

Ok a show of hands please.
How many people think that ESPN sometimes focuses more on east coast teams more than others.

I'll freely admit an inferiority complex if a lot of people think ESPN is totally balanced in terms of coverage and editorial content.

Changing goalposts now?

You said:

The Eastern Seaboard Progamming Network would have to close shop for October

They seem to have no problems jumping on the Rays bandwagon. And they've been all over the Cubs & Cards this season like no body's business.



"somethings focuses" is a far cry from "would have to close shop"

Though why not focus far more on Boston and NY? They are the teams with the highest payrolls, most charged rivalry, and have been the two most successful major league teams over the past decade.

[Deity Dude]

ESPN and most of the national media are infatuated with the Yankees/Red Sox. I think they are pissed that the Rays ruining "The Greatest Rivalry in Sports"

Honestly if the Mets and Yanks were both leading their divisions and playing each other, that is all we would hear about. Cubs - White Sox was almost treated as an everyday event.

As for Ozzy's post. I'd loveit but I can't see a team from the Central making the wildcard anymore. And there is no way I can see Boston not making the wild card at a minimum.

[-Jrabbit]

I have to agree with DD.

Still, it's nice to see something other than a Tigers Are Coming post from him.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think they are pissed that the Rays ruining "The Greatest Rivalry in Sports"

You people are delusional. There is an in depth article about them on the front page of ESPN.com like every other week and they are positively gushing. They are treating them like the second coming of the '69 Mets.

[-Jrabbit]

Eastern Time Zone too. But mostly, the Rays are just a great story.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Now we're expanding it, I see .

From Boston & NY to Eastern Seaboard to Eastern Time Zone .

Though I do think that ESPN would HATE to see both the Yankees and Red Sox out of the playoffs. They would lose a TON of money because the ratings would suffer horribly. But I'd imagine that they'd manage and not have to "close up shop"

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I think they are pissed that the Rays ruining "The Greatest Rivalry in Sports"

You people are delusional. There is an in depth article about them on the front page of ESPN.com like every other week and they are positively gushing. They are treating them like the second coming of the '69 Mets.

I never said they would stop covering baseball. And I guess they consider ruining the "Greatest Rivalry In Sports" is the 2nd best story. It's like in the Big 10 if someone ruins the Michigan - OSU story. Then that becomes the story. But they still want it to be Michigan - OSU. Anything else and all you here is the Big 10 is down or it's not really legitimate. If the Ray's somehow win it won't be treated as legitimate.

Another thing is if the Rays were in the West, Central or NL it would be less of a story. If the Yankees and Red Sox were fighting it out it would be the only story.

Well at least I can sleep at night knowing ARod is hanging out with Madonna.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Like I said delusional. The only people "ruining" the greatest rivalry in sports is the Yankees and everyone knows that (though they have been playing fairly well of late compared to earlier in the season).

And yes, ESPN never covered the amazing start to the season the A's, who were expected to do nothing, had.... oh wait!

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Arrian
The 2008 Yankees: capable of making the Texas Rangers' pitching look good. That was utterly pathetic.

-Arrian

Rinse, repeat.

[Arrian]

As for ESPN, which I haven't watched in years now, it's all about ratings. When the Rays have more than 10 fans, they will matter more.

That they are a good, exciting team has gotten them noticed, and hopefully they will actually pick up something resembling a fan base now.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

Tampa TAMPA



What a great performance by Garza, building on his string of impressive starts ever since his argument with Navarro. He's getting his head where it needs to be and the Rays now have a very strong starting 3 with Kazmir, Shields, and Garza. If they deal for Sabathia, as the rumors are, that'd be a frightening rotation to go against.

[rah]

A bias doesn't mean an exclusion of all other coverage, it just means a bias, so pointing out a few other stories they may have covered doesn't disprove bias.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Bias = close shop down that its alledged favored teams are out?

And Arrian is right... ESPN just is chasing the money. Hell, there is a reason that Tampa charges more for home games when they play the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs... and that be related to the size of those teams' fan base.

[Arrian]

I went over to ESPN.com to have a look at Neyer's blog and the MLB front page story is the Rays.

A bias doesn't mean an exclusion of all other coverage, it just means a bias, so pointing out a few other stories they may have covered doesn't disprove bias.

Quite true. Hopefully, you understand the flipside of that wrt proving bias.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

SWEEP!!!!!

Tampa takes 3 out of 3 from the Red Sox!! Great game too, down by 3 in the 7th and they put up 6. And then the Red Sox were knocking on the door, but Wheeler finally was able to get the outs he needed. 7-6 Rays!