# For 1st time since early in the Season: Yanks are back in 1st **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821 "2005-09-22T02:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/61 "2005-10-10T03:41:01Z")
They are going to be tired puppies after playing and then taking a cross-country flight. Go Yankees!! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/62 "2005-10-10T13:02:26Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > They are going to be tired puppies after playing and then taking a cross-country flight. Go Yankees!! What gets worse, even if Yanks win tonight, they have to immediately jump on a plane to Chicago for the Tuesday night game. FOx should have moved NL to Tuesday and AL to Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/63 "2005-10-10T17:18:43Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > What gets worse, even if Yanks win tonight, they have to immediately jump on a plane to Chicago for the Tuesday night game. Oh, those poor Yankees! You do realize, i assume, that the same set of travel conditions applies to the Angels? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/64 "2005-10-10T17:28:27Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Oh, those poor Yankees! > > You do realize, i assume, that the same set of travel conditions applies to the Angels? Of course I do and I hope the Yankees save them from the horror of the flight to Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/65 "2005-10-10T17:44:43Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > FOx should have moved NL to Tuesday and AL to Wednesday. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think it’s FOX that determines the MLB playoff schedule. Generally speaking, the AL started their divisional series a day earlier or went through with shorter breaks. Can’t really ask that the NL finish in shorter time and start their LCS just so an AL team that’s having trouble clenching be accomodated. 🙂 Plus, this schedule potentially gives the AL victor an extra day to prepare for the Series. Sure you wanna give that up? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/66 "2005-10-10T17:52:06Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think it’s FOX that determines the MLB playoff schedule. Generally speaking, the AL started their divisional series a day earlier or went through with shorter breaks. Can’t really ask that the NL finish in shorter time and start their LCS just so an AL team that’s having trouble clenching be accomodated. 🙂 > > Plus, this schedule potentially gives the AL victor an extra day to prepare for the Series. Sure you wanna give that up? Actually Fox does decide the schedule and the reason the AL is behind is because of a rainout. Fox can flip games at their demand. That is why the Angels at Yankees was Prime time last night. This problem effects either team, so if you are only going anti-Yanks remember it will also be tough of Angels. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/67 "2005-10-10T18:30:46Z")
I’m simply incredulous that MLB would turn over responsibility for such an important, possibly result changing decision to a television network. Can you provide me with a cite as I’ve Googled as extensively as I know how and can’t find anything confirming that. Not that I don’t believe you mind you, I’d just like to read some more on the subject. Similarly, I’ve called the regional sports director for FOX and should hear from him around 3:00. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/68 "2005-10-10T18:47:57Z")
Okay, he just called back and all I’ve got is this phone conversation for documentation but he said MLB sets the schedule and FOX decides which games they’ll carry. He did mention that FOX will carry all the games the rest of the way out as opposed to splitting a couple with ESPN as they had been doing and that for one of the earlier dates both games will be on at the same time and, therefore, everyone’s going to miss at least one LCS. Coverage will be determined by market so, for example Houston will broadcast the NLC on that date and NY the ALC but for Denver, who knows who they’ll watch. He did mention that MLB does have the option of flipping the schedule but that it most definately was MLB’s call. Still, I’d be happy to peruse any other accounting you can find on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/69 "2005-10-10T19:08:11Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Okay, he just called back and all I’ve got is this phone conversation for documentation but he said MLB sets the schedule and FOX decides which games they’ll carry. He did mention that FOX will carry all the games the rest of the way out as opposed to splitting a couple with ESPN as they had been doing and that for one of the earlier dates both games will be on at the same time and, therefore, everyone’s going to miss at least one LCS. Coverage will be determined by market so, for example Houston will broadcast the NLC on that date and NY the ALC but for Denver, who knows who they’ll watch. He did mention that MLB does have the option of flipping the schedule but that it most definately was MLB’s call. > > Still, I’d be happy to peruse any other accounting you can find on the matter. Even what you just posted is incorrect; the game that does not show on Fox will show on FX according to the Fox Sportscasters last night. No I cannot cite what I said, I heard it over broadcast. Fox paid a lot for the coverage, they get to call a lot of the shots. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/70 "2005-10-10T19:18:00Z")
I started to come back and clarify that but didn’t since it wasn’t of any real significance, certainly not to the question of who’s got responsibility for the call. Yes, he did mention that FX could or was going to cover at least one game. Also, when he said “from here on out” he was talking about the LCS on. I’m not going to quibble with you on it. Enjoy the game. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/71 "2005-10-10T19:27:59Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Fox paid a lot for the coverage, they get to call a lot of the shots. Do they or don’t they set the schedule of games, as you asserted? The conversation that **lieu** had with the FOX guy suggests that MLB sets the schedule. If you have evidence that it’s set by FOX, then let us see it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/72 "2005-10-10T19:28:49Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I started to come back and clarify that but didn’t since it wasn’t of any real significance, certainly not to the question of who’s got responsibility for the call. Yes, he did mention that FX could or was going to cover at least one game. Also, when he said “from here on out” he was talking about the LCS on. > > I’m not going to quibble with you on it. Enjoy the game. Thank you, Ok no quibble. I just assumed that if he was wrong on the Telecasting part, we shouldn’t accept the other part. If I find a cite tonight, I will post it. IF I am indeed wrong I will happily admit it. **Go Yanks**!!! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/73 "2005-10-10T21:02:28Z")
Ok: I have turn the Board loose on the question: [Who schedules the baseball Playoffs?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339105) I heard the Fox chooses the times and days on the Yes Pre-game. So I cannot cite. It sounds like this is not technically true but practically true. I will await some more posts and hopefully someone can cite. **mhendo** This is only **MPSIMS** : please take it easy, don’t demand the cites. Neither lieu nor I can provide cites so far and there is an excellent chance I am wrong. But my understanding was that Fox makes the schedule. So far this still seems to be true. Lets wait and see what shakes out. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/74 "2005-10-10T21:20:55Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > **mhendo** This is only **MPSIMS** : please take it easy, don’t demand the cites. Neither lieu nor I can provide cites so far and there is an excellent chance I am wrong. But my understanding was that Fox makes the schedule. So far this still seems to be true. Lets wait and see what shakes out. What do you mean it “still seems to be true” that Fox makes the schedule? So far, nothing at all is certain. Sorry, my friend, but, MPSIMS or not, if you make a bald statement of fact, then you need to be prepared to back it up. You explicitly said: > [@](#): > > Actually Fox does decide the schedule and the reason the AL is behind is because of a rainout. Fox can flip games at their demand. No equivocation, no sense that you were merely speculating or guessing. You offered this as a statement of fact. I don’t care what forum we’re in—you make such a bald assertion, you need some evidence. I’m not saying that you’re necessarily wrong, only that you have not proven that you are right. You’re the one making the unusual claim, so it’s up to you to support it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/75 "2005-10-10T22:16:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > What do you mean it “still seems to be true” that Fox makes the schedule? So far, nothing at all is certain. > > Sorry, my friend, but, MPSIMS or not, if you make a bald statement of fact, then you need to be prepared to back it up. You explicitly said:No equivocation, no sense that you were merely speculating or guessing. You offered this as a statement of fact. I don’t care what forum we’re in—you make such a bald assertion, you need some evidence. > > I’m not saying that you’re necessarily wrong, only that you have not proven that you are right. You’re the one making the unusual claim, so it’s up to you to support it. I already said I heard it of Yes Network Pre Game, I cannot cite that. If you checked the other thread they indicated MLB goes along with Fox’s request. I am simply waiting for more info. I acknowledged I may well be wrong, but so far I haven’t seen anything that says I am. Can we at least be civil? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/76 "2005-10-10T22:43:54Z")
So far I have Found: [http://www.nj.com/sports/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1128845179263950.xml&coll=5](http://www.nj.com/sports/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1128845179263950.xml&coll=5) This says MLB accomodated Fox with schedule. So this would say I was wrong. > [@](#): > > But since MLB decided to accommodate the Fox network - which has NFL games this afternoon - the schedule will be taxing if the Yankees win today and force a deciding fifth game at Anaheim. [http://www.islandpacket.com/editorial/col/kidd/story/5243022p-4761385c.html](http://www.islandpacket.com/editorial/col/kidd/story/5243022p-4761385c.html) This article indicates that Fox decides the times like I said. > [@](#): > > It’s easy to see Major League Baseball’s motivation. Its lucrative television contract – in this case with Fox, which airs the prime-time games – allows the rights-holder to set start times that maximize viewer ratings, and thus, ad revenues. What’s more, the television networks, to further maximize their revenue, expand the between-inning commercial time, making an already slow-paced game drag out even longer. [http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1009yanks1009.html](http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1009yanks1009.html) Just to confuse thing more this article seems to indicate it is a joint decision. > [@](#): > > Major League Baseball and the Fox network reset the game for tonight. If the Yankees win and force Game 5, that one would be Monday afternoon or evening in Anaheim, a quick turnaround for teams fighting to gain a berth against the Chicago White Sox in the AL Championship Series ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/77 "2005-10-10T22:56:42Z")
My stomach is filled with acid until the Yankees are safely eliminated. I hope Colon brings his best stuff tonight. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/78 "2005-10-10T23:33:38Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I already said I heard it of Yes Network Pre Game, I cannot cite that. If you checked the other thread they indicated MLB goes along with Fox’s request. I am simply waiting for more info. I acknowledged I may well be wrong, but so far I haven’t seen anything that says I am. Can we at least be civil? Someone’s a little thin-skinned. Since when was asking for evidence of a factual claim considered uncivil? As for your citations, a couple of them do indeed show that FOX has some input into the playoff schedule. I never suggested otherwise, and a basic institutional analysis would suggest that the media outlet that pays millions for the rights to broadcast the games would have some say in how those games are scheduled. The replies in the other thread also indicate that FOX has some input into the schedule, and that MLB tends to honor the netwrok’s request regarding the games’ starting times. But, to me at least, your earlier assertions made it sound as if FOX, and FOX alone, got to determine who played when. You also said that “Fox can flip games at their demand,” something that is quite different (and a lot more influential) than simply have some input into starting times. > [@cricetus](#): > > My stomach is filled with acid until the Yankees are safely eliminated. I hope Colon brings his best stuff tonight. Heh. Join the club. It’s not so much that i dislike the Yankees (although i do), it’s more that the post-season is just so _uninteresting_ when they are involved. Anyone who is not specifically a Yankees fan is just bored as hell by their presence. I’m no Astros or Cardinals or White Sox or Angels fan, but i can at least get interested in the whole thing when those teams are involved. With the Yankees around, all my enthusiasm is just sucked dry. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/79 "2005-10-11T00:36:35Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Someone’s a little thin-skinned. Since when was asking for evidence of a factual claim considered uncivil?..snip… Ok, so I am a little thinned skinned. I made an oft-hand remark that was minor and was just a quote from baseball coverage and I had 2 people seem to think I was making things up. Effectively MLB does what Fox asks. That is so different from what I said? I post 3 different cites, you post none. I start a thread to try and get neutral opinions and cites. I posted a thread that showed I was wrong. Do you give an inch? It feels like an attack at this point. Why did you only demand a cite from me and not **lieu**. Not that I am saying **lieu** did, but I could say I called MLB and they said “Yes, Fox makes the schedule”. That doesn’t prove anything. It looks like you are just anti-Yankee and trying to take out your hatred on me. So in closing: “Why do you hate America” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821/80 "2005-10-11T00:47:40Z")
Ack. The Yankees must lose! If for no other reason, we’d be spared any more dugout shots of Derek Jeter. In the history of mankind, has there been a more self-satisfied person than Jeter? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-1st-time-since-early-in-the-season-yanks-are-back-in-1st/322821.md?page=5)