If the Cubs’ three-and-out disappearing act hurt their fans, imagine how TBS felt.
For starters, networks make their money in the postseason with series that go long. More games, more cash.
So instead of showing Game 4 of the Cubs-Arizona series with a well-rested Carlos Zambrano at noon Sunday, TNT (the game was slated for Turner’s sister station) televised a movie called “The Prince and Me.”
Not exactly what network officials had in mind.
But the bigger blow was losing the Cubs for the National League Championship Series, which will be carried on TBS.
Chicago is the third largest market in the U.S. The ratings for the Cubs in the NLCS would have been off the charts here.
Saturday’s game did a 15.6 local rating (one ratings point equals 34,550 households). Undoubtedly that rating would have been much higher if the Cubs had put up a hint of a fight.
If the Cubs had advanced, a local ratingin the 30s and perhaps even into the 40s would have been expected.
Since Chicago is so big, that definitely would have added to TBS’ bottom line nationally.
Also, the Cubs have a huge national following. The chance to watch their quest for their first World Series title in 99 years would have attracted casual fans throughout the country.
Now instead of a possible Cubs-Phillies series (TBS isn’t sending any thank-you notes to Philadelphia either), the network is stuck trying to hype a Colorado-Arizona showdown.
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While each team has good young players, neither has any big-name stars.
Baseball fans may watch, but a series based in the West between two teams that didn’t even exist 15 years ago isn’t going to capture the nation’s imagination.
A Colorado-Arizona series definitely was at the bottom of TBS’ wish list for the network’s first year of postseason coverage.
The Cubs represented the jackpot for TBS.
So who felt worse Saturday? Cubs manager Lou Piniella? Or Turner Sports President David Levy?
Let’s just say it was a rough day for both.
Looking good
It may be another 15 years before he gets there, but Curtis Granderson could have a second career in television.
The Detroit center fielder and Chicago native showed considerable potential while serving as a guest on TBS’ pregame show and between innings.
He was quick, funny at times and offered good insights.
Putdown
The dumbest comment of the weekend had to come from Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
Johnson and Mike Ditka were arguing about something when Johnson said to Ditka, “I caught way more passes than you.”
Indeed, Johnson did catch nearly twice the number of passes as Ditka (814-427), albeit in a much different era. But hey, Keyshawn, guess who is in the Hall of Fame?
It’s a wonder Ditka didn’t reach across the table and take a swing at him.