Larry King looked like the grim reaper sitting behind home plate which perhaps was fitting given how the Dodgers let that game get away. Give Kershaw a 6-1 lead and added three more runs and they still lost.
George, that is an interesting question. Both teams draw very well. Given that neither team is a large market team, the 2.5 million attendance per team is pretty good. Remember that the two teams each draw fans from the others metro area and compete with each other. After all, the drive from DC to Baltimore can be done in under 30 minutes (if traffic allows). This is not NY or LA with 10 million people to draw from, so a combined 5 million fans in this small region for 2 teams would have to be considered outstanding. I don't know, given the proximity to each other, if either team can draw 3 million and I think that any rise in attendance is likely to only bump up another 200k or so. Also, remember the Nats have only been in town since 2005 and are playing in what was a TOTALLY Redskin oriented city. It took some time for baseball to build up in DC but it is now very popular, (not Redskins popular, but it is building). All in all, I think the two markets draw very well when all things are considered. In DC, there is one other important factor and that is the nature of the population. It is very transient. Being a government city, a huge percentage of the population is from outside the DC metro area and these people bring their own team loyalties with them for the 2-4 years they are here, and this population is constantly turning over. I'm sure some convert loyalties but I'm also sure a lot of them don't. -- AlAl,
Since you live in the area, I thought I'd ask you a question; according to MLB, the Orioles were 13th in attendance, the Nationals were 12th.
Both teams were in first place for most of the season and both teams are in highly populated areas; that said, could you explain how the Rockies, Cubs and Rangers all had more fans come out than either team? And yes, the ROCKIES are on that list.
The big boys like LA, NY, Boston, Detroit, etc, etc, were at the top, but it's a mystery to me why either team cannot draw; looking at those fans whooping it up in the stands, you'd think every game was a sellout during the season.
The Red Sox sat in last place for most of the year and drew more fans than both teams, so I don't get it........................
Angelos fought against a team in DC for years, as a large portion of O's support came from there, and when it became impossible to block it any longer, Angelos imposed strict guidelines for his support. The most important of his conditions is the cable TV broadcast money. The O's and Nats are both broadcast on MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network), which is owned, wait for it, by Angelos. As a result of the deal struck through MLB with Angelos, the Nats get a very small proportion of broadcast proceeds. It is an ongoing bone of contention and the Nats have been in court about it quite a bit with little or no improvement at this time. Angelos may have lost some DC area fans when the Nats came to town, but his TV money has only grown. -- AlThanks for the explanation; after that breakdown, it all makes sense, specifically the DC area being one of continual turnover due to the influx and exit of government workers and military personnel too I am sure.
And you are spot on about the small distance between the two teams; I am sure the Orioles ownership was less than thrilled with a team moving into DC being that close to them.
It would be like MLB dropping a franchise into Providence RI, which is about an hour or so from Fenway Park.................
This is tied for the the third longest post season game ever. One more out and it ties the Mets Astros game 6 1986 classic for 2nd place.
Soriano is in for the Nats. Surprised he made the playoff roster, but we'll see how it goes. -- AlTied for 2nd Place! {eek3}
Come on O's you can do it!!!!!...Sammy