Just like postseasons past the Phillies NLDS playoff series was treated as a second-rate TV draw by Major League Baseball and now fans will need to juggle work and fandom to see an NLDS game.
Despite featuring the defending World Champs, the Phillies/Rockies series drew the least desirable broadcast times for the first three games. The teams will play early afternoon games Wednesday and Thursday at Citizens Bank Park before playing a later Saturday night game in Colorado.
The first two games in Philly start at 2:37 EST both days while Game 3’s first pitch was scheduled for 9:37 EST.
The schedule was similar to 2007 when the Rockies swept the Phillies in three games.
Dumping the least desirable schedule on the Phillies series made sense, though, considering the other match ups Major League Baseball had to schedule.
Last we checked the Yankees were still the Yankees and still played in New York so their series against either the Tigers or Twins would obviously get the primo game times.
And the other series all pointed west.
The first two games of both the Red Sox/Angels series and Cardinals/Dodgers series would be played in the Los Angeles area so it would makes sense to schedule those games later to appease the West Coast fan bases.
But, what about consideration for Rockies fans? The first two divisional games would start around lunchtime in Denver -- that’s a raw deal.
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At least one thing was working in the Phils favor this season compared to past years -- they actually played well in day games. The team went 28-17 (.622 winning percentage) in day games compared to the Rockies who went 31-23 (.574) under the sun.
But alas more bad news for the Phightins’ fans -- Cole Hamels will start Game 1 under the sun. Hamels -- a guy never known for being a good day game pitcher -- went 0-6 with a 5.44 ERA in nine daytime starts this season.
Maybe the Phillies should forget the past glory of Hamels (when he pitched his way to NLCS and World Series MVP Awards while pitching under the lights) and instead hold out Hollywood to pitch at night in Denver instead of the day in Philly.
And, the earlier games, mixed with the economic downturn and the Phillies making the playoffs for the third-straight time could create a buyer's market for anyone who actually takes off work or school to go to an NLDS game. On Stub Hub Monday morning tickets could be snagged for under $80 for each game.
And, be sure to share your Phillies Phever Photos.
