TBS has apologized for "airing a graphic that outraged many Cleveland fans during postgame coverage" of the Indians' win over the Red Sox in the ALDS on Monday night, according to Joey Morona of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The graphic "depicted the TBS baseball crew photoshopped over an image of a burning river, an outdated joke referencing" the '69 Cuyahoga River fire. The move by TBS irked many Indians fans "still high on the team's victory and advancement in the postseason." Some "blasted the network on social media and demanded an apology" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/12). To get a flavor of the local reaction, view a clip from WEWS-ABC in which the Cleveland-area channel's Leon Bibb delivers a tirade against TBS for depicting the city in an "untrue and unethical way" (NEWSNET5.com, 10/11). This comes as TBS studio analyst Pedro Martinez was forced to apologize for breaking into stereotypical Native American war chants after Monday's game (THE DAILY).
UP ALL NIGHT: In Chicago, Ed Sherman notes the "majority of viewers stuck around" until nearly 2:00am CT Tuesday morning to "see the Giants pull out the 6-5 victory" over the Cubs in 13 innings in Game 3 of the NLDS. The game drew an 18.4 local rating on FS1, meaning an "average of 714,000 homes watched the telecast from 8:30pm-1:45am." Sherman notes there were still 462,000 homes "tuned [in] at the end of the game" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/12). Meanwhile, Sportsnet for the Blue Jays' ALDS series-clinching win over the Rangers on Sunday averaged 4.73 million viewers, becoming its most-watched program of '16 and its third most-watched broadcast of all time. Audience levels peaked at 7.03 million viewers in the bottom of the 10th inning, and 2.07 million viewers watched Sportsnet Central's post-game coverage (Sportsnet).
CAN RATINGS SEE INCREASE? Ratings have been a mixed bag during the postseason, and the N.Y. Daily News' John Harper is unsure how MLB can reverse the trend, as the sport has "become a more regional sport than ever." Harper said, "The fervor for baseball is still there in your city for your team. But nationally, there are not enough stars.” He noted part of that is because there is a "mentality in baseball now" that players are "guarded about what they say." Harper: "None of them want to be these big personalities anymore.” SNY’s Marc Malusis said MLB is hurt by the "fact that football is more watchable on television." The N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola cited the "viewing habits of a younger generation" for the ratings turn. Isola: "I don't think they can stick with a sport and maybe watch it for 3, 3.5 hours, which is a major problem” ("Daily News Live," SNY, 10/11). SNY's Jon Hein noted there have been some "great playoff games this season, but nobody knows where to watch them or what time to tune in.” Hein said the postseason schedule is “getting worse and worse.” SNY’s Chris Carlin: “It’s all about money” (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 10/11).
PERSONAL CHOICE: In Toronto, Peter Edwards noted Blue Jays play-by-play man Jerry Howarth "made a decision more than two decades ago never to use" the term "Indians" because it is "found offensive by many First Nations people." Howarth also has "made it a practice to not use 'Braves' for the Atlanta baseball team, or phrases like 'a powwow on the mound' for talks between coaches and pitchers." The Blue Jays will play the Indians in the ALCS starting Friday (TORONTO STAR, 10/12).
