Fox last night drew a 15.3 overnight rating for the Cubs’ 3-2 win over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series, marking the best rating for any baseball game in five years and the best for a Game 5 since Marlins-Yankees drew a 15.4 in ’03. Indians-Cubs Game 5 is up 31% from an 11.7 overnight for the comparable Royals-Mets game last year (series clincher), and up 87% from an 8.2 for Giants-Royals in ’14. Last night’s MLB game also topped NBC’s overtime Eagles-Cowboys telecast by 32%, with “SNF” drawing an 11.6 overnight. This marks the first time since ’13 that the World Series has topped “SNF” in head-to-head ratings. That year, Packers-Vikings drew a 10.3 overnight compared to Fox’ 10.5 rating for Red Sox-Cardinals Game 4. Fox drew a 48.6 local rating in Cleveland-Akron for last night's game, marking the best MLB rating in the market since Marlins-Indians World Series Game 7 in '97. Chicago drew a 42.8 local rating last night, which is the best MLB figure in the market since Marlins-Cubs NLCS game 7 in '03 (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
INSTANT ANALYSIS: The reaction to MLB beating the NFL was swift on Twitter, with the Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw writing, "A 15.3 overnight rating nationally compared to 11.6 for Cowboys-Eagles is HUGE upset for baseball, based on past." Wall Street Journal's Brian Costa writes, "Baseball wins! Baseball wins! This is the ratings equivalent of the Cubs winning their first title since 1908." CNN's Frank Pallotta: "Big, big night for MLB." SI.com's Richard Deitsch: "What a night for MLB." Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel: "Commence NFL ratings freak out crowd."
A MIGHTY WIND: Fox finished with 16.7 million viewers for the Indians’ 7-2 win in Game 4 on Saturday night, up 23% over 13.6 million for Royals-Mets Game 4 in ’15. Saturday’s viewership is the most for a Game 4 since 22.8 million watched Phillies-Yankees in ’09. Meanwhile, Fox finished with 19.4 million viewers Friday night for the Indians’ 1-0 win in Game 3, the most-watched World Series Game 3 since ’04 (24.4 million for Red Sox-Cardinals). It was the most-watched baseball telecast of any kind since Game 7 of the ’14 Giants-Royals World Series. Through four games, Fox was averaging 18.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched World Series through that period since ’09 (Fox).
STAFF ACE: In Chicago, Dan McGrath wrote the "breakout performer" of the postseason is Fox' John Smoltz. McGrath: "Every time he speaks, it becomes more obvious why the network moved overmatched Harold Reynolds aside for him." Smoltz "never reaches to make a point." He "relies on what he sees and what he knows, from experience and thorough preparation" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/30). Smoltz said that he "prepared more for his current role as a World Series analyst than any other job he's had in baseball." Smoltz: "I spend a lot of time looking at data, probably too much of it, and there's a lot of video." SI.com's Deitsch noted Smoltz has been the "on-air star" of Fox' coverage and has "provided a clinic for viewers on both pitching philosophy and how hitters approach at-bats" (SI.com, 10/30).
DEEP THOUGHTS: In Toronto, Raju Mudhar writes Alex Rodriguez "has been a revelation" on Fox' World Series studio coverage. Unlike most superstars, Rodriguez "hasn’t seemed to want to lord over with his knowledge, but rather seems actually curious and listens to other panelists" (TORONTO STAR, 10/31). THE MMQB's Peter King writes Rodriguez has a "future as baseball’s Jon Gruden, an explainer of the game from deep inside it with a passionate love of it." He is "very good at simplifying the game" (MMQB.SI.com, 10/31). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the Fox pre- and post-game shows are “must-see TV." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said it was “predictable” that Rodriguez and Pete Rose would be good on Fox. Kornheiser: “Pete Rose knows more about baseball than anyone on Earth. He knows every stat of every player in every game … because he's a gambler." He added, "Rodriguez is totally charming … because he can smile at you as he lies. They're actors. They're performers and they're great” ("PTI," ESPN, 10/28). The SUN-TIMES' McGrath wrote Fox' pre- and postgame shows are "pretty much empty calories." Three guys with "checkered pasts but undeniable baseball bona fides trying to be likeable and/or funny." McGrath: "And what's with the carnival barker get-up on Pete Rose?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/30).
LIFELONG FAN: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth noted MLB Network's Chris Rose, a "born and bred" Indians fan, has been "trying to not show any bias when covering" the World Series on the net's "International Talk" show each day. It has been a "little more difficult than usual." With the World Series headed back to Cleveland for Game 6, Rose has "promised he will fly in his oldest son" and brother for the game (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/30).
HISTORY LESSON: SI.com's Deitsch wrote the call of the "last out for this World Series -- given the drought for each of the teams -- is a moment that will be replayed" long after Indians radio announcer Tom Hamilton and Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes are gone. Both men have the "same philosophy: They will not script the last out." Hamilton said, "To try to script something would com across phony for me. You just hope the good Lord gives you the proper words at the right time because you don't know how the game will end." Fox' Joe Buck said, "As much as you might not want to plan something out, you definitely can’t avoid the thought. This will be an historic call and these are two guys that can handle it. They will make it about the team and not about themselves, and that’s how it should be" (SI.com, 10/30).
TAKING ITS TIME: FIVETHIRTYEIGHT's Rob Arthur wrote under the header, "Baseball's Biggest Games Are Taking Forever." This year's postseason has been "extraordinary: The last 27 games have featured an average game length of three hours and 24 minutes, the highest average for any continuous block of 27 games in the past five years." There are a "number of contributors to baseball’s recent sluggishness, including instant replay reviews, reliever usage and pitcher pace" (FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.com, 10/28).
