Fox last night drew a 14.8 overnight rating for the Cubs’ 9-3 win over the Indians, marking the best World Series Game 6 since the Yankees clinched over the Phillies on a Wednesday night in ’09 (15.5 overnight). The Cubs jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the top of the third inning, likely leading to an audience dropoff. Sunday night’s Game 5 drew a 15.3 overnight for the Cubs’ 3-2 win. The 14.8 last night is up 66% from an 8.9 overnight for Giants-Royals Game 6 in ‘14, and up 18% from a 12.5 for Red Sox-Cardinals Game 6 in ’13. Cardinals-Rangers Game 6 on a Thursday night in ’11 drew a 13.8 overnight (11-innings). The Cleveland-Akron market drew a 40.5 local rating last night, while Chicago drew a 40.2 rating. Fox is projected to have its best primetime figure for a Tuesday night since March ’10 (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
A SECOND ACT: In Newark, Randy Miller writes Fox' Alex Rodriguez is "enjoying rock star treatment as a broadcaster who is connecting with fans in a way that he never did during his great but villainized playing career." Rodriguez was an "instant hit working pre-game and post-game playoff games for Fox last fall and he's become a superstar this year." Host Kevin Burkhardt said, "He is just so well-prepared it's unbelievable. He wants to be great and he wants us to be great" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/2). SI.com's Ben Reiter wrote Rodriguez has "found something that eluded him for 22 1/2 years in the big leagues: universal acclaim." The "hyper-prepared Rodriguez has exhibited his singular baseball mind by providing analysis that is both nuanced and well formulated" (SI.com, 11/1).
GET WELL SOON: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir profiles longtime SNY and Fox Sports baseball director Bill Webb, who is "perhaps the best baseball television director ever." But lung cancer "kept him from directing last year’s World Series." Webb "worked part time this season and was planning to be back for the World Series," but then he "sustained yet another setback." Webb said he "tripped on the side stairs" in his house. This is now the "second World Series without Webb" for Fox' Joe Buck "after 17 with him." During Indians-Cubs Game 4, Buck "raised a placard that read, 'Webby' during the Stand Up to Cancer tribute at Wrigley Field" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/2).
