Tonight in St. Louis will mark the first time since '86 in which a World Series game and a “MNF” will be played simultaneously in the same market. ESPN will be present at both events with its coverage of Rams-Seahawks on TV and its radio and “Baseball Tonight” coverage from Game 5 of the World Series. ESPN this morning also broadcast “Mike & Mike” live from the Edward Jones Dome. “It’s definitely a little different,” said ESPN Senior VP & Exec Producer Jed Drake. “Who knows when this is going to happen again?”
Drake acknowledged there likely will be a ratings impact due to the highly popular Cardinals competing directly against the football game. “We’d be foolish not to recognize the importance of the World Series. These are the realities. But Monday still means football for millions of fans around the country, and we’re going to serve it to them,” he said. “And it’s probably a good thing that this is not a clinching game, with the Series now tied. It’s probably less of a poignant moment in that sense with it not being a clinch opportunity for the Cardinals.”
