Sunday night's Astros-Red Sox game peaked at a 5.0 rating between 9:45-10:00pm ETgetty images
TBS drew a 4.1 overnight rating for the Red Sox’ 7-5 win over the Astros in Game 2 of the ALCS last night, making it the top-rated show on cable yesterday. That number is up 86% from two years ago, when TBS last carried the ALCS, drawing a 2.2 rating for Indians-Blue Jays, which excluded the Toronto market due to it not being Nielsen-rated. Last year’s ALCS Game 2, featuring Astros-Yankees on a Saturday afternoon, drew a 4.7 overnight on Fox. Last night’s game, which saw strong head-to-head competition from Chiefs-Patriots on "SNF," peaked with a 5.0 rating on TBS from 9:45-10:00pm ET. Boston led all markets for last night’s contest with a 20.6 local rating, marking TBS’ most-watched MLB postseason game there since ’13. Houston averaged an 18.6 local rating. Meanwhile, Fox on Saturday from 4:00-7:45pm drew a 3.5 overnight for the Dodgers' come-from-behind win over the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS. Last year, TBS had the NLCS, drawing a 4.5 overnight in Game 2 for Dodgers-Cubs (Josh Carpenter, THE DAILY).
MOVING UP FROM THE CHEAP SEATS: AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Jay Rigdon noted Brewers radio broadcaster Bob Uecker joined Fox' Joe Buck and John Smoltz in the booth for the third inning during Dodgers-Brewers Game 2. In the bottom of the inning, Buck announced he was going to "step out of the booth and hand the reins over to Uecker." It was "awesome to hear Uecker on the national stage, and he clearly seemed to appreciate the gesture as well." It was a "very classy move for Buck" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 10/13). MLB.com's Mike Petriello wrote on Twitter, "More Bob Uecker, please. I think too many people forget he's a broadcasting great not just the guy from the movie." Cubs PA announcer Andrew Belleson: "The Bob Uecker stop into the Fox booth was absolutely sensational. He’s ageless, and still such an amazing broadcaster." In Milwaukee, Rich Kirchen notes Uecker "still enjoys being around Major League Baseball players, coaches and managers and the Brewers in particular." The 83-year-old said that the "age difference between himself and players in their 20s and 30s is not an issue in their relationship." Uecker: "They know that I played. I think that’s where the relation really comes in. I’ve been on the same side where you’ve got a 10-game losing streak and you’ve got to talk to the press. I know what that’s like” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/15).
NO SECOND ACT IN L.A.: In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes Buck wished aloud on Saturday for former Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully to "join him on air" when the NLCS returns to Dodger Stadium tonight. But Scully said that he would "respectfully decline." Buck has all but "handed Scully an evergreen invitation to share the Fox booth during All-Star and World Series games" (L.A. TIMES, 10/15).
COPY CAT: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Turner Sports thought it was a "swell idea" to attempt to make TBS’ MLB playoff studio show a "cookie cutter version of their highly successful TNT NBA studio show." It works in the hoops studio, but becomes a "complete ripoff when used on baseball." It would have been better if Turner execs "let the baseball guys, who are great at being themselves, set their own groove and follow it." Instead they are "forced to use someone else’s shtick" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/15).
