Dodgers fans appeared to far outnumber Rays fans during World Series Game 5 at Globe Life FieldGETTY IMAGES
The Dodgers during the World Series have "commandeered Globe Life Field and made it their own, growing weirdly comfortable with a new ballpark that still lacks an identity," and their fans "have tagged along, traveling en masse," according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. For the Dodgers, Globe Life Field was "practically theirs" last night during Game 5 against the Rays. The concourse level of the ballpark "has become a walking gallery of Dodgers jerseys." Meanwhile, ticket prices for Game 6 tomorrow, when the Dodgers could potentially clinch the World Series, "had increased by 48% since the start of the week" (ESPN.com, 10/26).
WORK JUST BEGINNING: In Dallas, Evan Grant wrote the World Series is a "victory lap" for MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The expanded playoffs "have worked, adding some extra excitement while still producing a World Series featuring the teams with the best records in their respective league." The allowance of limited fans at Globe Life Field for the NLCS and the World Series has "even allowed MLB owners to recoup a small fraction of their financial losses suffered this season." It "appears to have been a good run," but "of course, every good run must have an end." Good luck "negotiating a comprehensive labor agreement" as even more "potentially catastrophic winds are gathering." Grant: "Enjoy the victory lap while you can, Mr. Commissioner" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/25).
SUPER-SIZED WORLD SERIES? The AP's Paul Newberry wrote any thought of "transforming the World Series into some sort of Super Bowl-like spectacle ... should not be part of a much-needed discussion on modernizing the game." MLB agent Scott Boras "has been pushing this idea for at least a decade." By having just one game, the Super Bowl "has masterfully created a model that culminates with a huge swath of the nation gathering around their TV sets to watch what has become much more than two teams playing for the title." A best-of-seven World Series, it "would seem, hardly allows enough free time for the sort of extracurricular activities that helped transform the Super Bowl into a de facto national holiday" (AP, 10/23).
