Article: Why I Will Watch

[JB_Iowa]

And, for those who don't live in Iowa and have not reason to know this, MLB.tv blacks out SIX MLB teams in Iowa (whether they are on FSN, FOX, ESPN or WGN) because we are considered "in market" for all of them! (Twins, Brewers, Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Royals) It does tend to make us a bit cranky if we are interested in one of those teams and our cable provider chooses to be "in market" for the wrong team for our interests.

 

I hate to make this a referendum on TV watching in Iowa (and to hijack the thread to focus on that issue) but I want to add a couple of things. JC and I have been over this in the past so he knows my position.

 

I agree that having 6 MLB teams blacked out can stink. BUT for some of us, it is a great thing. I have DISH network. Without subscribing to any additional "baseball package", I get all 6 of the "blackout" teams -- Twins, Royals, Cardinals, White Sox, Cubs and Brewers on a number of different regional sports stations and they are all included without extra fee. Add that to the Mets on WPIX, plus MLB network and MLB alternative and there's plenty of chances to watch most teams so I see absolutely no reason to shell out for internet mlb or a satellite baseball package.

 

I also live in a community where my local cable carrier includes FSN. JC's problem is that he is in southeast (okay southcentral-east Iowa) where his cable provider probably offers the Cubs, White Sox and/or Cardinals.

 

I sympathize with JC's complaints (even as I feel like I reap the benefits of the whole thing) but the problem is that Iowa really is a very mixed baseball market. Depending on where you live, you may traditionally have been a Twins, Royals, Cardinals, White Sox or Cubs fan (Brewers probably less so even in Northeast Iowa). One solution would probably be to simply make an exception for Iowa on the mlb tv rules while leaving everybody else alone. I don't think there is another state with a similar situation of being considered in the market of so many teams.

[jimbo92107]

People said I was crazy. Maybe I am, but Florimon's defense is impressive. That said... if anyone thinks he'll hit .333, it's not going to happen. .233 is a better likelihood.

 

How about I say .333, you say .233, and we settle for .290?

 

With 35 doubles, 10 triples, and 15 home runs?

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Obviously most players' MLB stats are not as high as the ones they posted in the minors. But there are exceptions. Who can name some? Ready, Go...

[Riverbrian]

Matt Holliday comes to mind right away.

 

I also think you will find quite a few examples. The outta nowhere stories are all over baseball.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Matt Holliday comes to mind right away.

 

I also think you will find quite a few examples. The outta nowhere stories are all over baseball.

 

guys who have been rushed can come out of nowhere so to speak.

 

One guy in MN that could eventually be on this list is Plouffe.

[Guest USAFChief]

Obviously most players' MLB stats are not as high as the ones they posted in the minors. But there are exceptions. Who can name some? Ready' date=' Go...[/quote']

 

One guy who comes to mind immediately is Denard Span.

 

8 minor league seasons, .711 career minor league OPS. Posted exactly one .800 OPS (in a 49 game sample in high A ball). .723 AAA OPS and .693 AA OPS.

 

.748 career major league OPS, with two seasons above .800

[snepp]

I doubt that the MLB just blacks out the state of Iowa for no good reason, are they not a business that wants to maximize revenue in every way possible?

 

Are you aware of the ridiculousness of the blackout restrictions in Iowa? The Twins, Brewers, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and White Sox, Iowa is "home territory" to them all. What a fantastic way to build support for your game.

 

The MLB's blackout policy is an archaic disaster.

[Ultima Ratio]

I doubt that the MLB just blacks out the state of Iowa for no good reason, are they not a business that wants to maximize revenue in every way possible?

 

Are you aware of the ridiculousness of the blackout restrictions in Iowa? The Twins, Brewers, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and White Sox, Iowa is "home territory" to them all. What a fantastic way to build support for your game.

 

The MLB's blackout policy is an archaic disaster.

 

Furthermore, the Twins were broadcasted on WHO radio across the entire state and beyond in the 60s and 70s I believe (my father tells me), surely someone on here knows exactly (I looked this up to no avail). This was before the Cubs moved their AAA team to Des Moines. In short, Iowa used to be much more Twins territory... there is not even a station in Des Moines (nor 80% of the state) with the Twins games now. It's quite a loss of ground leading to the current cluster "mess" If only the Twins would have moved to Des Moines in 1981.

[Riverbrian]

I doubt that the MLB just blacks out the state of Iowa for no good reason, are they not a business that wants to maximize revenue in every way possible?

 

Are you aware of the ridiculousness of the blackout restrictions in Iowa? The Twins, Brewers, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and White Sox, Iowa is "home territory" to them all. What a fantastic way to build support for your game.

 

The MLB's blackout policy is an archaic disaster.

 

Furthermore, the Twins were broadcasted on WHO radio across the entire state and beyond in the 60s and 70s I believe (my father tells me), surely someone on here knows exactly (I looked this up to no avail). This was before the Cubs moved their AAA team to Des Moines. In short, Iowa used to be much more Twins territory... there is not even a station in Des Moines (nor 80% of the state) with the Twins games now. It's quite a loss of ground leading to the current cluster "mess" If only the Twins would have moved to Des Moines in 1981.

 

Snepp... FUBAR is the acronym that describes it.

 

The map needs to be fixed... And it most likely won't because the owners won't be able to stay out of each others way. Money is involved. There are a few states FUBAR like Iowa is... Yet Iowa is especially FUBAR because 6 teams all claiming it is just plain over the top.

 

First off the Cubs and White Sox don't need Iowa... Chicago, Indiana and the Rest of Illinois is big enough.

 

The Brewers and Royals are non factors...

 

The state should be divided up between the Cardinals and Twins... Easy enough... And if the owners can't get out of each others way here... Let Iowa be the beneficiary and remove the blackout... Let the state actually get the baseball that the clubs are fighting over.

 

And while they're at it... boot the Cubs AAA out of Iowa as well. Let them have Indianapolis... Move Pittsburgh AAA to Rochester and let the Twins have Iowa... Everyone will have a shorter trip to their AAA affiliates that way.

[snepp]

Snepp... FUBAR is the acronym that describes it.

 

Indeed it does.

[JB_Iowa]

Furthermore, the Twins were broadcasted on WHO radio across the entire state and beyond in the 60s and 70s I believe (my father tells me), surely someone on here knows exactly (I looked this up to no avail). This was before the Cubs moved their AAA team to Des Moines. In short, Iowa used to be much more Twins territory... there is not even a station in Des Moines (nor 80% of the state) with the Twins games now. It's quite a loss of ground leading to the current cluster "mess" If only the Twins would have moved to Des Moines in 1981.

 

Honestly I don't remember if the Twins were on WHO. WNAX out of Yankton, SD used to reach a large part of Iowa (as well as a lot of SD, some in ND and in MN). According to radio map, they still carry Twins games but their signal strength must not be nearly what it used to be.

 

All of the current Twins radio broadcast stations in Iowa are in the northern part of the state -- Sioux City, Spencer, Mason City, New Hampton and Cedar Falls.

 

I really think the answer is in simply lifting the blackout rules for mlbtv for the state rather than trying to divide it up differently. Lifting the blackout rules for mlbtv subscriptions shouldn't significantly adversely affect any team OR any particular cable operators because the state is a gigantic mess on broadcasting rights anyway. Same thing with radio subscription rights.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Honestly I don't remember if the Twins were on WHO. WNAX out of Yankton, SD used to reach a large part of Iowa (as well as a lot of SD, some in ND and in MN). According to radio map, they still carry Twins games but their signal strength must not be nearly what it used to be.

 

All of the current Twins radio broadcast stations in Iowa are in the northern part of the state -- Sioux City, Spencer, Mason City, New Hampton and Cedar Falls.

 

I really think the answer is in simply lifting the blackout rules for mlbtv for the state rather than trying to divide it up differently. Lifting the blackout rules for mlbtv subscriptions shouldn't significantly adversely affect any team OR any particular cable operators because the state is a gigantic mess on broadcasting rights anyway. Same thing with radio subscription rights.

 

Sooner or later, MLB is going to have to address the MLB.tv situation and blackout rules in general. I don't have cable. I have no interest in ever buying cable. I've moved to a completely digital internet-based environment, with Apple TVs and computers hosting all my content. An entire generation is going to be raised this way and cable companies are going to be on the short end of the stick. It's a massive shift that won't be stopped, only contained.

 

I subscribe to MLB.tv and gladly pay the $25/month for their digital content. I also live in the Twin Cities and have to work around their asinine blackout rules. Most people don't know how to do this and as time passes, less people will watch baseball as they stop subscribing to cable television. MLB is going to have to change their policies and while teams will squawk about it in the short term (because of lost cable TV revenue), their hand will be forced to make the move at some point.

 

Of course, they'll probably drag their feet as long as possible and take ten years to make this change but they'll do it sooner or later.

[JB_Iowa]

Not going to quote you Brock because the quotes start getting a little long. I understand your point and know others who do the same as you. But don't you think it may take even longer than 10 years?

 

Look at the massive long-term TV rights contracts that have been inked in some markets. This shapes up to be a massive battle.

[Brock Beauchamp]

You can edit out the quotes. Just grab everything between {QUOTE "My Name"}text blah blah blah and {/QUOTE} and then delete it. That way you pare down how many people you're quoting.

 

Anyway, it could take awhile but I think baseball is going to be affected by it more quickly than some of the other sports. One, they play so many games. Two, almost none of those games are broadcast outside of cable. Given MLBAM's forward-thinking in the digital department, I see them starting to push to unlock broadcast blackout areas sooner than the NBA and NHL, who drag ass in this sort of thing. The NFL will hardly be affected at all, as they have prime Sunday slots on all the networks.

[rogrulz30]

I don't really know why I like watching this team so much even now when games don't matter? I love the lineup, I love watching mastro and revere, morneau has been a treat, you have the hammer having a slight chance at a hr title, along with mauer and revere batting titles. If u were to tell me those things in April, I am really jacked at having a good baseball team!!! Now I still find myself watching deduno and diamond. I will admit everyone else who pitches, we have to rely on the lineup. I do love baseball, and I do love the twins and I want the twins to play hard and be the spoilers in playoff style ball. I will still b watching all the games, and as long as the yankees don't win the world series I will b all right!!!!