But one thing on which everyone agrees is that Major League Baseball playoff games start much too late at night -- especially the World Series.
However, there may be hope.
This is an excerpt from Bob Wolfley's "SportsDay" column in the April 7, 2009 edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
It's about time -- literally and figuratively.
Bob Wolfley | SportsDay
Earlier Series start wanted
Fox Sports and Major League Baseball are working on an agreement to start 2009 World Series games sooner than they have in the past.
Both the network and baseball, in an almost annual October ritual, have been criticized for starting those games too late.
The president of Fox Sports, Ed Goren, said Tuesday that the two sides had been working to reach an agreement to get to the first pitches in those games sooner.
"We are working with baseball and I think we all have the same agenda," Goren said. "And this is to get to first pitch more efficiently than we have in the past. We are continuing to have discussions to make that happen."
Goren declined to be specific about how much sooner the sides are considering, but an industry source suggested all the first pitches in the Series might come as soon as 7:50 p.m. Eastern and perhaps no later than 8 p.m. Eastern.
In the Central time zone, that would be 6:50 and 7 p.m.
In order to accomplish that, Fox might go to air one-half hour earlier than it has in order to start the pregame programming. That would allow Fox to get to the first pitch sooner.
In the past, Fox typically has gone to air at 8 p.m. Eastern, with the first pitch coming around 8:20 p.m. in Games 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. In Games 1 and 3, when player introductions take place, Fox goes to air at 8 p.m. Eastern, with the first pitch in the 8:35 p.m. range.
"The real question is how early we will be getting to first pitch," Goren said. "It will be earlier than in the past. I'm confident we will come up with a plan that will be effective."
Commissioner Bud Selig said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio on Monday that it was his desire to put in place earlier start times for the World Series this season.
Selig also said he would like to see a day game start for a Series game.
"I'm working hard because I happen to believe not only in a late afternoon game but in earlier starting times and I'm not going to be happy until we get those."
Goren said Fox was not considering an early afternoon start for any Series game. He did not address the issue of a late afternoon start.
"I don't expect that to happen," Goren said, referring to a day game start of 2 p.m. Eastern. "There is just a financial impact of selling commercials in an afternoon game compared to prime time."
Goren said viewers were not going to see day game starts in championship series in any major team sport: baseball, NBA or NHL, for example.
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