OT: Tigers earn local TV ratings crown
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/10/01/Media/MLB-RSNs.aspx
The Tigers earned the highest average local TV ratings this season of all 30 MLB teams, and were watched by a larger audience than any team outside of NYC. (And only 5,000 households shy of the Mets' average audience.) I see you Rod and Mario. Literally.
October 3rd, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
Eat 'em up Tigers eat 'em up.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^
It baffles me how people in the media still don't consider Detroit a staut baseball town, especially after this evidence.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
Statewide, the Tigers are beloved. Tons of fans up north and on the west side of the state. I don't know if those numbers include people with Extra Innings who watch the Tigers throughout the country, but everywhere Detroit plays, there is a huge Tiger fan contingent. Some say they travel well, but I think Tiger fans stay Tiger fans even if they move elsewhere.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:30 PM ^
It sure helps that a lot of people move from Michigan and not to Michigan. But I agree.
October 3rd, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
1 Josh Hamilton at bat up, 1 down. C'mon, As pitching staff...
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
2 ABs, no HR through 3 innings. He is up 2nd in the 4th.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
Goes down swinging. 3 ABs down.
Without a doubt, this is the weirdest way I've ever watched a sporting event. I feel like I placed a large wager on one of those prop bets, like how many total field goals will be kicked in the Super Bowl.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
Struck out in the 4th.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
As explode for 4 runs in the 4 to tie it up - this is turning into some pretty entertaining baseball.
Edit: 6 runs - two more come across on a horrible, horrible error.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
And, Hamilton dropped a routine flyball to give the As the lead at the end of 4. On the downside, Hamilton may get 4 more ABs the way this game is going.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
Seriously. The As defense needs to start stringing some outs together to keep those ABs down. Come on, As!
October 3rd, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
Another K in the 6th. Keep it going, As...
Edit: And a K to end the 8th. Finish it off, As, and don't give him another shot!
Edit edit: that'll do it. Let's have no shenanigans tonight, and keep it together.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:03 PM ^
Michigan rewards its successful teams with lots of attention. The Tigers have now been consistently talented and good for six years; they will naturally have a good following. And Michigan, which loves its sports teams and identifies with them more than the average city, watches what it loves.
Remember how huge the Wings were in the 90s when they were winning Cups? They're still big relative to other American hockey teams, but in the late 90s and early '00s, they were the most popular thing the state had going. Consider, for example, that unforgettable '01 MNF game at the Silverdome where the Lions were getting smoked by the Greatest Show on Turf, and the fans showered the field with "Let's Go Red Wings!" chants.
The Tigers have the added advantage of having a long, relatively good, and significant history to Michiganders. The '68 title was an important part of the healing process from the '67 riots (whether the state has actually healed from those is up for debate, but it helped people identify together with the region at the time) and the '84 team entranced a new generation of fans. Michigan residents still associate their summers with Ernie Harwell and Tigers Baseball. It's a part of the fabric.
Labor day weekend my family travelled to the Clare area for a reunion of my wife's family. Her brother's family travelled from Tennessee, and her sister from Pennsylvania. Aunts and Uncles and Cousins were everywhere. We were tied by blood and friendship.
And everybody was watching the Tigers.
October 3rd, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 11:49 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
The Tigers are to Michigan what the Bears are to Illinois.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:47 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
I like the Bears and hate their fans. Vikings fans in Ford Field this Sunday were almost completely undisruptive. The same can never be said for Bears fans.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^
Am I the only one hoping that Hamilton hits one out and then we get to watch Cabrera go for a "Triple-Crown-Walk-Off" homer?
Yes, ok, just strike out then Hamilton.
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
(Nevermind - I misread the OP.)
October 3rd, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
October 4th, 2012 at 8:48 AM ^
October 4th, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^
My DVR is high-fiving all of you.