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| Derek Jeter |
Those watching baseball on ESPN since the start of October must have found it strange that their live broadcast programme hasn't involved a certain team called the New York Yankees.
The Major League Baseball postseason started without arguably the biggest draw in US team sports.
It is hard to believe, given their staggering US$200m (approximately 6.8 billion baht) payroll, that MLB's most glamorous team missed out on this year's play-offs after a run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances.
After watching the Yankees against every other team in the league during the regular season over the last few years, baseball fans (who live in Thailand) are now allowed to watch teams that they probably didn't have a chance to see live before (on ESPN Asia).
While I have to say it is a shame that we can't see such talents as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Petitte in postseason, I can understand how delighted non-Yankees supporters must be now that they can view televised games that don't involve the Yankees for a change.
Now I'm not a baseball fan myself, and I personally have nothing against the Yankees, but I feel sympathy with the unhappy viewers. ESPN's baseball programming in this region has almost reached a point of inexplicable obsession with the Yankees.
Over the past few seasons, upset viewers have complained about excessive coverage of the Yankees on ESPN over here. But it seems those complaints have fallen on deaf ears. It was still the Yankees against somebody every week this season.
While I think it's almost impossible to keep every sports viewer happy, ESPN could at least consider having a better balanced baseball programme next season.
I know showing baseball's most recognised team is a safe bet but there are still 29 other teams in the league and they deserve some airtime as well.
When other teams only get to be on live TV when they play the Yankees, something must be very wrong.
For all the doom and gloom of the fans of other teams, ESPN Asia must be like a saviour for all the Yankees faithful out there. It's a channel where they can watch their beloved team week in and week out and sometimes even twice a day!
I must admit that the Yankees are probably the world's most recognised baseball team. They probably sell the most merchandise and their games are seen in more places in the world than those of any other team.
And as far as I'm concerned, the Yankees are probably the most marketable baseball team in Thailand as well.
Seeing the number of people wearing fake Yankees baseball caps at Chatuchak Market on Sunday morning would confirm that fact!
It's just hip to wear a Yankees baseball cap, or at least people think that way.
And I'm pretty sure most of the people who wear those Yankees caps aren't even fans and they have probably never even watched the team play. Somehow it just looks cool if you wear a cap with that famous NY logo!
While I understand that all the merchandise money over here doesn't necessarily go to the Yankees organisation, I get the feeling that they could do without it just fine.
Anyway we should get back to the baseball side of things. This season the postseason contained the Tampa Bay Rays v the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox v the Los Angeles Angels, the Philadelphia Phillies v the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers v the Chicago Cubs.
The play-offs have now reached the Championship Series with the Dodgers battling it out against the Phillies in the National League title games starting Friday morning Thai time. The Red Sox have advanced to their American League showdown with the Rays beginning Saturday.
For those of you who are tired of watching the Yankees all season long, just enjoy this postseason while it lasts. Because you will probably have to watch you-know-who week-in and week-out again when the new MLB season starts next April!
Ravipan Pavasuthipand is Assistant Sports Editor, Bangkok Post. She can be reached by e-mail: ravipanp@bangkokpost.co.th
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