Thank you, Katy Feeney
August 28, 2007
As you’re going to hear about a million times over the next few days, the Yankees and Red Sox are playing a three-game series this week.
Normally, this match-up, which is continuously shoved down our throats, means at least two nationally televised Yankees-Red Sox games. If it’s a weekend series, it means Saturday afternoon baseball on FOX followed by Sunday night baseball on ESPN. If it’s a weekday series, it usually means Monday night baseball and Wednesday night baseball on ESPN.
But this week’s Red Sox-Yankees series goes from Tuesday-Thursday, meaning there’s only room for one nationally televised Yankees-Red Sox game (Wednesday, ESPN).
For that, I thank Katy Feeney, MLB’s senior vice president of scheduling. Her wisdom has spared us one overhyped Yankees-Red Sox broadcast. Thank you, from me and fans of teams other than the Red Sox and Yankees everywhere.
Be happy about less Red Sox-Yankees in your life for now, because we’ll get extra doses of it later. ESPN is showing Yankees-Red Sox on Friday, September 16 and Sunday, September 18 and it wouldn’t surprise me if FOX televises the Saturday game.
On a related, nerdy note, Feeney’s job is one of the most complex in sports. If you ever want a mental challenge, try making an MLB 162-game schedule using all the guidelines and traditions MLB uses. It’s a hobby of mine, and it’s tough.
Gilbert
Ben
August 28, 2007 at 6:40 pm
As a Red Sox fan do you think we actually like being on ESPN and fox? No we do not. In fact I hate it and I hate the hype and I hate everything about this series. I wish we never played the Yankees EVER.
You are not alone. Red Sox fans hate this crap too.
http://firedannyainge.wordpress.com
August 28, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Firedannyainge, it’s great we agree on something. It’s great to know “Red Sox fans hate this crap too.”
August 28, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Does anyone like being on ESPN or Fox? As a Mets fan living in LA, I experienced mixed feelings last weekend. On the one hand, I got to actually watch my team on TV instead of listed to them through mlb.com radio. On the other hand, I had to deal with Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan. It also felt like there were a lot more commercials, which wouldn’t be surprising. I also think ESPN and Fox (also ABC for other sports) have an annoying habit of taking the focus off the actual game on the field, which drvies me nuts.
August 29, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Oh believe me we do hate this. I wish ESPN, Fox and every network would never show the Red Sox.
ESPN is 100% pro Yankee all the time and I refuse to ever listen to ESPN.
September 5, 2007 at 10:52 am
It’s all about the money and lets face it…the Yanks and Sox bring in the cash. But it does get boring watching all 18-19 Yanks/Sox games on National TV. I also make MLB schedules (as a hobby) and have sent many to Katy Feeney. She is always very gracious and writes back each time. It is difficult. Fox and ESPN actually “advise” her on which series they want to be played on the weekends, so it’s not entirely her choice, but I think she does a half way decent job.
September 5, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Brian, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who likes making schedules.
It’s extremely difficult — Katy Feeney and whoever else makes the offical schedules does an outstanding job.