Every Tuesday I wait for Gregg Easterbrook to release his Tuesday Morning Quarterback during the NFL season. One of his weekly features is the "Christmas Creep" portion of the column where readers write in to tell him that in the middle of July the local hardware store or Hallmark has set up their Santa Claus displays.
Well apparently Major League Baseball has written in to Easterbrook to try and get in next week's column. Major League Baseball decided to release the 2010 schedule while the 2009 season is still in progress.
No other professional league does this - football releases their schedule in April, basketball and hockey release it in July, so why did baseball have to jump the line? The reason is that baseball is getting pushed to page 6 by the NFL, college football and in Canada the start of hockey season. One way to get attention in this jam packed sports month is to let fans know that you have excitement coming even if nothing, like the playoff races, are exciting at the moment.
Of course the headline was that ESPN's best friends the Yankees and Red Sox will open and close the season against each other. The home town Toronto Blue Jays, whose schedule only matters until about mid-July until they fall apart - open the season on the road vs. Texas and Baltimore and then return to SkyDome for their home opener vs. the Chicago White Sox. Interleague play starts in June with the Jays going to Colorado and San Diego, then play St. Louis, San Francisco and Philadelphia at home. August, just in time for the late season swoon looks like it could be the worst month ever - 6 games vs. the Yankees, 6 vs. the Red Sox, and 5 vs. Tampa Bay and then series vs. Detroit, Oakland and Detroit - OUCH! If they survive August, they finish the season with a homestand vs. Seattle and New York and then the final four are in Minnesota.
Still an eternity away from the first pitch of the 2010 season, but as fans of baseball and the Jays we can always look forward to the first pitch.
2010 schedule
Toronto @ San Diego...I'm sure Fox has penciled that one in for game of the week!
ReplyDeleteAnd at least the schedule maker could do them a favour and have them open at home versus a divisional rival rather than Chicago.