Boston Sports: TV Watch

As an Over the Air (OTA) television house, it is extremely difficult to follow your local team. Teams align with cable channels to increase their revenue but narrow audience. When I was a child, I was able to watch my teams in every sport on a consistent basis. Now my child has access to a fraction of those games and does not have the affordable opportunities to become a local sports fan. When he becomes my age, he may not spend his income on tickets and apparel. And as a subset, may not frequent a restaurant or tavern to specifically watch these games.

Here is the raw data from each of the four major sports that broadcast OTA this past year plus the 2014 Boston Red Sox.

Boston Red Sox: 2015 Season
Preseason: 0/34
Regular Season: 3/162
  Sat, May 23 7:00 PM (FOX) – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Boston Red Sox
  Sat, May 30 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers
  Sat, Jul 11 7:15 PM (FOX) – New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Post Season: N/A

Total Games: 196
Games Televised OTA: 3
Percentage: 1.53%

New England Patriots: 2014 Season
Preseason: 4/4
  Thu, Aug 7 8:00 PM @ Washington L23-6
  Fri, Aug 15 8:00 PM vs Philadelphia W42-35
  Fri, Aug 22 8:00 PM vs Carolina W30-7
  Thu, Aug 28 8:00 PM @ New York L16-13
Regular Season: 15/16
  Sun, Sep 7 1:00 PM (CBS) @ Miami L33-20
  Sun, Sep 14 1:00 PM  (CBS) @ Minnesota W30-7
  Sun, Sep 21 1:00 PM  (CBS) vs Oakland W16-9
  Sun, Oct 5 8:25 PM (NBC) vs Cincinnati W43-17
  Sun, Oct 12 1:00 PM  (CBS) @ Buffalo W37-22
  Thu, Oct 16 8:30 PM (CBS) vs New York W27-25
  Sun, Oct 26 1:00 PM (FOX) vs Chicago W51-23
  Sun, Nov 2 4:25 PM (CBS) vs Denver W43-21
  Sun, Nov 16 8:25 PM (NBC) @ Indianapolis W42-20
  Sun, Nov 23 1:00 PM (FOX) vs Detroit W34-9
  Sun, Nov 30 4:25 PM (CBS) @ Green Bay L26-21
  Sun, Dec 7 8:25 PM (NBC) @ San Diego W23-14
  Sun, Dec 14 1:00 PM (CBS) vs Miami W41-13
  Sun, Dec 21 1:00 PM (CBS) @ New York W17-16
  Sun, Dec 28 1:00 PM (CBS) vs Buffalo L17-9
Post Season: 3/3
  Divisional Playoffs: Sat, Jan 10 4:35 PM (NBC) vs Baltimore W35-31
  Conference Championship: Sun, Jan 18 6:50 PM (CBS) vs Indianapolis W45-7
  Super Bowl XLIX: Sun, Feb 1 6:30 PM (NBC) @ Seattle W28-24

Total Games: 23
Games Televised OTA: 22
Percentage: 95.65%


Boston Bruins: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/7
Regular Season: 2/82
  Sunday, Feb. 22: Boston at Chicago (3:30, NBC)
  Sunday, March 8: Detroit at Boston (12:30, NBC)
Post Season: N/A

Total Games: 89
Games Televised OTA: 2
Percentage: 2.24%


Boston Celtics: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/8
Regular Season: 0/82
Post Season: 2/4
  Sunday, April 19 1:05 PM ET (ABC) – NBA First Round Game 1: (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers
  Sunday, April 26 3:05 PM ET (ABC) – NBA First Round Game 4: (7) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers

Total Games: 94
Games Televised OTA: 2
Percentage: 2.12%


Boston Red Sox: 2014 Season
Preseason: 0/32
Regular Season: 4/162
  Saturday, May 31 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox
  Saturday, June 7 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
  Saturday, June 28 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
  Saturday, July 5 7:00 PM ET (FOX) – Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox
Post Season: N/A

Total Games: 194
Games Televised OTA: 4
Percentage: 2.06%

As we become more of an internet viewing world with Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services, the gap will widen. The NBA, MLB and NHL may not suffer but we can definitely see that the NFL will continue to grow because of the reach it has.

Boston Sports-break Hill

With all the articles being written about how Boston is a title town, we are like the economy and we are in the midst of a slight recession. After having 5 parades in six years, there has only been 2 since then,

Please consider the last decade divided into two parts and you'll see that the losses in recent years have been downright painful and historic.

(OCTOBER 29, 2007 - PRESENT)

Patriots

2007 Super Bowl XLII loss to New York Giants (End season at 18-1)

2008 Did not make playoffs

2009 AFC Wild Card loss to Baltimore Ravens

2010 AFC Divisional Playoff loss to New York Jets (1st Seed)

Bruins

2008 First Round loss to Montreal Canadiens (Lost Game #7)

2009 Conference Semifinals loss to Carolina Hurricanes (Lost Game #7, 1st Seed)

2010 Conference Semifinals loss to Philadelphia Flyers (Lost Game #7 after being up 3-0)

2011 Won Stanley Cup over Vancouver Canucks

Celtics

2008 Won NBA Championship over Los Angeles Lakers

2009 Conference Semifinal loss to Orlando Magic (Lost Game #7, 1st time losing series after leading 3-2)

2010 NBA Finals loss to Los Angeles Lakers (Lost in Game #7, 2nd time losing series after leading 3-2, 1st ever NBA Finals Game #7 loss)

2011 Conference Semifinal loss to Miami Heat

Red Sox

2008 ALCS loss to Tampa Bay Rays (Lost Game #7 after coming back from 3 games to 1)

2009 ADLS loss to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Lost Game #3 when leading in the ninth inning)

2010 Did not make playoffs

2011 Did not make playoffs (Leading 3-2 into the 8th, lost 4-3 on Papelbon's Double-Double-Single. Tampa Bay overturned New York 8-7 in 12 after being down 7-0 in the 8th inning.)

FEBRUARY 3, 2002 - OCTOBER 28, 2007

Patriots

2001 Super Bowl XXXVI win over St. Louis Rams

2002 Did not make playoffs

2003 Super Bowl XXXVIII win over Carolina Panthers

2004 Super Bowl XXXIX win over Philadelphia Eagles

2005 AFC Divisional Playoff loss to Denver Broncos

2006 AFC Conference Final loss to Indianapolis Colts (Lose 38-34 after leading 21-6 at halftime)

Bruins

2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals loss to Montreal Canadiens in 6

2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals loss to New Jersey Devils in 5

2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals loss to Montreal Canadiens in 7

2005 Did not make playoffs

2006 Did not make playoffs

2007 Did not make playoffs

Celtics

2002 Conference Final loss to New Jersey Nets (Game #4 largest comeback in NBA playoff history)

2003 Conference Semifinal loss to New Jersey Nets (Swept)

2004 First Round loss to Indiana Pacers (Swept)

2005 First Round loss to Indiana Pacers (Game #7 loss after being Atlantic Division Champions)

2006 Did not make playoffs

2007 Did not make playoffs

Red Sox

2002 Did not make playoffs

2003 ALCS loss to New York Yankees (Lost Game #7 in Extra Innings after leading 5-3 in the middle of the eighth.)

2004 Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals

2005 ALDS loss Chicago White Sox (Swept in 3 Games)

2006 Did not make playoffs

2007 Won World Series over Colorado Rockies

Boston Red Sox 2012 Regular Season Schedule

Not to look ahead towards next season but the Red Sox just released their 2012 Regular Season Schedule.

Looks like Wave One Tickets will go one sale on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10AM based on previous years. Make sure all your computers will be ready with multiple browsers open

HBK! What a nice gift for the kid today.

Red Sox Local Affiliates Baseball Road Trip - Part I. The Schedules

When I took my first baseball road trip last year, I never realized how much more I would appreciate America's pastime. This was on the "Dew List" (my bucket list) and I heard fantastic stories involving friends or friends of friends that did this while never knowing where their next meal would be or where they would be sleeping next.

I am actually glad that I waited this long to embark on this trip. We were at a stage in our life where all could afford reasonable lodging and food. And with the advent of social media, I was able to share my experiences. Plus there was Baseball Road Trip website that made planning this way too easy. Guys, I would easily recommend this for a get together for old buddies as the schedule is clear cut. This is a great equalizer to the 'let me get back to you about the trip' as you are either in or not on those days. And believe me, if you wanted to go, you made it happen.

We traveled to Miller Park, Wrigley Field and US Cellular Field in a 4 day trip and watched the Brewers, Nationals, Cubs, Cardinals, White Sox and Mariners play. The games were great but what was most memorable were the enormity of these baseball cathedrals. The trip not only renewed my passion with Major League baseball but I had a greater appreciation of what these teams mean to their fans. Whether it was tailgating with brats outside Miller Park to seeing a sea of red Cardinals jerseys in Wrigley, I saw first hand what baseball means to people outside of Boston and New York.

This year, one of my compadres from the trip entered the lottery and won the opportunity to purchase Major League Baseball All Star Tickets in Phoenix, Arizona. I convinced him to purchase eight and was excited about continuing a tradition that started just last year. Unfortunately the commitment to my other love, Fusion String Ensemble was already in works. Needless to say, I will be missing out on seeing my very first All Star game.

So left without a Major League Baseball Road Trip this year, I decided to check out schedules for the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA) [wikipedia], Portland Sea Dogs (AA) [wikipedia] and Lowell Spinners (Short Season A) [wikipedia] and make a Red Sox Local Affiliates Baseball Road Trip this summer. The other affiliates that would have to wait included Salem (VA) Red Sox (Advanced A) [wikipedia], Greenville (SC) Drive (A) [wikipedia], Gulf Coast League (GCL) Red Sox (Rookie) and Dominican Summer League (DSL) Red Sox (Rookie).

(Red Sox Minor League Affiliates: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/affiliates/index.jsp?c_id=bos)

The local affiliates would be feasible without the small time frame (unless I really wanted but as of now, I may embark on a 3 game 4 day tour) and I would have the opportunity to include my young son on part of this adventure.

I had already purchased the Brewer Pack from the Boston Red Sox during my annual morning ritual before our Holiday party. The Right Field Roof Box is my favorite place to watch the game for the price in my opinion. With construction less five years old, the area boasts short concession & bathroom lines, new restroom facilities and quick access to the nearby Budweiser bar in right field.

With Fenway secured, I went to the websites of Pawtucket, Portland and Lowell to track my itinerary and this is what I found.

Pawtucket's schedule was provided on a PDF. The schedule in color but way oversized for the PDF so it was missing games. I even tried to change paper size and rotating it 90 degrees but no luck.

Portland's schedule was the best by far of the affiliates. All games were viewable and formatted perfectly in Landscape.

Lowell's schedule was unable to provide a full schedule so I was regulated to printing out each month separately. June | July | August | September

Here are the remaining Sox affiliate schedules.

Salem's schedule was in full color but was pixelated when printed. Side note: I did find a channel on ustream.tv that provided a live webcam of their games on the internet.

Greenville's calendar was so small and pixelated that it was rendered unreadable. Although I slightly amused of an ad on PDF of a local hospital with the Pillsbury dough boy dressed up in a nurse outfit and baseball glove catching a fly ball.

Gulf Coast League's & Dominican Summer League schedules are embedded text in the browser for you to print.

Once I integrate the Pawtucket, Portland and Lowell schedules I will be able to lock in dates.

To be continued.