TBS To Blame for Start Time? Nixed Team Recommendations

Holy hell! I am smart enough to understand that when there’s money to be made, whichever decision leads to the most possible money will be made. But for a TV network to be able to completely impact the direction of a series, it just doesn’t make sense!?

In case you’ve missed it, there are some reports that the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals went to TBS and asked to play today’s game four at 1 PM, which would have been enough time to miss any potential rain. They denied that, and kept the game time at 4:38 PM.

Rain approaching Wrigley tonight. TBS was asked to start game at 1 PM, and refused. Huh.

— Chip Caray (@kapaya1234) October 10, 2017

Now why is this important? The game has a high probability of being postponed due to weather the later it gets here in Chicago. While we haven’t seen rain yet, it is supposed to begin around the 5 O’clock hour and continue off and on until later, when the heavy stuff comes.

As we speak, Cubs and Nationals management are meeting with the MLB to discuss contingency plans, and if this game will even get played today.

Theo and Jed walking over to the Nats side with Maddon and Nats Gm etc. Looks like a meeting to take place

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 10, 2017

While they have have already announced the game will begin under rain delay, the likelihood of the game completing tonight becomes smaller and smaller with each passing minute.

So why am I upset?

If today’s game four is postponed until tomorrow, the Nationals will get Stephen Strasburg back on the hill. Not that I don’t think the Cubs couldn’t beat him (game one), it does give the Nationals a higher chance of prolonging the series to a game five. This is all a money play by TBS to pull every dollar out of this Cubs and Washington series.

But TBS is denying this ever happened…

TBS: "This is not accurate. It never even came up." https://t.co/HvPIsmWtiT

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) October 10, 2017

Things get a little more confusing when a respected beat reporter learned of the news.

Bruce Levine on WSCR Chicago today reported both teams were willing to play at 1pm. Teams reply to TV requested start times. https://t.co/VYGpEMZ5ij

— Chip Caray (@kapaya1234) October 10, 2017

My question is, the only other voting hand that matters is the MLB, and why would they not want this game to be played? Sure it could be money, but they earn off of Cubs games, and the serious money is Cubs Dodgers.

Baseball had better hope it didn’t shake out like it is being said. You’ll have a lot of folks who no longer believe in your product.

MLB will meet to determine the next steps at 4:30 PM Central time.

Jamie Baker

Hi, I’m Jamie and I run this site. I’ve published work on multiple other sites and through that experience I decided to create CHICAGO style SPORTS. We truly aim to speak for the Chicago fan. Additionally, as a member of the IBWAA (Internet Baseball Writers Association of America) you can be assured that all content you read will be written with incredible integrity.

See author's posts