National League Playoffs
Chicago: #3 media market
Philadelphia: #4 media market
Phoenix: #12 media market
Denver: #18 media market

TBS and Major League Baseball feel the heartbreak as the number 3 and 4 media markets each lose.  And not only do they lose, but they lose in the least amount of games possible.

Seemingly unable to catch even the smallest possible break, the number #12 media market loses to the number #18 media market -- and they do so, again, in the least amount of games possible.

TBS buys the rights to a possible 17 games of National League playoff action and gets the least possible ... 10.

And all of this on top of the Mets (number 1 media market) getting nosed out in an improbable late season collapse.

American League Playoffs
Yankess: #1 media market
Angeles: #2 media market of L.A.
Boston: #7 media market
Cleveland: #17 media market

New York, the number one media market hands down, goes out in the first round ... they didn't even get a game 5.

The number 2 media market gets swept out of the playoffs in three terribly uneventful games.

Now it looks like the #17 media market might jettison the only top ten market left in the playoffs.

To this, I say: couldn't happen to a better organization

As I reflect upon the days before the start of the season -- tuning into CSPAN2 while hoping and praying Senator John Kerry would deliver us from MLB giving away exclusive rights to out of market telecasts -- I can't say I am upset things turned out the way they did (save for the Cub loss, obviously).

As I remember hours on the phone with Comcast less than 48 hours before opening day, praying they'd be ready to go with Extra Innings ...

I remember having to wait weeks for them to add game channels 11-14 ...

For the way they handle Saturday baseball, and how I can't watch the Cubs even on MLB.TV because of arcane rules and the fact the Yankess/Devil Rays game has to get broadcast into 90% of national markets.

For the way they swindle the fans out of a fair and equal shot at tickets to big regular and post season games.

And for TBS:  For FrankTV, "Rodrigo Ramirez," Julio Jorge, and providing us with the Dick StockTONE throughout the series.

You deserve it.

Kisses,

Tim

P.S. Yes, I am still bitter.

Were any lessons gleaned from last time?  Here is what I learned ... feel free to share your experiences and wisdom in the comments.

It seems that they have done a good job of stopping you from loading multiple "waiting rooms" using the same browser.  

What I was able to do, however, was to open up an individual waiting room in Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, my RSS reader, etc ...

So, that's my tip.  I suppose it will increase our individually slim chances by a factor of however many browsers you wish to install on your computer.  Gotta be worth something.

Your turn ... got any tips or tricks to share?

Tim

This is one the angles I like to peruse while passing time during long stretches between games.  These folks are almost always spot on and they certainly wouldn't build those big buildings in Las Vegas if people won money gambling.

To win the series:

Arizona: Even
Cubs: -130 (or, wager $130 to win 100)

Game one:

Arizona is -140 (or, wager 140 to win 100)
Cubs are +125 (or, wager 100 to win 125)
Total: 7 1/2 runs

Beyond Webb, it looks like the keepers have little faith in the D-Backs.

Other numbers:

Red Sox: -175
Angles: +145

Yankees: -210
Cleveland: +165

So ... I am hearing conflicting stories about the virtual waiting room and tips/tricks associated with getting past the doorman and into the promised land.  There are three predominant schools of thought.

1.) Open up as many windows as you possibly can without crashing your browser.  When the "wait" is up, you have that many chances to get in.

2.) Just keep hitting refresh because the "waiting room" is less of a waiting room and more of a traffic control.

3.) Get there are close to 8:30:00 A.M. as possible, as the order is first-come, first-serve.

The first two assume a sort of a randomness.  The third option assumes that they actually reward punctuality.

Either way, we probably all have about five minutes to make this work on Sunday morning.  For my part, I know that I'll have two computers and three cell phones fired up and ready to rock and roll.

So, anyone else care to share -- or you wanna hog the information for yourself?  I'll offer my first 100% sure-fire tip in the comments as a gesture of good faith.

Tim

April 5: Cubs lead 2 to 1 going into bottom of the 7th.  Lose 5 to 2.

April 13: Cubs blow 5 run lead to Reds, losing 6 to 5.

April 15: Kyle Lohse blanks the Cub: 1 - 0.  Lohse has a 4.22 ERA so far this year.

April 17: Cubs lose 4 to 3 in 14 at home to Padres.  Fail to score at home over the final 9 innings.

April 18: Cubs blow one run lead in 7th, lose 8 to 6 to Braves.  This after scoring 4 runs over the 6th and 7th innings to capture a 2 run lead.

April 20: Cubs lead 1-0 going into 7th, lose 2-1 at home against Cardinals.

April 22: Cardinals score 5 runs in 9th and 10th innings -- Cubs lose in extras by 3.

April 23: Cubs lead 4-2 going into the 8th against the Brewers -- lose 5-4 in extra innings.

April 30: Cubs lead 2-1 going into the 7th, lose 3-2 against the Pirates.

May 8: Pirates score in 9th, sending the game into extras where the Cubs go scoreless, losing 4-3 in 15.  Cubs fail to score over last 8 innings.

May 12: Cubs score 6 in top of 7th innings -- allow six in the bottom half.  Lose 11 to 7.

May 14: Mets score games final 5 runs, win 5 to 4.

May 17: Cubs lead 5 to 1 going into bottom of the 9th against the Mets -- lose 6 to 5.

May 23: Cubs lead 1 to 0 going into 7th, lose 2 to 1.

May 25: 7 run seventh inning gives the Cubs 8 to 5 lead.  Dodgers score 4 in bottom of the 8th.  Cubs lose 9 to 8.

May 27: Leading 1-0 going into the bottom of the 8th, Dodgers score once, and again in the 11th.  Cubs lose 2 to 1.

June 2: Tied at 3 going into top 8, Braves strike once and again in the 9th.  Cubs lose 5 to 3.

June 9: Cubs blow a four run lead, lose at Atlanta.

June 10: Cubs up 4 to 2, Braves score 3 times in bottom of the 8th.  Cubs lose 5-4.

June 12: Cubs lose 5 to 3 at home against Seattle.  Leave baes loaded with no one out in 8th -- lose in 13.

Your 2007 Chicago Cubs.

I have searched for the answer to this question here, and have yet to find it.  I have scoured the net with no success.  Even Comcast can't seem to give me a straight answer.

One question.

I have Comcast Cable.  I live in Connecticut.  With the new deal, will I be able to watch Cubs games?

(If there are many questions, I can update this post with them and their appropriate responses.  I have a feeling I am not the only one struggling right now)

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