The Drawback of the Small Market Team

Currently, the Arizona Diamondbacks are 6.0 Games up in the National League West Division at the start of the last month of the regular season.  They are entering a three games series with the 2nd place team, the San Francisco Giants, tomorrow which can have a direct and major impact on the way the remainder of the month will play out.  Yet who will even know it happened?

If anything we've learned from the Great Quake of 2011 it's that nothing is media worthy if it doesn't affect New York or Boston.  A measly earthquake that caused next to no damage dominates the news for days on end is only an example of the bias news coverage that directly translates right into sports.  If you are not an East Coast team, don't expect National Coverage.  If it didn't happen to New York it didn't happen.

Even when the Pirates and Indians were doing well half way through the season it was just a blip on the national scene before coverage diverged back to the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies.  It's understood that their fan bases are nationally huge.  Their tv ratings are some of the highest in baseball.  Their ticket prices are the highest so therefore their gross revenues are the largest.  Which in turn brings in the big name free agents they all swoop up and secure before the little guy gets his fair chance.

Yet on September 1st, for the baseball fan in all of us, isn't a Division Series game with the playoffs on the line worth noting on ESPN?  The Diamondbacks have proven themselves over the course of this season as more than just a team on a hot streak.  They've proven themselves at this point to be a formidable opponent regardless of their opponent.  Yet still, September 1st, no national recognition.  No mention of their stellar starting pitching.  Their MLB best come from behind victories.  Feel good stories about their turnaround in the bullpen which at this time last year was holding an ERA north of 6.00.  They haven't blown a save since the All Star break.  Only team in baseball to hold that claim.

They play in the National League.  They play in the National League West.  I understand yet if this was the AL West is that any better?  If this is the AL Central is that any better?  I've never been convinced that because you play in the AL you are somehow superior to an NL player.  NL teams are not inferior to the AL teams or leagues as the World Series titles can attest to.  Take out the Yankees and Red Sox and their combined $400 million dollar payrolls and see where that leaves the standings since 1990.  The DH is an offensive advantage and a pitching disadvantage yet pitchers still don't go to the NL and suddenly start dominating.  So why all the NL disrespect?

Aside from the NL East and AL East there are not many divisions that have much for stacked teams.  As well as you don't only play the teams in your own division.  You have to play everyone in the league and every team is still a professional baseball team.  The Rockies for instance are struggling this year but have a #3 Tulowitski, #4 Helton and #5 Gonzalez.  As formidable as anything the AL has going for them.

If the division you played in was really all that mattered then why did the San Francisco Giants win the World Series last year?  Why are the Colorado Rockies (at least in recent years) consistently knocking off major opponents in the playoffs.  Why did the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in 2001?  The Division argument to me is moot when you reach the playoffs as anything can happen and everyone has an equal chance at winning.  What division you played in is not relevant beyond reaching the playoffs and what seed you end up with.

So when the Diamondbacks reach 90+ wins this season are they somehow less impressive than if the Angels get 90+ wins?  Are they somehow less worthy of recognition as a team to be reckoned with?  Nine straight wins and the starting staff has a 1.05 ERA?  I don't know if it matters what teams you are playing in the league, that's just plain impressive.

What will it take for these Diamondbacks to make it to ESPN, magazines and the like?  100 wins?  A sweep of the Phillies in the Playoffs?  A win against an AL East team in the World Series?  Given how the Giants are given little credit I don't know if even that will make a difference.

Maybe the Diamondbacks haven't earned the coverage?  Considering they only won 67 games last year with a near MLB worst ever team ERA and now almost 80 wins, division lead in September and one of the best pitching staffs in baseball??  Seems odd that I can't find coverage of this turnaround outside of the Arizona Republic and www.dbacks.com.

It'll be interesting to see how this weekend's series pans out against the Giants.  As well as the rest of the month.  I for one look forward to this time of the year, the close games, following opponents scores as close as your own, every at bat, hit, homerun, web gem, big k.  All meaningful in a way that they were not in April, May or June.  I hope the Diamondbacks come through this month and prove to the media world, and the national fans out there, that they are not a fluke, they are not going away and they are here to stay.