MLB has presented baseball fans (especially in LA and Philadelphia)with a tough choice: watch the game or watch the debate. Both are events that need to been seen live.
I know for most people here, this is a no-brainer. The debate will be on tvs throughout KOSville, but there are millions who will choose the ballgame.
I'm not here to make a value judgment (full disclosure: if Cleveland were playing it would be a tough choice for me), but this is bad form by MLB.
Fox is broadcasting the game. The conspiratorial minded might suggest that FOX doesn't want McCain lose anymore support by people actually watching him. [See I'm catching on to Faux-News/McPfailin-speak, I didn't imply a conspiracy; I said "the conspiratorially minded might say"]
The Presidential debate schedule was released on August 21st. Why didn't the MLB reschedule the NLCS game, which was scheduled for the day of one of the debates?
MLB could have left the day open or changed the start time, which the NFL had the courtesy to do when it discovered that McCain's speech was scheduled for the same night as their first regular season game.
MLB's decision puts LA and Philly fans (and baseball fans in general) in a tough spot. Of course they want to watch their teams in the playoffs, and now they have to choose between (theoretically) becoming more informed about the candidates and supporting their teams.
I know, everyone has video recorders or TIVO, but I would argue that both events lose their luster when seen on tape. The sense of drama is completely removed when one knows what has happened.