Who watches the ASG?
Ratings were up compared to 2019.
Kind of makes Rocha's argument look like sludge.
Yes, the All-Star Game's ratings suck, even compared to the halcyon days of 2015, but given that the 2019 game wasn't impacted by a venue shift, I suspect there are other forces at play.
Further, "In even better news, Monday’s Home Run Derby on ESPN and ESPN2 was the most-watched since 2017, according to Nielsen."
You don't suppose the fact that the game was on Fox might have had a depressing effect on the numbers, do you?! How about the presence of 42 first time players, suggesting a lower degree of fan familiarity and interest? Perhaps the absence of DeGrom and Betts and other such stars reduced its luster in New York and Los Angeles hurt, such that those were not among the largest viewer areas?
Maybe if Ohtani had pitched longer or had appeared later in the game, prolonging the excitement, instead of having him start and then disappear, except for the (stupid) rule change that let him bat a 2nd time despite having left the mound to another pitcher, the ratings later in the game would have been higher, given the peak in the home run derby was during his match with Soto. (Of course, had he won that match, the later game ratings would have been higher, too, but I guess at least we know the fix was not in!)
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