The Baez Bump.
Given the hype the Chicago Cubs’ promotion of big-time prospect Javier Baez received between Monday and Tuesday, it’s no surprise that the Cubs/Rockies game last night got a bit of a ratings bump. But the Tribune reports that the bump was actually a substantial 43%.
Will that kind of bump be sustained in the coming days? I’ve gotta believe that word of Baez’s game-winning homer will make the rounds today, and the Cubs may actually be able to sustain that increase for a little while.
We don’t know where things stand on the Cubs’ upcoming TV deal – I’ll have an update soon, but it’s mostly just to say that the Cubs are still working on it – but being able to show this kind of viewer enthusiasm for what is coming down the road can only help the Cubs.