There Used To Be a Ballpark

I have spouted off about this before but, after last night's amazing finish to Game 6 of the 2011 MLB World Series, I feel the need to spew again!!!!
Last night was probably one of the most exciting World Series games in years and I would guess that about 1000 people on the east coast got to see the end of it. Why is that? The game's FIRST PITCH wasn't until about 8:07pm. If it had ended in regulation, we are still talking about around 11:30 but this one went into extra innings (11 to be exact) and wound up ending at 12:40 AM!!!!!
One of my fondest childhood memories from this time of year were the World Series' games I was able to listen to on the radio and/or watch on television. My interest in baseball was above just about everything else and the same applied for most of my friends at that time. We would re-enact these games in our own back yards or at the nearby school baseball field.
These days those fields are empty. When was the last time you saw a bunch of kids playing baseball anywhere? The fields, the yards, the streets? What I mentioned in the first paragraph is the primary reason why. What child is able to stay up past 10pm, let alone 12:40AM, to watch a basxeball game? Oh, but John, we can't forget the west coast. Remember, they're 3 hours behind us. So, how many West Coast baseball fans are into the Rangers and the Cardinals? You probably could count that on one hand.
Now look at the NFL.....Sunday afternoons are still sacred. They still play in daylight, for the most part. Even the Super Bowl is over early enough for everyone to watch
When will Major League Baseball realize that they are losing the younger fan base? The NFL...the NCAA.....Extreme Games.....that's where they are going......or maybe they're just going to the streets with nothing to do but get into trouble. Bring baseball back to the masses. The earlier, the better!