The ratings trend for the White Sox is positive so far this season, as through 16 NBC Sports Chicago telecasts, "household ratings are up" about 10% -- from 1.01 to 1.11 -- from the same point last season, according to Phil Rosenthal of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Meanwhile, streaming numbers have "surged" by 63%, "perhaps owing to the number of day games the Sox have had." This is "promising, especially considering the Sox are still below .500" and last season had a "paltry final average of 0.75." Meanwhile, through 15 telecasts on NBC Sports Chicago, the Cubs' "local household ratings are down" about 14%, from 4.23 last season to 3.63 this season. However, the team's "streaming numbers are up" 4%. The Cubs averaged a 4.38 household rating in '18, and there is "more climbing to be done ahead of the team launching its own channel with Sinclair next season" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/1).
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein "addressed reports that the team was 'threatening' media members for critical coverage" of the club optioning SS Addison Russell to Triple-A once his 40-game suspension for domestic violence is complete. Epstein said, "We would never try to stifle freedom of the press. The threat of reprisal to a media member about any topic, especially one of this nature, is not acceptable. I would be surprised if that happened with the Cubs, and if it did, I would want to know who it was and they wouldn't be working for the Cubs much longer. That's a fireable offense" (ESPN.com, 4/30).
