Long, dull game with little action. Utley's homer took the crowd out of it early, and the dragging pace of the low-scoring snoozer did the rest. This series is already generating widespread apathy, and last night won't help.

you got that right - maybe things will perk up but I'm guessing not.

Zap2it says the Series got eight ratings in the fast nationals. Bad but slightly better than the all-time low 2006 Series opener. Fox has to be hoping for a Tampa Bay win tonight to keep some interest in the Series. If the Phillies win again, there may not be anybody watching the rest of the games.

why is great pitching not action?

The whole idea of great pitching is to eliminate action from the game. They succeeded admirably last night. As Bill James once observed, the goal of offense if to make something happen. The goal of defense is to keep something from happening.

Let's just hope the offenses perk up a little tonight and Tampa Bay wins.

But as a baseball fan, don't you enjoy watching great pitching?

A good friend of mine was at the game last night and assures me the crowd was not taken out of it by Utley's home run.

I'm a hardcore seamhead. If they put the 1968 game on the field, I'll watch.

But baseball can't get by with just the hardcore fans. The casual fan wants to see some offense, some scoring, something happening now and then.

Which, in fact, I'll think you'll see more of next year. I just read a story on espn.com, similar to several others I've seen, that baseball execs are dreading the economy next year (plus Obama's tax hikes, though they're not going to say that).

I doubt baseball will go whole hog like they did in 1930 as the Depression hit. That was the greatest hitter's year ever. But I do expect more offense in the game next year to keep ticket sales reasonably brisk.

Otherwise why do we get pumped up about great pitching matchups? People complaining about two 24 year old lefties performing at the top of their game boggles my mind.

I watched the game last night. Unless there were sound mufflers in place, the crowd went quiet for most of the game, as the Rays never led and never did anything in the final innings.

On the Phillies radio broadcast the announcers were actually crowing that the crowd was pretty drowsy in the final frames, as the last eleven Rays hitters went out meekly in order.

Let's just hope the crowd has more to cheer about tonight. Either Tampa Bay wins, or the rest of the Series might be watched by TV audiences in the dozens. (Okay, slight exaggeration.)

By the way, CBS' Criminal Minds and CSI: NY both beat the Series in the ratings last night, according to Zap2it. CSI will probably stomp it tonight at 9:00 PM. The Series might actually come in third, behind Grey's Anatomy at 9:00 PM as well. Both shows did better last week than the eight ratings the Series drew last night.

One caveat: fast nationals measure timeslot numbers, so live sports are always tricky. It's possible that the final nationals next week will be a little kinder to the Series.

I mentioned the Phillies radio broadcasters. At least they sounded interested in the game. I listened to them on mlb. com (with a slight but odd delay) while also watching Fox. Does Joe Buck always wish he was someplace else when he's doing a baseball game?