Detroit Tigers winning MLB TV ratings race

Yes, eyeballs flock to winning team. And losers turn off TV viewers

But in a SportsBusiness Daily compilation of local MLB TV ratings on regional sports networks, there are some surprises. Oakland has clinched a playoff berth, but in averaging 1.27% of local TV households has third-lowest MLB team ratings -- ahead of only the L.A. Angels and Houston Astros.

Among the highlights and lowlights:

Playoff-bound Detroit has the highest local ratings -- 9.13% of local households -- followed by Cincinnati at 8.64%.

With a disappointing season, Boston's ratings are off 18.4% -- but in averaging 6.43% of local households the team's ratings rank fifth overall.

Washington's turnaround produced the biggest jump in team ratings -- 74% -- followed by the L.A. Dodgers -- 70.2%

The biggest ratings drop: Philadelphia, whose TV box office is off 38.6%

Viewership for the N.Y. Yankees was down 10.6%. But in averaging 286,000 homes per game, it still draws MLB's biggest local audiences.

Spice rack: Hilarious. Big 'n tall NFL players feel new Nike uniforms make them look, well, heavy. ... Bob Costas back on MLB playoff calls for the first time since 2000. ... NBC Sports Channel main winter action is locked-out NHL. And losing that comes during a rough patch for the sports cable channel. ... Coming next year: Fox will live-stream its NASCAR races and NFL games. ... NFL quarterback Drew Brees is an investor in the new Swink.tv, a new online service in which anybody send in video of youth sports and, for $30, have it converted in searchable specific clips -- like a compilation of just your own kids best plays.