Dodgers player slams MLB playoff ads parents cannot skip
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Dodgers outfielder Alex Call spoke out against adult-themed ads during MLB playoff games.
- He said parents should not have to worry about what shows up on screen at home.
- The debate centers on a Sydney Sweeney ad for Novig, a sports prediction market.
A Dodgers player spoke up for parents on Wednesday. He said playoff broadcasts need cleaner ads. His post set off a big debate online.
Alex Call plays outfield for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has not played in a postseason game this year. He last played on September 27, according to Awful Announcing.
On Wednesday morning, Call replied to a viral post on X. That post listed adult-themed ads that aired during playoff games. Call added his own blunt message.
He asked MLB and its TV partners to drop the ads. He named TBS, Fox, NBC, and MLB in his post. He said his son wants to watch baseball with "Dada".
He asked how a dad can justify that. An adult ad can pop up at any time.
His core point was simple. Baseball is family time. Parents should not have to worry about it.
What happened
The spark was a post by a fan named Taylor Murphy. Murphy watched the playoffs with his kids. He listed the ads that ran during the breaks.
The list included a Megan Fox ad for ED pills. It included a scary movie trailer. It included a Sydney Sweeney ad that promoted sports betting.
Call quote-tweeted that post. He called the ads "soft porn ads." He said they do not belong on playoff broadcasts.
His post spread fast. Several Dodgers teammates reposted it, according to the New York Post.
The Sweeney ad sits at the center of the row. Sweeney stars in ads for Novig. Novig is a sports prediction market.
People use it to make picks on sports. The ads are part of a campaign called "Just Sports."
In one ad, Sweeney poses with footballs and other sports gear. A newer version of the ad went up on Sunday, October 11. It drew fresh attention during the playoff games.
Novig had already faced backlash weeks before. Its CEO, Jacob Fortinsky, responded at that time. He said the company strongly supports women's sports.
He said Novig never meant to portray female sports. He said Sweeney is an actress. He said Novig is a prediction market that focuses on sports.
Sweeney has not replied to Call's post. She has said she trusts Novig's leaders.
Why it matters
Playoff baseball draws big family crowds. Kids watch with parents. Many families treat the games as safe TV.
That is why Call's post hit a nerve.
Parents backed him in the replies. One fan wrote that his son loves the Dodgers. He said he now has to stay alert during ad breaks.
Another fan thanked Call for saying what many parents think.
The timing added fuel. The Dodgers were down 0-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers. Fans were already tense about the series.
You can read our Brewers vs Dodgers Game 3 preview for the on-field stakes. Call's post gave fans a second fight to talk about.
The issue also reaches past one ad. Playoff breaks carry gambling ads. They carry alcohol ads.
They carry ads for R-rated films. Those ads pay big money. Leagues and TV networks need that money to stage the games.
That is the hard part. MLB and its partners sell ad time to fund the product. Parents want a clean show for kids.
Both sides have a real point. The league has to weigh one against the other.
Call's post also raised a question about reach. A TV ad hits every home at once. A parent cannot skip it in real time.
Streaming apps let viewers pause or mute. Live TV does not give that same control. That gap is why live sports ads feel different.
The debate also shows how fast a player post can move. Call is not a star on the Dodgers roster. He still set the sports talk agenda for a day.
One honest post from a dad reached more people than a press release could.
What happens next
Three paths are open now. MLB could stay quiet. The networks could shift ad slots.
Or the brands could change the ads on their own.
The most likely step is quiet change. Networks often move edgy ads to later slots. They can also cut the number of times one ad airs per game.
Neither step needs a public fight. Both steps calm parents down.
A second path is a public reply. MLB could state its ad rules for playoff games. It could say what counts as family-safe.
That would set a clear line. It would also invite more debate about where the line sits.
A third path is brand action. Novig could keep the campaign as is. It could also make a softer cut for live sports.
Many brands run two versions of one ad. One version runs online. A tamer version runs on TV.
That split is common in sports.
Fans will watch the next games closely. They will count how often the Sweeney ad airs. They will note the time slots.
If the ad still runs in early innings, the row will grow. If it fades, the story will cool.
Call's post will also follow him. Some fans praised his courage. Others mocked him for posting late at night.
A few said he should focus on baseball. That mix is normal for any player who speaks out.
For now, the core question stays open. What should families expect from playoff TV? Call gave his answer.
He said parents should not have to worry. Millions of parents agree with him. The league and the networks now have to answer in their own way.
The Dodgers still have a series to play. The Dodgers payroll gap is the other big story of this October. But the ad debate may last longer than the series.
Money shapes what airs between innings. Parents shape what the league can get away with.
Call asked for one simple change. Keep the ads fit for family time. The next few games will show if anyone listens.
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