Published July 28, 2010

Empty seats at Fenway Park (Eric Kilby/Flickr)

Dustin Pedroia, NESN, Jacoby Ellsbury, WEEI…

The Red Sox have suffered devastating injuries this year. And now, with the team stuck in third place in the division, can we add Sox broadcasts to the injured list?

After six straight years as the top local baseball broadcast, Sox games on NESN are ranked fifth this season. According to analysis of Nielsen Media Research data by the SportsBusiness journal, NESN’s Sox ratings fell 35.8 percent since last season.  Radio isn’t immune to the drop either: WEEI’s Sox broadcast ratings are down 16.5 percent.

Do Bostonians not care anymore? Are we — gasp — fair-weather fans?

Most of Boston media seems to think so: NECN proclaims the “death of a ratings dynasty.” WBZ asks, “Have the Boston Red Sox jumped the shark in New England?” Masslive.com trumpets, “Red Sox Nation appears to be tuning out…”

Could it be the Sox’s early-season ratings were hurt by long postseason runs by the Celtics and Bruins? Or maybe we were consumed by the World Cup? Or maybe it’s just that the Sox have lost marquee stars to injury?

Just as teams can’t win World Series titles in July, the rankings battle isn’t over until the playoffs start. If the Sox make a strong run toward the postseason, rest assured they’ll be the No. 1 topic in the Dunkin’ Donuts line and that WEEI’s and NESN’s advertising coffers will be overflowing.

Hey! The Patriots open training camp tomorrow! Football is back, baby!