MLB Network: Not Too Shabby

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, January 05, 2009 10:00 AM

If you’ve lived under a rock the past few days, here’s the news: The MLB Network launched Thursday on cable (Comcast has it, as it owns a share of the network). In its first four days, it’s featured Jimmy Rollins, classic baseball, documentaries and hot-stove talk. So far, not bad.

Of course, the network itself is something to salivate about: 24/7 baseball on television. Hardcore fans like myself wait all night for “Baseball Tonight” to air, even if the show could use a complete reconstruction. So now that there’s a whole network devoted to the game, I’m keeping it on my TV almost all the time, just to keep updated. For casual fans, the network will provide opportunities to learn more about the game. All in all, it’s a victory no matter what.

Here’s what I’ve thought so far, from what I’ve seen:

  • I like “Hot Stove,” which will become “MLB Tonight” during the season. It seems less rockstar than “Baseball Tonight,” with more focus on the inner-workings of the game. This is mainly because of Jon Heyman and Tom Verducci. The former is SI.com’s respected insider, the latter is SI.com’s best pure writer (and one of the best writers out there, period). Heyman’s rundown of free agent talk was like reading MLBTradeRumors.com in five minutes. Great stuff.
  • Still, “Hot Stove” might suffer from its over-abundance of former players. I like Mitch Williams playing the John Kruk, “grizzled straight-shooter” role, and I like Harold Reynolds as the veteran analyst. Joe Magrane takes a more intelligensia role. Barry Larkin and Al Leiter gel well together. But I’d like more expert analysis. Adding one more expert might do the trick.
  • Living in New England for six years, I got a healthy dose of Hazel Mae. Yeah, she’s easy on the eyes, but she can be a tad grating. It hasn’t come out much so far, so that’s good. Hopefully she’ll hold back and let the other bouyant personalities around her handle the camaraderie.
  • Watching Don Larsen’s perfect game was pretty cool, and watching Yogi and Don talk about it was even cooler. But coolest of all? Bob Costas. I’ve always thought Costas was the best studio guy, and hopefully he’ll get more time at the Network.
  • The Larsen showing sheds light on another amazing thing: That the entire MLB library is wide open. I really, really hope they milk it for all its worth. Show a classic game every day.
  • At some point, I hope the Network dips into further original programming, but with the idea of enriching its fanbase. One of ESPN’s better show is “The Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame …” Hopefully the Network does something like this, investigating storylines throughout the years and using its footage to its advantage.
  • I also hope they don’t forget the minor leagues. One thing casual baseball fans usually lack is great knowledge of the minors, farm systems, etc. Maybe a weekly hour-long show devoted to prospects (with a guy like Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein) could get slotted in once we get closer to April.
  • When “MLB Tonight” premieres, they’ll show live look-ins because the network has installed a special camera in each stadium. Awesome.
  • Finally, and maybe I’m pandering, but I hope MLB Network thinks about incorporating fans into programming. And yes, I’m thinking about blogs. A weekly roundtable show? Video reports to “Hot Stove”? I don’t know, but open the network to the fans, and the fans will stay tuned.
  • Oh, and one more thing: I love seeing Carlos Ruiz hug Brad Lidge repeatedly.

So what do you all think? Like the network? What do you think it can do better? So far, I dig it.

Permalink Comments (23) | Trackback (0)

23 Responses to “MLB Network: Not Too Shabby”

  1. joshua Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am

    I LOVE the new network, but they need to show more classic games and less 2008 playoffs. stuff from the 70’s, 80’s, early 90’s would be great.

  2. Brian Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Love the new network. Really enjoyed Larsen’s perfect game. Found Costas to be awesome as well.

    The lack of replay, graphics, a color analyst not to mention a center field camera was interesting and refreshing.

    Hope the studio show doesn’t change into another baseball tonight. Love it so far.

    Spring is coming. Go Phils!

  3. Kevin M Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 11:19 am

    In the first few days I have nothing but cheers for the new network on the block. Programming for the first few days has been pretty easy and I enjoyed yesterday’s marathon that was the 2008 World Series. I would also hope that they do more programming like that., especially in the off season. How about one day a week, Sunday works) putting on a marathon of a classic baseball series. I would sit down in the cold winter days and watch the 1980 NLCS. Or a day of no hitters, or a day of division clinchers etc.

    I like the idea of an hour long minor league recap and the live look ins. Question though; could they not pick up live broadcasts of local broadcasts? MLB has the rights to that programming do they not? We shall see.

    MLB has a great history and baseball usually preserves and honors their history like no other league, so I would count on the network doing the same. I love how they had Rollins talking about his thinking on stealing bases and relating it to Jackie Robinson stealing home. I would like more of that!

  4. Chuck P Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Very good… much better than the NFL Network. Great mix of professional personalities (baseball types and media types), good content and very well put together. You can tell that they did their homework; they built on some of the flaws of the NFL Network and I think that it will be successful.

    Plus, I was able to record all 5 games of the WS on my DVR… life is good.

  5. Tom Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    I love this new network, in the past we only had the NHL network, but now that’s kicked out of bed and MLB network is in! After a big Eagles Playoff win yesterday I arrived home and stumbled on the MLB Network, Low and behold: Game 5 of the world series, bottom of the 8th. My roommate and I went nuts again as the Phillies won! Great network, lots of potential, love wild thing, Glad to have a channel that isn’t going to fill me with fluff and Brett Farve (cough ESPN, cough).

  6. O'Phillie Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Well done thus far MLB.

    I would like to see baseball around the globe. Late-night owls like me wouldn’t mind seeing live baseball in Japan, Korea, Australia, etc. I am really looking forward to the upcoming World Baseball Blassic series.

  7. Geoff Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    They really did a nice job with MLB network. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Larsens perfect game. The 50’s TV commericals were CLASSIC too. Mitch Williams and Harold Reynolds are outstanding analysts. Larkin is calm and knowledgeable, and AL Leiter is good as well. Maybe a former manager’s perspective might really compelte the puzzle there.

    Thats really going to rake in teh viewers I think, nice work MLB.

  8. Don M Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Back to the Hot Stove….

    The reported Mets offer to Derek Lowe of 3 years/$36 Million was denied by agent Scott Boras (the proposal was never made.?) and that Lowe was seeking $16 MM

    Jon Heyman names the Mets, Phillies, and Braves… along with the RedSox, Brewers, and Angels ….calling the last three teams speculative. The Braves are thought to be unwilling to top the Mets offer, eventhough they were in on AJ Burnett.

    Which leaves us with the Phillies and Mets as the two teams going after Lowe (pretty much what we’ve all expected). While I would LOVE to add Derek Lowe to our rotation, he definitely is not worth $16 MM … 3 years/ $48 M is a HUGE hit to your payroll… and no pitcher should be paid that much money, they only play in 30-35 of 162 games anyway..

    I think what I thought last week was that if the Mets were offering $12, we should offer $14… the Mets will probably top that at the $15 or $16 Lowe is looking for, but this way we either sign Lowe at a contract we’re comfortable with, or force the Mets to offer $3-4 M more per year than they wanted to sign him… that $3-4 M is the perfect price to keep them from adding pieces to their bench and their bullpen each season, the exact spots where they need help.

  9. Geoff Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Had some extra money from Christmas leftover so I decided to pick up the first of the six packs ill buy. managed to get the july 4th mets game: i cant wait for that. thats going to be a good time. got some other decent games too, interleague stuff. fired up for july 4 though already.

    Hot Stove: Im all for making a better offer to Lowe over the Mets first offer. you know theyll take the bait and go over top of the phillies offer. but in case they dont, Im sure the phillies will find some way to compensate in tehir payroll by subtracting myers’ salary, or part of it at least. they wont just flat out add lowes salary to the payroll without taking 7mm at least off the books (blantons salary or more than half of myers’ salary)

  10. uguethurbina Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    screw comcast… I don’t pay the extra for the expanded basic package because its like 15bucks and practically all the channels are garbage. I paid extra for he sports package and MLB is not a part of that… its a joke… so I have not yet seen mlb network but it sure does sound awesome.

  11. Chuck P Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    ugueth urbina dropping the hammer… or machete…

    Down with Comcast!!!!

  12. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Ughh…wish I could get it! I have WOW cable and they don’t even carry Extra Innings, much less the MLB Network. I had a major disagreement with Comcast years earlier and will not get their cable services on principle alone. Thus ESPN, the blogs and MLB .com is all I have.. whine.. :(

    Does Dish carry this?

  13. MA Phanatic Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    anyone in the philly area with comcast? What channel should I be tuning to?

  14. MA Phanatic Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    nevermind i got it. Channel 280 for me. I look forward to watching a bit tonight.

  15. Amanda Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    in the philly area with comcast its on channel 280

  16. KENNY Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    I love the channel, I though Mitch made a great debut and I always liked Harold Reynolds I am glad he has found a home. This is going to kill Baseball Tonight. I love watching the classic games and Bob Costas is awesome. I am looking forward to see what they come up with from day to day.

  17. Tim Malcolm Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Well hopefully it makes Baseball Tonight re-evaluate itself a bit (*cough*stevephillips*cough*).

  18. dan Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Geoff, I can’t stand to go to interleague games! I’ll be a National League guy forever. But I did get my six pack as well and picked up two Mets games, the ring ceremony, and some games against the Padres because I have a tie with that organization. Overall, I’m pretty pleased. It’s crazy that opening night already sold out though!

  19. Geoff Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    yeah i think i got like mets (on july 4) orioles braves pirates (i have a tie with pittsburgh) marlins (last game of the season) and another mets game in september. im pretty pleased with the intiial haul of games. ill pick up one two of those 4 packs once they release them and thatll be fine. i prefer to go on the saturday games. take the r6 from manayunk down to suburban station, take the broad st line from there down to the stadiums and not have to worry about driving…good stuff.

  20. Jeff Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    So far, so great. I, too, hope they show classic games from the 60s and 70s. Especially the World Series and AllStar games. I guess they are available. If so, then put them on.

    I, also enjoy the Hot Stove hour. They seem to be having a slight problem fitting everything in, though. Quite a few times they have short circuited a good discussion to “move on”. Maybe that’s good, though. It might stay fresh that way.

  21. Howard Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    I’m enjoying the new network. I’m praying that it doesn’t turn into the Harold Reyolds’ network. He’s a knowledgeable guy, but too much of him can really hurt. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the WS rerun. I’m waiting to see how the Hot Stove hour pans out, especially the closer ST gets.

  22. Tim Malcolm Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    In discussing Milton Bradley to the Cubs, the analysts dove into every facet of the deal, including if playing mostly day games in Chicago will do anything adversely to Bradley.

    Now they’re interviewing Scott Boras. More fastballs about the business than anything – I’m sure they’re not trying to burn bridges so quickly. But really, an impressive thing they have going here.

  23. Dan Says:
    January 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I had a great time Sunday, sitting in my living room in Brooklyn, watching the Eagles beat the Vikings, and during commercials, flipping to the MLB network and watching Game 4 of the Series. Nice time to be a Philly fan…

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