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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Resnick: MLB Strikes Out By Not Televising The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners Series

For those looking for the game (well…I guess it’s time to load in another disturbing Man with a Camera eppy)...

The 2012 Major League Baseball season kicks off in Japan Wednesday morning with the Seattle Mariners taking on the Oakland Athletics. Yet, for some inexplicable reason MLB has decided not to broadcast either of the two games on ESPN or on MLB Network. Mariners fans are in luck as Root Sports will be broadcasting the games live while MLB TV will air both games on a three hour tape delay. As for the A’s local station Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area, the game isn’t going to be shown live or tape delayed.

A’s fans aren’t happy with that decision by Comcast not to show the game. David Koppett the Senior Executive Producer/Live Events for Comcast wrote in response to A’s fans dissatisfaction in regards to not being able to watch the game. He responded with “we did give this a great deal of thought, and there were extensive discussions about it with the A’s and MLB. For contractual reasons (and, honestly, financial and logistical reasons too,) adding these two games would have required trading them for two others on our 144-game regular season schedule. Given that the games will be played at 2 am and 3 am PDT, and that Sharks and Kings conflicts would prevent us from re-airing them in prime time when most viewers could watch, we couldn’t justify losing two games played at friendlier times of day later in the season.

MLB Network will be airing the games at 6 am on Wednesday and Thursday, so you will have an opportunity to see them.

...MLB clearly struck out by not broadcasting the game live and there’s no justifiable excuse for why it is not.

Repoz Posted: March 28, 2012 at 05:55 AM | 138 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics, mariners, television

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1. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:06 AM (#4090899)

Yet, for some inexplicable reason MLB has decided not to broadcast either of the two games on ESPN or on MLB Network. Mariners fans are in luck as Root Sports will be broadcasting the games live while MLB TV will air both games on a three hour tape delay

....

MLB Network will be airing the games at 6 am on Wednesday and Thursday, so you will have an opportunity to see them.

MLB.tv definitely has the games live.

2. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:12 AM (#4090901)

So the complaint is that the games are only live on ROOT sports. Well anyone with MLB.tv or Extra Innings can watch, and anyone with MLB Network can watch with a three hour delay.

3. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:15 AM (#4090903)

Ichiro is currently batting 1.000. Watch out, Ted Williams.

4. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:19 AM (#4090905)

Cespedes is hitting seventh??? In that lineup?

5. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:27 AM (#4090907)

This is the game chatter thread, then?

6. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:32 AM (#4090908)

I can't believe the two third place hitters in this game are Ichiro and Coco Crisp.

7. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:33 AM (#4090909)

So, MLB sent its two least watchable clubs to Japan?

I get the Ichiro thing, but why not send Texas or Anaheim along with them?

8. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:35 AM (#4090910)

Texas would've been great with the fact that they ended up signing Darvish.

9. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:36 AM (#4090911)

Yeah, I don't get the rationale behind sending Oakland either. It might've made sense if they still had Matsui, but besides that it just feels like they sent a non-competitive AL team that wouldn't complain about the odd start to the season.

10. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:39 AM (#4090912)

I think they send Oakland because they care the least about losing two home games. They also sent Oakland as the "home team" to play the Red Sox.

11. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:44 AM (#4090914)

This feels like a deadball game.

Usually going for third is the right play, but in this case it looks like he gave them an opportunity for an out on an infield single.

12. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:45 AM (#4090915)

Is this a dead ball era game?

13. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:46 AM (#4090916)

Goddamnit Mikael!

14. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:50 AM (#4090917)

"All five."

I hadn't heard that story. I like it.

15. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:51 AM (#4090918)

Ok, look at the dude at the plate. Now it's definitely a deadfall game...

And Sogard grounds weakly to second before i can finish typing a sentence.

16. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:58 AM (#4090921)

That's a lot of cheering for a home run by the away team!

If I were on the A's I'd be pretty annoyed at basically playing 83 road games this year.

17. Good cripple hitter Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:58 AM (#4090922)

Ichiro starting the season 2-2 with 2 infield hits makes me stupid happy.

And wow, I don't think I've seen BABIP listed on a TV stats package before.

18. JoeC Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:59 AM (#4090923)

Ooh, BABIP on TV...

19. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 06:59 AM (#4090924)

Cool to see BABIP on that stat comparison.

20. JoeC Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:00 AM (#4090925)

In my head that's hilarious smack talk Ichiro is slinging to Pennington.

21. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:02 AM (#4090926)

Seeing Reddick on the A's makes me sad.

22. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:05 AM (#4090927)

Yeah, i was gearing up to argue that he'd beat his projections by at least 100 points of OPS, plus he shows up in camp with a chin beard and Tim Riggins hair.

23. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:08 AM (#4090928)

Were the infield corners playing in there in the 4th inning? They really are playing like it's dead ball.

24. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:14 AM (#4090930)

Sogard's inexperience at third showed up there. He really ought to have barehanded that ball, even with Olivo running.

25. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:16 AM (#4090931)

They really don't have a head shot of Bartolo Colón?

26. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:16 AM (#4090933)

It didn't fit.

27. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:18 AM (#4090935)

McCarthy has been really impressive other than the Ackley homer, even considering that he's facing the Mariners lineup.

28. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:19 AM (#4090936)

Can Cespedes run?

29. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:20 AM (#4090937)

Stop showing the gardens at the hotel. I want to see how small the rooms are.

30. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:21 AM (#4090938)

Cespedes is supposed to be fast.

31. What's the realistic upside, RMc? Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:21 AM (#4090939)

anyone with...Extra Innings can watch

Er, no. EI starts on the "real" Opening Day, April 5th.

adding these two games would have required trading them for two others on our 144-game regular season schedule

Why?

32. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:22 AM (#4090940)

Is there any way you could change Sogard's facial features such that he would less resemble an athlete?

33. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:23 AM (#4090941)

Er, no. EI starts on the "real" Opening Day, April 5th.

My mistake. Just another reason that MLB.tv is the superior product.

34. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:28 AM (#4090945)

McCarthy allowed a hit to Figgins. Might be time for the hook...

35. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:33 AM (#4090947)

Ichiro is making a living off of embarrassing Pennington today. That would've been a tough play on the turf but it seemed like it was in range of a good SS to me.

36. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:43 AM (#4090950)

The video quality on mlbtv is better, too.

Carp should have been able to play that without running into the wall, I thought. Looked like he misread it.

37. Jose Is The Most Absurd Thing on the Site Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:43 AM (#4090952)

I've gotten into a pretty competitive fantasy league this year and for better or worse I have three players going in this game, Ichiro!, Pennington and McCarthy. So far so good.

And I know how people love reading about other people's fantasy teams.

And you're both wrong about Reddick.

No reason for MLBNetwork not to be showing this game, that's insane.

38. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:48 AM (#4090956)

DRS mentioned!

39. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:51 AM (#4090958)

I got Human Cespedes this year. I couldn't help myself - I figured someone would bid him up, but he came in right at my ZiPS projected value, so what the hell.

The Mariners broadcast is strikingly stat-progressive. The announcers do a nice job of not making it a big deal.

40. depletion Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:55 AM (#4090959)

Nice to have real chatter from a real game.
Baseball!!

41. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 07:58 AM (#4090962)

McCarthy is pitching a great game.

I'm rooting for this one to go 18 innings.

42. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:00 AM (#4090963)

That dude's got some power in his bat.

43. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:01 AM (#4090964)

First baseman trying to bunt lead off double to third. Dead ball indeed!

44. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:02 AM (#4090965)

Why the #### would you think Brandon Allen has any clue how to bunt?

45. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:02 AM (#4090966)

First base is a defensive position now. You got to be able to field the bunts!

46. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:03 AM (#4090967)

There's at least a 40% chance that Felix strikes Allen out there, so I'm not entirely shocked at the call. The manager has to have a handle on what his guys can do, though.

47. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:08 AM (#4090968)

McCarthy out after 82 pitches. I figured the starters would be on short pitches due to the early date, but that seems a bit low.

Nice play by Sogard. Allen looked awkward as hell though.

48. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:15 AM (#4090972)

Wow is Ryan good. That's not a routine ball at all, and he managed to get his whole body around it and get the out easily.

49. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:15 AM (#4090973)

It's weird watching an MLB game with no radar gun readings.

Great play by Ryan!

50. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:17 AM (#4090975)

I want a "Hanshin Tigers PCP" shirt.

51. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:19 AM (#4090977)

Why do they make the Japan Series real games? Why not make them exhibition games? Will Japanese fans really care?

52. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:20 AM (#4090978)

I can't speak for the Japanese fans, but personally I'm glad to have real games in March.

53. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:22 AM (#4090979)

I assume Japanese fans care a bit. Everyone knows the difference between exhibition and real.

Japanese fans buy MLB merchandise, watch tons of MLB games, why not play two games in Japan if you can?

54. Willie Horton Hears The Who (Dan Lee) Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:25 AM (#4090980)

Go ahead and score that play Base-4-1.

55. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:27 AM (#4090983)

Walk off homer from Reddick inc.

56. Dog on the sidewalk Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:27 AM (#4090985)

I'm getting blacked out by mlb.tv even though it's not on TV here. Thanks, MLB!

edit: Now I'm not, even though I was up until 20 minutes ago. Weird. At least I get to see the end.

57. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:30 AM (#4090987)

So close, Dan.

58. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:31 AM (#4090989)

Walk off homer from Reddick inc.

...in the 12th inning, obviously.

59. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:32 AM (#4090990)

Man Reddick was six feet short of making me look like a genius.

60. Jorge Luis Bourjos (Walewander) Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:33 AM (#4090992)

What was the Cespedes double like?

61. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:34 AM (#4090993)

He didn't even square it up but it just kept carrying to center over Saunders's head.

62. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:34 AM (#4090994)

Fliner, not all that far from straightaway center but hit so hard that Saunders didn't have a chance at it.

63. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:39 AM (#4090998)

Kind of surprised that Casper Wells isn't hitting for Saunders here.

64. Jose Is The Most Absurd Thing on the Site Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:40 AM (#4090999)

The 2012 season is on pace to set an MLB record for most innings/game. Not sure we can keep it up though.

65. frannyzoo Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:44 AM (#4091001)

Jose: As long as the M's and A's keep playing each other, the record is under great threat. The M's, in particular, will be good for tons of soccer scores this season.

66. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:45 AM (#4091002)

I assume Sogard will be bunting here.

67. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:45 AM (#4091003)

The Mariner lineup looks better than the A's lineup, on first watch.

68. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:47 AM (#4091004)

Really? I think I'd definitely take the A's lineup and I don't consider it that close.

69. Willie Horton Hears The Who (Dan Lee) Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:48 AM (#4091005)

The M's, in particular, will be good for tons of soccer scores this season.

Who has the advantage if this thing goes to penalty kicks? I imagine Brendan Ryan's range will be important in goal.

70. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:55 AM (#4091007)

Really? I think I'd definitely take the A's lineup and I don't consider it that close.

I was just thinking that Ackley and probably Montero beat anyone the A's have, and the back end of the A's lineup (Sogard, especially) is just as bad as the bad hitters on the Ms.

71. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:55 AM (#4091008)

Terrible 2 strike pitch there.

72. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:57 AM (#4091009)

Is Montero really a lock to out produce a Smith/Gomes DH platoon?

And I could see Cespedes matching or outperforming Ackley. then the Ms have complete zeroes offensively in Figgins, Ryan, and Saunders.

73. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:58 AM (#4091010)

So, ZiPS projected OPS+:

101 Cespedes
97 Smith
92 Crisp
91 Suzuki
88 Weeks
85 Allen
84 Pennington
84 Reddick
82 Sogard

vs

111 Ackley
110 Montero
102 Carp
95 Smoak
87 Ichiro
77 Saunders
77 Figgins
76 Olivo
75 Ryan

74. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 08:59 AM (#4091011)

Is Montero really a lock to out produce a Smith/Gomes DH platoon?

Not a lock, but I know which horse I'd bet on.

75. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:01 AM (#4091014)

That projection for Smith seems incredibly pessimistic. He has a 110 career OPS+ and is likely to be platooned and face mostly RHP against whom he has a career .881 OPS.

76. Flynn Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:03 AM (#4091016)

Playing games in Japan is a no-brainer. The Japanese people are probably as, if not more, interested in baseball than Americans, they have a glut of MLB-quality facilities, and they are a rich country. Of course they care whether the games are exhibitions or real regular-season games. That's why this is happening - baseball fans in Japan, basketball fans in Europe, NFL fans in London, NHL fans in Europe and so on are not interested in paying top yen/euro/pound to see scrubs play. They are every bit as knowledgeable as American fans (I know this first-hand, I have gone to the NFL and NBA games in London) and they want to see quality.

American sports leagues playing games abroad is only going to happen more often, not less, and I think people should embrace it. Instead too many Americans are childish about it. It's not your sport and anybody who would rather not see baseball grow in different countries needs to get a clue.

I'm very much looking forward to baseball in Holland in 2014. The Dutch love baseball and it would be a great boost to the sport in Europe, which is very much MLB's next frontier.

77. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:04 AM (#4091017)

Why did Melvin let the RHP face Ackley and THEN bring in a LHP?

78. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:04 AM (#4091018)

I think Montero freed up from catching everyday stands a non-crazy chance at a 140 OPS+ or something like that. And I'd take the over on Ichiro, too.

They're both bad, but I think it's at least a close call.

79. Lassus Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:06 AM (#4091020)

Just managed to turn it on, and the mlb.tv picture seems a lot clearer than last year. Anyone else finding that, or is it my imagination?

80. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:07 AM (#4091021)

It was probably an overreach to say its not that close, but I'd still take the A's lineup with no second thoughts.

81. Lassus Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:08 AM (#4091023)

Why are mlb pitcher haircuts getting so ugly?

82. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:09 AM (#4091024)

I'm impressed with the mlbtv picture, too. Hooked it up to my tv by hdmi, and it looks just like tv.

83. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:09 AM (#4091025)

Been a busy game for Mariners LFers.

84. Gamingboy Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:10 AM (#4091026)

I think the reason it isn't on ESPN or MLB Network (live, it's on tape delay right now, using the ROOT feed) is simple: No big market team or even a team expected to compete. Notice how the Tokyo games were on TV when the Yankees and Red Sox went.

That said, I miss having baseball with my breakfast.

85. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:13 AM (#4091028)

That almost decapitated League.

86. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:14 AM (#4091030)

Baseball!

Ichiro with four hits and my fantasy closer finishes it off.

87. Greg K Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:15 AM (#4091031)

Did it actually glance off his cheek?

88. Dan Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:15 AM (#4091032)

Entertaining game. I'm glad I got up to watch.

89. bunyon Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:16 AM (#4091034)

Gamingboy is right about ESPN. The presumption is no one cares about any but a handful of teams.

Now, MLB Network has no excuse. They've put the game on a delay, which is better than nothing. However, in place of the live game, they showed a replay of an exhibition game. Surely if someone were going to get up at 3am to watch that, they'd get up to watch a real game. If I'm MLB Network, I block off 4 hours - show the game live and then starting 4 hours later, throughout the day. Or at least until it's aired at a reasonable hour for each US timezone.

I have no clue why they wouldn't do this.

90. TerpNats Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:17 AM (#4091036)

American sports leagues playing games abroad is only going to happen more often, not less, and I think people should embrace it. Instead too many Americans are childish about it. It's not your sport and anybody who would rather not see baseball grow in different countries needs to get a clue.

I'm very much looking forward to baseball in Holland in 2014. The Dutch love baseball and it would be a great boost to the sport in Europe, which is very much MLB's next frontier.

When will MLB try playing games in Australia? It would be early fall there this time of year, so it might work.

91. Dog on the sidewalk Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:18 AM (#4091037)

The Mariners are an unstoppable force.

MLB.TV picture was pretty much TV quality for me. However, I was unable to actually access the video for the first 8 innings of the game, and once I finally did, I had to switch from IExplorer to Firefox in order to be able to access full screen view. Those things may just be the result of me being computer illiterate though.

92. Joey B. Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:26 AM (#4091042)

Holding these games makes absolutely no sense on any level.

93. Lassus Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:27 AM (#4091043)

I was on explorer at work. Was fine.

94. Flynn Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:32 AM (#4091046)

When will MLB try playing games in Australia? It would be early fall there this time of year, so it might work.

The biggest problem with Australia is the lack of a quality stadium. The stadium where the 2000 Olympic baseball competition was held isn't big enough, though it is now being redeveloped to seat 25,000. That would make it a strong candidate to host some future games, though I think it would be behind Korea and Taiwan in Australasian pecking order. But the reason it's being redeveloped is to host the Australian Football League's new western Sydney team, which means you'd have to send them on a big road trip to ensure a good playing surface for baseball as their season has just started.

In other words, it's more complicated than other Asian venues or Holland.

95. hokieneer Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4091049)

I was all excited to get up early today for work and watch some live regular season baseball as I enjoyed a few cups of coffee. I'm glad I checked the Internets before I set the alarm, talk about being disappointed.

96. Flynn Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4091050)

Holding these games makes absolutely no sense on any level.

I can think of a couple million reasons, colored green, that games overseas makes sense.

97. AROM Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:45 AM (#4091063)

Ichiro batting .800. He's twice as good as Ted Williams!

98. Greg K Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:47 AM (#4091066)

Holding these games makes absolutely no sense on any level.

To be fair, that's true of pretty much any Seattle-Oakland game this season.

I kid!

I suppose you mean you don't see any benefit to you to holding these games in Japan. There is the point Flynn makes and also the international promotion of the game, which I think would be something everyone can get behind. The more cultures that get hooked on baseball the more great players we get to watch. Win-win!

99. Jose Is The Most Absurd Thing on the Site Posted: March 28, 2012 at 09:54 AM (#4091075)

When will MLB try playing games in Australia? It would be early fall there this time of year, so it might work.

There was a rumor that the Red Sox were trying to line something up in Australia for 2012 that obviously never got anywhere. I don't know enough about the stadiums over there but how big would it have to be? I'd rather see a game in front of 15 or 20,000 sold out seats than 35,000 people in a 60,000 seat stadium. Of course, MLB would probably disagree.

And I'm with Flynn. A couple games a year to start the season is hardly some horrible hardship and has the potential to generate a whole bunch of money. Plus, it's fun to wake up and watch baseball.

100. OsunaSakata Posted: March 28, 2012 at 10:10 AM (#4091095)

It's amazing how many people post about waking up to watch baseball. Are there enough viewers to support a Japan channel? It could be combination of anime, J-Pop music and Japanese sports. During waking hours in North America, they could show entertainment; from midnight to 9am ET, live baseball or soccer. Is there something like this already that I haven't heard of?

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Resnick: MLB Strikes Out By Not Televising The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners Series

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