MLB Network Releases Thursday Night Baseball Schedule

Wednesday, March 25, 2009


MLB Network is diving right into the live games this year, and will be doing so with a variety that hasn't been seen on a network in years. The first eight games will feature sixteen different teams, and will air on the network Thursdays throughout April and May. Here's the schedule and announcers....

April 9th: Brewers @ Giants - Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane (7pm)

April 16th: Indians @ Yankees - Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds & Jim Kaat (1pm)

April 16th: Blue Jays @ Twins - Victor Rojas & Dan Plesac (8pm)

April 23rd: Dodgers @ Astros - Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane (8pm)

April 30th: Red Sox @ Rays - Victor Rojas & Joe Magrane (7pm)

May 7th: Phillies @ Mets - Bob Costas & Al Leiter (7pm)

May 14th: Orioles @ Royals - TBD (8pm)

May 21st: Cubs @ Cardinals - TBD (8pm)

Pretty good collection of games there, and it's good that MLB Network doesn't feel the need to rely on the Yankees and Red Sox every single week. People are going to be watching their hometown teams on their local channel nine times out of ten, but having a variety like this will appeal to general fans as well as fantasy players.

11 Comments:

I don't know if I should be happy or sad that Vasgersian is calling a Giants game?

49er16 said...
Mar 25, 2009, 3:08:00 PM  

This can't be right. I thought it was illegal not to schedule the Yankees or Red Sox for at least 50% of national telecasts

Ted Hill said...
Mar 25, 2009, 3:19:00 PM  

I like the fact that MLB Net has scheduled other teams besdies Yanks and Sosx every other week. By the way, Didd I see the schedule correctly? The Royals are on it? I don't think the Royals have bee on National TV since the 80's. And I'm not even a Royals fan.

Unknown said...
Mar 25, 2009, 3:47:00 PM  

I like the schedule but I would like to see some continuity with the announcing teams. Since they have so much talent, consider a three man booth with a reporter who offers commentary like Peter Gammons on Sunday Night Baseball. Have a "B Team" with the same number of announcers and pick one group or another. Swap out the regular PBP with Costas when the game is a big one.

Thomas said...
Mar 25, 2009, 4:07:00 PM  

I believe that AA already posted that neither the Yankees or Red Sox are the most nationally televised team this year.

GMoney said...
Mar 25, 2009, 4:22:00 PM  

Notable: AL champion Rays will be on MLB Network before they are on Fox or ESPN.

Anonymous said...
Mar 25, 2009, 10:22:00 PM  

I'll take Vasgersian over Costas any fucking day of the week!!!

Anonymous said...
Mar 26, 2009, 2:18:00 AM  

Always good to hear Matt V announce a Brewers game again. I miss the Matt V days on FSN North (even though Brian Anderson isn't too bad).

Tim said...
Mar 26, 2009, 4:09:00 PM  

While I agree that it's nice to see such a diverse schedule, let's be clear about one glaring point: MLB Network is not yet being rated by Neilsen. The true test of their scheduling will be once they start being rated as a national network. My guess is once the ratings count, the marquee matchups will start to prevail.

goody said...
Mar 26, 2009, 9:44:00 PM  

goody, I don't think they will. If they really wanted to pander to that, they would have not worked to get so many different teams up on national tv.

I'm not alone in applauding the move - it's something that FOX and ESPN could learn from. That way, when the Sox or Yanks fail to make it to the world series, there isn't the huge drop off in ratings. The casual fan doesn't care about the other teams because they never have seen them before. But if they was a better rotation of teams on national, then you'd see a much better return on ratings in the postseason.

Great job, MLB TV, now hurry up and get on uverse.

Unknown said...
Mar 26, 2009, 10:42:00 PM  

I think ESPN in general, and Baseball Tonight in specific, are going to be in trouble because of the MLB Network.

So far anyways, MLB Tonight is much more balanced and fair than Baseball Tonight ever is. When I tune in I want to see all the highlights, not just the Yankees and Red Sox.

This schedule give me even more hope that MLB Network will not just be another ESPN clone.

Unknown said...
Mar 27, 2009, 9:26:00 AM  

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