MLB Network will be hungry for content until the season opens. One wonders why they didn’t wait until at least Spring Training — if not opening day — to launch. I guess they wanted to start building their audience early.
I watched a little but last night, mostly previews of what is to come. Among the personalities serving as talking heads will be overall host Matt Versagasian and ex-players such as Harold Reynolds, Joe Magrane, Al Leiter, Mitch Williams, Dan Plesac, and Barry Larkin. Other on-air personnel include Greg Amsinger, Alex Rojas, writer Jon Heyman, and the obligatory female reporters Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae. And let me say immediately that I apologize if anyone finds the choice of “obligatory” offensive. In watching the “trailer” for the new enterprise last night, several of the ex-athletes swung a bat for the camera. So did the women, and that looked just stupid. If they were Dot Richardson of Jennie Finch — elite softball players — I could accept that; at least they would look competent swinging a bat, but Mae and Kusnierek just looked silly. (and don’t get me started on Jeanne Zelasko.)
Anyway…
So I’m watching and there was a lot of exciting and emotional footage, mostly World Series events (home runs by Joe Carter, Bill Mazeroski, Kirk Gibson, etc.), a behind-the-scenes look at the studio in Secaucus, NJ, and testimonials from various baseball figures such as Commissioner Bud Selig and Cal Ripken Jr.
A word of caution: as much as baseball fans love the game, the executives at MLBN have to take care not to wax too poetical or philosophical: the metaphors of life and baseball, the majesty and history of the national pastime, the august music, the verdant playing fields, etc. That’s something I always find annoying when it comes to the All-Star Game and the World Series. I know there are those who never watch a game except those, but I find such exposition redundant in almost every circumstance.
The latest big news is the rebroadcast of Ken Burns’ nine-part documentary. which will air weekly beginning Jan. 6. I wonder if they will be showing other documentaries as well. And when there’s a rain delay, perhaps they can show a baseball-themed movie or episodes of old TV shows that have a baseball guest star ( Leo Durocher on The Munsters!).
A list of shows aired on the network.
More on the network from, of all places, Reuters UK.
is available on Amazon.com,
{ 1 comment }
Personally, I’m thrilled to have MLB Network on air now to take up the long days between now and April. Sounds like there will be some good stuff, e.g. Don Larsen’s perfect game (not just highlights), biographies, memorable games, etc. MLB doubtlessly has a lot in their vaults and needed a good distribution net work (how about TWIB with Mel Allen????)
Comments on this entry are closed.