Comments on: MLB Network: Not Too Shabby

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:31:45 +0000

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…

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:15:27 +0000

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.

By: Howard

Howard — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:51:41 +0000

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.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:40:51 +0000

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.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:11:14 +0000

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.

By: dan

dan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:50:18 +0000

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!

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:41:06 +0000

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

By: KENNY

KENNY — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:23:25 +0000

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.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:40:49 +0000

in the philly area with comcast its on channel 280

By: MA Phanatic

MA Phanatic — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:40:01 +0000

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

By: MA Phanatic

MA Phanatic — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:34:02 +0000

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

By: PhillyGirlinMichigan

PhillyGirlinMichigan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:28:45 +0000

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?

By: Chuck P

Chuck P — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:52:31 +0000

ugueth urbina dropping the hammer… or machete…

Down with Comcast!!!!

By: uguethurbina

uguethurbina — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:45:02 +0000

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.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:54 +0000

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)

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:25:46 +0000

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.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:17:07 +0000

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.

By: O'Phillie

O'Phillie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:49:11 +0000

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.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:39:50 +0000

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).

By: Chuck P

Chuck P — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:32:17 +0000

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.