Jim Williams » MLB Network is built for the fan
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
April 1, 2009
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MLB Network’s signature program, “MLB Tonight,” is set to debut Opening Day — which is Monday, can you believe it? — at 4 p.m. and they will be on the air until the last out of the last game on the West coast.
MASN in HD
The MASN-HD channel begins today at 1 p.m. with the Orioles-Marlins game from Ft. Lauderdale. Saturday’s spring training finale between the Nats and the Orioles from Nationals Park at 6 p.m. marks Washington’s debut on the new channel.
Comcast » 247
Cox » 736
DirecTV » 640
RCN » 687
Verizon » 577
Normally “MLB Tonight” will go live beginning at 6 p.m. and broadcast through the last inning of the final MLB game each Monday through Saturday. The show will feature live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. On Thursday nights, the show will lead in to “Thursday Night Baseball” and provide viewers with highlights and analysis after the game — as well as live studio updates during the game’s broadcast.
Primary anchor Matt Vasgersian and analysts Sean Casey, Al Leiter, Joe Magrane and Harold Reynolds will breakdown games as well as use “Studio 42” to illustrate events during the night. It could be anything — a key steal or a pick-off move — and the analysts will show the mechanics and mentality behind how the plays were made.
Casey & Reynolds weigh in on the Nats
I did have a chance to ask both Casey and Reynolds about their thoughts on the Nationals this season:
Casey » It is all about the plan and the stability. I really think that, with Stan Kasten, they really have someone who knows how to build a winner. They have young players that they are bringing through the minors — and then you have guys like Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and Nick Johnson, so they are on the right track to be contenders in a couple of years.
Reynolds » When I look at the Nationals, I see the Rays about three years ago. I see a team under firm leadership in Stan Kasten. I see a very fine group of kids in the minors that will be up on the big club soon and two draft choices in the top 10 players taken in this year’s very deep college draft that should only help get the team better faster. Finally I see an ownership that has shown that they are willing to stick to the development plan but to also add a few quality free agents. All of those things point to a team that can be a force in the NL for a long time. However it is just going to take a little time.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
