I have no idea what is going on. A few months ago the Nationals had about as much cultural currency as the Toledo Mud Hens. Then Stephen Strasburg minor-league updates starting show up on Baseball Tonight with highlight packages longer than the ones for most NBA or NHL games. Then his games down on the farm get picked up by local television and eventually VERSUS. Bryce Harper is the subject of a dozen high-profile magazine pieces even before he’s drafted No. 1 by Washington last week. Strasburg’s 14-strikeout debut earlier this week goes into the pantheon of great D.C. sports days.
So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised TBS has picked up Strasburg’s second start this Sunday against the Indians. Local Nats fans can’t see it. It will be blacked out in our market because of MLB’s broadcast rules and appear only on MASN2 and WDCW (50). Now comes word that FOX will televise the following Saturday’s game against the White Sox (June 19). That’s a 4:05 p.m. start and can only be seen on FOX (Sorry MASN). Strasburg’s third start is actually the day before – does FOX know this?
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The last time the Nats appeared on that network for a national broadcast was on Sept. 27, 2008. Had nothing to do with Washington, though. The Phillies were trying to clinch the N.L. East title – which they did in dramatic fashion. With the bases loaded and his team down a run with one out in the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman hit a ball hard at Jimmy Rollins. The Philadelphia shortstop made a superb diving stop, flipped to second baseman Chase Utley, whose return throw just beat Zimmerman lunging for first base. Something tells me this time will be a little more fun for the Nats than watching one of their rivals celebrate a division title.
MLB Network gets to carry Strasburg’s third start. That is the Friday night game against the White Sox on June 18 and, again, MASN gets to keep the local broadcast. Oh, and Strasburg is doing the Top 10 list on the “Late Show with David Letterman” tonight. Has a D.C. athlete ever done that? I say no chance. But maybe a Redskins player did it back in the Super Bowl days.
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