Do you and why do you watch Mlb Network?

[RedsoxMetsFan123]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anybody watches the new mlb network. Well I do, why because its the only channel where I can watch all stuff thats only baseball, and plus theres, world series highlights, homerun derbys, all time games, etc. Thats why I watch mlb network.

[Paulypal]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anybody watches the new mlb network. Well I do, why because its the only channel where I can watch all stuff thats only baseball, and plus theres, world series highlights, homerun derbys, all time games, etc. Thats why I watch mlb network.

Funny you should ask this question. I alluded to this in another post.

I watch the station to get updates and insight from the explayers. They are on top of whatever is going on. The explayers I enjoy because they have true insight to the game and what the players are thinking and doing etc.

With that said...I can do without some of the reporters. I am not fan of the parasite Verducci. He is a true reporter just looking for a story to twist his way. He may love the game but he lost all credibility with me with the Torre book and now listening to some of his steroid / Arod comments. My point is if there were no negative stories, guys like Verducci would be obsolete for the most part.

So far I love the MLBN. I think its going to be great during ST and even better during the season.

[philkid3]

I'm watching it less and less because their studio shows are no better than ESPN. Maddening, short-sighted non-sense espoused by players and reporters, not true analysts. And Jon Heyman is an evil, evil man. I refuse to watch any show they allow him to be on.

I do like watching old games, though.

[gman5431]

I watch it when they have something good on. The Hot Stove report is just a lot of idle talk, its ESPN like. The prime 9 shows are pretty good. Loved the Serie De Caribe coverage but didnt get to see as much as i liked - liked the music between innings, haha. Seen some old WS highlights, 47 is the one i remmeber the most and that was good. Seems like it is going to be a pretty awesome channel. Lets see how this Baseball Tonite rip off plays when the season starts. As long as they dont do 70% of their reporting on the Red Sox and Yankees ill be happy. Looking forward to WBC coverage too. Hell its a baseball channell, its great!

G MAn

[KCGHOST]

I have watched it some. The Hot Stove show which should be the centerpiece show right now is really weak with all these lame players quoting platitudes. The 9's is pretty good stuff.

[guidotoons]

I think once the season starts it will fall into line, but somebody please tell Harold reynolds to stop talking with his hands.

A lot of ex-players do that but he is the worst. It doesn't make him seem smarter... only "anxious".

I LOVE the old Series highlight films! And the fact that they have, what... 150,000 hours of unseen archival footage? Woof! Can't wait!

New guy in here...

Guido

[Louder]

I watch for the games, highlights, Prime 9, etc., but I watch Hot Stove less and less. Colorless commentators, with really nothing to add. There are too many ex-players involved, who go easy on current players and say nothing insightful. I hope when the season starts that the eight hour highlight show is more interesting than what we're getting now.

[Allie Fox]

I love it. I agree withthe Tom Verducci and Jon Heyman sentiments. I'm not too fond of those guys but it's still better that EvilSPN's all NFL coverage. Heyman is a bit too arrogant and Verducci seems too negative.

Hot Stove is great but I get most of that news online anyway. I do enjoy the analysis of HR, Al Leiter and Joe Magrane.

[Paulypal]

I am not sure what everyone expected during the offseason. I mean ST isnt even here and its still pretty good.

I like the players on Hot Stove because they give you insight that no reporter ever could. I think that is going to be a lot more evident when the season actually starts.

When baseball starts its everyday which will make the MLBN a great place to be. They will have cams in every stadium peeking in for updates.

As far as the reporters go and including Matt Vasergian (sp?) its all from a reporters angle. I dont need them to formulate an opinion. A lot of people do. I can watch something and hopefully do that on my own.

The only reporter that has a true love for baseball and you can tell in his reporting is Peter Gammons. He hates all this steroid garbage and this Torre book garbage because it takes away from the actual game. Verducci on the other hand does not have that passion for the game and it comes across exactly that way.

[philkid3]

Barry Larkin included Edinson Volquez in 2008 on his list of the greatest rookie seasons ever.

The studio shows on this station are embarrassing. I'm watching less and less because of how poor the research is.

[giantsrule]

it tears me up inside that surewest doesnt carry it...

[Seattle1]

No, I do not watch it. That is because I do not get it in my T.V.

I wish I could watch the MLB Network. Also, I wish I could watch the NFL Network.

[Allie Fox]

No, I do not watch it. That is because I do not get it in my T.V.

I wish I could watch the MLB Network. Also, I wish I could watch the NFL Network.
If you have EvilSPN, you have the NFL Network. ;)

[philkid3]

If you have EvilSPN, you have the NFL Network. ;)

The NFL Newtork is many million times more glorious than ESPN.

[Dravecky43]

1. YES
2. Because it's baseball.

[sturg1dj]

i get overload enough from the sports stations I have, I don't need any more. Especially the NFL network. Am I the only one here that loathes the NFL? As long as I get some good college games on Saturday, I am ok.

[kiluckzle]

No, because I can't find it. Either that or I just do not have the channel. Do you have to pay for it? Because my Comcast gets some channels in the hundreds but not all. I am interested in watching it but don't know where it is!! :crazy

[Seattle1]

If you have EvilSPN, you have the NFL Network. ;)

Nope I don't even get the Eastcoast Sports Promotion Network! (No big loss. ;) )

[TheMadDog31]

Yes, I watch it.

Particulary because of the old games, the old Series, and the fact that damn near every list I've seen on Prime 9 have been ridiculously bad.

I hate the fact that the constantly re-run programs though. I mean, the game between the Dodgers and the Padres in 2006 isn't really worth watching three days in a row, is it?

[Buczilla]

I like the old games and documentaries. The studio shows should get better with time, as should the programming. It is still pretty fresh out of the box. The NFL channel was pretty bland/dull when it first arrived on the scene as well. I hope they come up with a show that showcases the rising stars in the minors.

[philkid3]

damn near every list I've seen on Prime 9 have been ridiculously bad.
Aren't they? My goodness.

The shortstop list started off well with Barry Larkin and Luke Appling actually being included, but then Jeter WAY too high and Ozzie Smith (who I usually think is actually underrated) wedged in to a spot he didn't fit was maddening. And Arky Vaughan was too low.

[Yankees2k6]

Yes, and because Baseball tonight is lame, hate the Yankees, and don't care about other teams.

[philkid3]

Does anyone who's not a Yankees fan think ESPN hates the Yankees?

I'm the only Cowboys fan who doesn't think ESPN hates the Cowboys.

[TheMadDog31]

Aren't they? My goodness.

The shortstop list started off well with Barry Larkin and Luke Appling actually being included, but then Jeter WAY too high and Ozzie Smith (who I usually think is actually underrated) wedged in to a spot he didn't fit was maddening. And Arky Vaughan was too low.

Yeah, Arky was FAR, FAR, FAR too low. I was really suprised that they did not include Omar Vizquel, who is very comparable to Ozzie. Both were sub-par hitters, stole a lot of bases, and are probably the two greatest defensive shortstops of all time.

How about the "greatest pitching seasons" and the "greatest rookie seasons"?

[blacksilverfan12]

To answer the two questions:

1. Yes
2. There's nothing better on, and it's an all baseball channel!!

[philkid3]

Someone used 5 minutes of a studio show the other night to highlight the typical idiocy of this network. (http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-mlb-network-is-failure.html)

Thank god for the old game re-airs, but man are the studio shows an awful, awful waste.

[BaseballinDC]

FWIW, I've enjoyed this channel and its programming immensely. The network produced news shows are a little slick for my taste. I've only seen a couple episodes of Prime Nine - with a single exception their choices for best Center Fielders was right out of Bill James historical abstract, so it doesn't strike me that what they're saying is unsupportable.

I'd like to know what coverage people DO like? I found ESPN Baseball Tonight's coverage to be almost all NY in 2006 even though neither team merited it. As for the cable produced team specific shows - Ick.

I've got a couple dozen hours of old games and specials from MLB Network tivo'd to keep me going until opening day.

[Lafferty Daniel]

I dig their '30 Teams in 30 Days' because they actually discuss some of the top prospects in each organization.

One way for the MLB Network to seperate itself from 'Baseball Tonight' would be to put more emphasis on sabermetrics, while teaching casual fans what these stats mean.

It pissed me off the other day to hear Harold Reynolds and Sean Casey argue that other variables like "heart, hard work, and clutch hitting" are more important than stats to value a players performance. These knuckle draggers continue to dumb-down the game.

[Paulypal]

I dig their '30 Teams in 30 Days' because they actually discuss some of the top prospects in each organization.

One way for the MLB Network to seperate itself from 'Baseball Tonight' would be to put more emphasis on sabermetrics, while teaching casual fans what these stats mean.

It pissed me off the other day to hear Harold Reynolds and Sean Casey argue that other variables like "heart, hard work, and clutch hitting" are more important than stats to value a players performance. These knuckle draggers continue to dumb-down the game.

Well there are certain elements of the game that stats just dont tell you. Reynolds made some good points about moving runners over etc. Some people think they could look at stats and completely evaluate a player and you really cant.

[blacksilverfan12]

Well there are certain elements of the game that stats just dont tell you. Reynolds made some good points about moving runners over etc. Some people think they could look at stats and completely evaluate a player and you really cant.

To me there's a middle ground between stats and intangibles. You have to find a middle ground. Don't rely solely on one

That being said, PECOTA's way too math-oriented for me

[RedsoxMetsFan123]

Can anyone tell me what PETCOTA is? I missed the MLB Tonight Episode about it

[SamtheBravesFan]

Can anyone tell me what PETCOTA is? I missed the MLB Tonight Episode about it

PECOTA is a statistic projection system developed by baseball analyst Nate Silver. It attempts to project how a player will do in the season, usually with a heavy weight on the previous year. It's just like any other statistic projection system in that sense. They use their own stats (equivalent average, value over replacement player and wins above replacement player, for instance) to try to set itself apart. They've succeeded in that regard.

[THINK BLUE]

I watch because I love baseball and it's on all the time ESPN always has baseball on the backburner.....but Harold Reynolds drives me nuts. I like watching Home Run Derby's if nothings on. I hope it gets better once the season starts.