MLB Network Announces Live Game Schedule Through June
tmc...@gmail.com
MLB Network has sent us a release announcing its Thursday and Saturday
Night Baseball through June. This includes a Yankees-Red Sox matchup
and the annual Civil Rights Game.
MLB NETWORK ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE OF LIVE GAMES THROUGH JUNE
Games to air on “Thursday Night Baseball” and “Saturday Night
Baseball”
Saturday coverage to include Gillette Civil Rights Game, with Chicago
White Sox at Cincinnati Reds on June 20
Secaucus, N.J., May 19, 2009 – MLB Network today announced its
schedule of live Thursday and Saturday night games from May 28 through
June 2009, featuring 17 MLB clubs in ten live regular season games.
MLB Network will carry at least 50 live regular season games in its
first year.
Next week’s Thursday night game will air on May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET,
with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Chicago Cubs and MLB Network’s Bob
Costas and Harold Reynolds calling the game. Broadcast teams for
Thursday Night Baseball on MLB Network in June will include play by
play by Matt Vasgersian and Victor Rojas, with analysis by Mitch
Williams, Joe Magrane and Dan Plesac. Other highlights of the June
game schedule include division rivals New York Yankees at the Boston
Red Sox (June 11), with Bob Costas and Jim Kaat in the broadcast
booth, and a re-match of last year’s World Series with the
Philadelphia Phillies at the Tampa Bay Rays (June 25). The Chicago
Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals will also
be featured.
“It’s our goal to showcase every team, whether with MLB Tonight,
Thursday Night Baseball or Saturday Night Baseball,” said Tony
Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “We’re
excited to continue to bring live, national coverage from around the
league to our fans twice every week, with on-air talent match-ups that
bring a different perspective to each Thursday night game.”
The Saturday night game on May 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET will feature the St.
Louis Cardinals at the San Francisco Giants. Saturday Night Baseball
will also include national appearances for the Baltimore Orioles,
Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels, as well as
the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds during the Gillette Civil
Rights Game on June 20.
Saturday Night Baseball will primarily be simulcasts of local
broadcasts, including local announcers. On Saturdays, MLB Tonight will
provide in-game updates on developments throughout MLB as well as
news, analysis and highlights following the game telecast. MLB Network
will announce future Saturday night games coinciding with its
selection windows.
MLB Network's complete broadcast schedule from May 28 through June
appears below.
MLB NETWORK LIVE GAME SCHEDULE THROUGH JUNE 2009 (all times Eastern):
May 28 – 8:00 p.m. Dodgers @ Cubs – Bob Costas & Harold Reynolds
May 30 – 9:00 p.m. Cardinals @ Giants
June 4 – 7:00 p.m. Cubs @ Braves – Matt Vasgersian & Joe Magrane
June 6 – 9:00 p.m. Orioles @ Athletics
June 11 – 7:00 p.m. Yankees @ Red Sox – Bob Costas & Jim Kaat
June 13 – 9:00 p.m. Padres @ Angels
June 18 – 8:00 p.m. Tigers @ Cardinals – Victor Rojas & Joe Magrane
June 20 – 7:00 p.m. Gillette Civil Rights Game: White Sox @ Reds
June 25 – 7:00 p.m. Phillies @ Rays – Matt Vasgersian, Joe Magrane &
Mitch Williams
June 27 – 7:00 p.m. Yankees @ Mets
Games will be blacked out in each team's home television territory,
with the exception of the Gillette Civil Rights Game, which will be
available on MLB Network in Cincinnati. Viewers in areas subject to
blackouts will be provided with an alternate game telecast or other
programming. MLB Network will continue to announce future Thursday
Night Baseball and Saturday night games coinciding with its selection
windows.
MLB Tonight, the signature program of MLB Network during the regular
season, airs live beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET until the final MLB game
of the night ends each Monday through Friday, featuring live look-ins
of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. On
Saturday nights, the show provides in-game updates and then airs after
the game's conclusion, while on Thursday nights, the show leads in to
Thursday Night Baseball, providing viewers with highlights and
analysis after the game as well as live studio updates during the game
broadcast.
Bob Costas does two more games bringing his overall total to four
games thus far. At this pace, he'll do about eight games this season.
I'm keeping an eye on this. I wonder who will call more regular season
games for their respective networks, Bob Costas for MLB Network or Joe
Buck for Fox.