With the creation of the NFL Network, it was only a matter of time until another one of the America's major sports got its own network, and starting January 1st, Baseball will have the MLB Network. It feels like we have been moving to this point for a while ever since the creation of mlb.com tv a few years ago. They started to show original shows and even would play games online during the winter. Well now it seems that online project has reached a full time channel.
Starting in January, some of the headlining shows will be Hot Stove, which will pretty much be like watching mlbtraderumors.com with insiders puting their own two cents in. There will be a Prime 9 show that focuses on the top 9 whatever in a certain category. Ken Burns' Baseball will highlight great old memories of baseball and Baseball Season's will show highlights of special seasons in baseball (the picture they have on their site about this show has a picture of Cal Ripkin during the 2131 game). Other programming will include basbeall's classig games of course and special events like the home run derby.
As you can imagine, this channel will really pick up speed in the Spring. They have the exclusive rights to 16 WBC games, will be going to all 30 clubs Spring Training Homes in 30 days and will have a show on every night during the baseball season that seems to be like ESPNEWS with only baseball stuff included. Two of the commentators on that show will be Harold Reynolds, formly of Baseball Tongiht, and Al Leiter (one of my favorite all time players).
This should be a very exciting season, especially for us out of town fans. The channel will be getting a national game of the week as well (joining Fox, ESPN, and TBS) which makes it easier for us to see our favorite teams out fo state and also to get a better insight in the wide world of Major League Baseball.
