Baseball Opener Still An Overnight Sensation?

As the influence of sports media continues to impact the offseason of the major sports at higher levels than ever. With these two weeks being the only time of the year when both NFL and MLB are "off", we have prime examples.

Earlier this week, stories were "leaked" about the 2019 NFL regular season schedule, which does not get released until mid-April. Reports tell us that the Patriots may not be in the Thursday kickoff and that the Bears might play in Detroit for the 2nd consecutive Thanksgiving. While rumors about scheduled games months away are worthless in real life, they do keep NFL fans engaged and looking ahead to the coming season.

On the other hand, MLB, as spring training starts, has a ton of publicity about which free agents have not signed and how it impacts training camp and teams trying to make plans. However, MLB has a scheduling issue, and much sooner than the NFL, and doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.
Again this year, the regular season opens with a pair of games overseas, this year March 20 and 21 between Oakland and Seattle. It is understandable that the games be played at least a week before other teams start the regular season to allow for travel adjustments. As a result, the MLB season opener and 2nd game for these teams will take place on a Wednesday and Thursday.

This season, ESPN has both of those games and will air them live. However, the starting time for both games is still shown as 5:30 AM ET. Morning drive baseball. Think again. The A's and Mariners are west coast teams. For the home town fans, these games both start at 2:30 AM local time. Middle of the night baseball during the week is what is available for their fans to celebrate the start of the season.

Chances are these games, especially the second one, will not finish among ESPN's highest rated telecasts of the season. Not only will most fans not be able to reasonably enjoy these games, but it won't make them happy either.

The NFL schedules its London (and other international games) within its regular times in the U.S. This allows them to better promote these telecasts and draw new fans from around the world in the process. They wouldn't dare put live games on that start before 6 AM in any of our time zones.
Even the advance schedule rumors confirm that.


BOSTON: The Red Sox radio booth will have quite the play-by-play rotation this season. Only in the past few days has Joe Castiglione, who has been a part of Red Sox radio since 1983, signed to return for what will be his 37 season. In case Castiglione did not return, WEEI, the flagship station, had been ready with a rotation. It means that Castiglione will have a lot of company throughout the season.

Calling games at various times will be Sean McDonough, Josh Lewin (formerly with the Mets), and TV voice Dave O'Brien. WEEI personalities Lou Merloni and Dale Arnold will call some games, as will NESN studio host Tom Caron and ESPN's Chris Berman. Now, one other name has been added to this roster. Mario Impemba, who was dismissed from the Tigers TV job during the final month of last season due to a reported altercation with Rod Allen (also dismissed), will join the Red Sox radio booth this season.


CHICAGO: The Cubs officially announced their new TV network in partnership with Sinclair Broadcasting to start for the 2020 season, and the concern begins among baseball fans as to how it will play out. Early reports claim that the cost will be in the range of $6 per month, with the Cubs being the only major Chicago team participating and no "offseason" live content in the fold.
It remains to be seen (pun intended) if the situation will go the way of Los Angeles or New York City in terms of how many systems carry the channel and how fans will react to the charge.


NEW YORK: Glad to see that Islanders broadcaster Chris King made a successful return to the radio booth last Saturday (2/9) for the game against Colorado. King missed the Thursday broadcast against New Jersey due to being hospitalized with tightness in his chest. This was only the second broadcast he has missed in 25 years, and the first in nine seasons (death of his father).

He also had a very interesting replacement on short notice. The guest announcing team which called the Islanders-Devils broadcast was WFAN's Gregg GIannoti and Boomer Esiason.


DENVER: Congratulations to Raj Sharan, named as Program Director of KKFN-FM 104.3 The Fan and KEPN ESPN 1600. Sharan was the play-by-play voice for University of Denver basketball until 2017. He replaces Armen Williams in the role, who left for KILT Houston.


COLUMBUS: WTVN 610 has hired both Matt McCoy and Lori Schmidt as sports anchors, with both coming over after 105.7 The Zone dropped its sports format in favor of classic rock earlier this year.


WICHITA: Don Hall, the P.A. voice of Wichita Shockers basketball since 1983, as well as for other sports events in the area, will be inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame this spring.


ALTOONA PA: WVAM 1430 dropped ESPN Radio last week without warning in the middle of a weekday to go to a music format. The station still pans to air Pittsburgh Pirates games and Penn State football.