When It Comes to Spring Training Games, MASN Comes Up Small

MASN has released their 2010 Spring Training broadcast schedule. As in year's past, it is lacking.

Here's the schedule:

Orioles:
Sunday 3/7 
1pm vs Red Sox in Sarasota

Thursday 3/25 
1pm vs Yankees in Sarasota

Monday 3/29 
7pm vs Yankees in Sarasota

Wednesday 3/31 
1pm vs Red Sox in Sarasota

First, there are only 4 Orioles games. Second, there is a gap of nearly three weeks between the first game and the next one. Thirdly, it's all Yankees and Red Sox games. Blech

MASN (and the Orioles) could double the amount of broadcasts if they want to get serious about  bringing back fans to the team.

The Red Sox will broadcast 9 games on NESN. The Yankees, 12 games on YES.

That's how the big boys do it. Peter Angelos owns the network...time to make use of it to get fans excited for 2010.

Base Hits: 7/28/2009

I have been following the Orioles Spring Training stories for years now and it appears that the Orioles will officially move to Sarasota for Spring Training 2010.

Kate Wheeler at MASN has conceptual drawings of what the complex will look like after renovations. I'll be there in 2010...

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Also from Kate, MASN launches MASN to GO. What is MASN to GO?

MASN to GO is a downloadable and printable stats package similar to the information MASN's on-air talent use to prepare for game broadcasts.

As stats change each night and as the O's take on a new opponent every three or four days of the season, the pdf files are automatically updated with the newest info and are available for fans each morning to enjoy throughout the day....

But it doesn't stop there. You'll have BA's against tonight's opposing starter and their averages against the O's starting pitcher, probable pitching matchups for every game scheduled that day--and tomorrow, transactions and player news, standings, league leaders, hitting stats, pitching stats...

It's a nice one stop shop for fellow bloggers and the more serious fan. Good stuff. Thanks for making that available MASN!

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Jonathan Mayo runs down some of the best farm systems in baseball. The Orioles still rank among the top 10 in the league on the strength of their pitching.

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Rich Hill stinks up the joint, offers explanation and apologizes...

"Other than that, unfortunately I haven't been able to give any kind of consistent help to this team. I apologize to the front office and the guys in this clubhouse."

Hill joins Koji Uehara as apologetic pitchers for the Orioles in 2009, an occurrence I don't remember happening even once in a previous season, let alone twice. Say what you will but Sidney Ponson or Victor Santos never apologized for sucking.

At least he's trying to be a standup guy about the whole thing. ("A 7.00 ERA means never having to say you're sorry...")

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Non-Orioles story: I wish I could leave this story alone but I am just so dumbfounded by the whole thing. Christine Brennan speaks to the Erin Andrews controversy again.

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Since June 1st,

Aubrey Huff's OPS - .609

Melvin Mora's OPS - .643

Ty Wigginton's OPS - .822

I don't think you have to be a baseball genius...Free Wiggy!

MASN to Televise Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate All Star Game

MASN to Televise Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate All Star Game

Special Mid-Atlantic Classic Coverage in HD on July 15 at 7 p.m.


(Washington D.C.) -- MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, will broadcast the Mid-Atlantic Classic live on July 15th at 7 p.m. on MASN and MASN HD from the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, MD, home of the independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

The game, which will pit a team of 28 Valley League Stars against a team of 28 Ripken, Sr. League Stars, will air in high definition during MLB's All-Star break. In addition to the game, a Home Run Derby between the two leagues will precede the contest at 5:30 p.m.

Legendary broadcaster Johnny Holliday and former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson will handle play-by-play and color duties for the Classic, just as they did during MASN's broadcast of the Cal Ripken League All-Star Game in 2007.

"As the home of two Major League Baseballl teams, MASN is excited to showcase the best amateur talent in the Baltimore-Washington region throughout MASN's seven state territory," said MASN spokesman Todd Webster.

About the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League:

The mission of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League is to promote, promulgate, and perpetuate collegiate wooden-bat baseball in Maryland and the District of Columbia. By creating community-based summer collegiate baseball teams, the League seeks to promote amateur and youth baseball and softball in the area through the improvement of existing fields and facilities and fostering spirited competition with an emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, honesty, and fair play. The backbone of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League is the investment in and partnership with local communities.

About MASN

MASN is the television home of the Nationals and the Orioles. The network carries over 600 live sporting events every year including more than 275 NCAA Division I football, basketball, and lacrosse games. MASN is currently carried on 23 cable and satellite providers throughout a seven-state region.