MLB Network Off to a Great Start
We still have a month and a half to go before pitchers and catchers report, and three months to go before meaningful baseball games, but the MLB Network is going to make it easier to pass the time.
The network's flagship show in the offseason is "Hot Stove" and the inaugural airing featured the Phillies Jimmy Rollins prominently. He was interviewed about 2008 and 2009 and then took part in an analysis and re-creation of Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series. Jimmy played the part of Jackie.
Al Leiter -- part of the on-set crew with Barry Larkin, Harold Reynolds and host Victor Rojas -- is a pleasure to listen to and part of the reason why is that the analysts and guest are given plenty of time to make their points. There is no quick soundbyte, on-to-the-next-thing because we only have 22 minutes.
In the first few days, Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series is aired and analyzed and for someone like myself in his mid-30's, this is something I'd never get to see otherwise. What's more, tomorrow, Saturday, several games of the 2008 post-season will be re-aired including Game 5 of the Dodgers/Phillies NLCS and Game's 1 and 2 of the 2008 World Series.
For the baseball fan, the MLB Network is a fantastic belated Christmas present.
