2013 MLB TV Primer Part 3: MLB Network

This week I will be running posts previewing MLB's TV coverage for the 2013 season. This will be the final season of the current contract, so starting next season there will be significant changes to how you view baseball nationally.

Today we will look at MLB Network's coverage for 2013:

MLB Network is the league produced 24 hour baseball network with news and game coverage year round.  The Network also airs original programming throughout the regular season such as Intentional Talk, MLB Rundown and their new debate show MLB Now. It also airs its countdown shows with highlights of the weeks top moments.  Their Secaucus studio will once again be the home for the MLB Draft in June.

MLB Tonight, the networks answer to ESPN's Baseball Tonight, airs nightly as pregame and postgame studio show for all games scheduled. Along with analysts, the show airs in-game coverage of live games from RSN's and post-game interviews. Quick Pitch, which will now be primarily hosted by new hire Heidi Watney, will close each night with the evening's highlights while staying in progress during late games until the final pitch of the day.

MLB Network Showcase is the network produced game telecast airing several games a month.  The season premiere of the showcase game is Tuesday April 2th as the World Champion San Francisco Giants play at their long time rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers.  MLB Network also airs simulcasts of teams regional sports networks or local broadcasts at least four nights a week (or outside of other network's broadcast windows).  MLB Network also has their answer to NFL Network's Red Zone with MLB Strike Zone (on cable/satellite) with live coverage of games on Tuesday and Friday nights from 7PM to Midnight.

In exchange for the Wild Card play in games, MLB Network will once again air two division series games from TBS in October as their only post season telecasts.  Next season they will once again air two games licensed from FOX Sports.

MLB Tonight

Hosts: Matt Vasgersian, Greg Amsinger, Brian Kenny, Heidi Watney and others

Analysts: Harold Reynolds, Al Leiter, Dan Plesac, Mitch Williams, Larry Bowa, John Hart, John Smoltz; various others

Reporters: Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Tom Verducci, Peter Gammons, Sam Ryan, Alanna Rizzo; various others

MLB Network Daily Programming:

The Rundown, 2PM, Hosts: Matt Yalloff and Lauren Shehadi
MLB Now, 4PM, Hosts: Brian Kenny, Harold Reynolds and Kristina Akra
Intentional Talk, 5PM, Hosts: Chris Rose and Kevin Millar. Reporter: Alanna Rizzo
MLB Tonight, 6PM
Quick Pitch, 1AM, Host: Heidi Watley or others; live until final game is over

MLB Network Showcase

Announcers: Bob Costas and Jim Kaat; Ryan (reporter), Verducci (analyst/reporter), Vasgersian, Kenny, Smoltz, various others

MLB Network Showcase April Schedule:

April 2: San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 10PM, Bob Costas & Jim Kaat, Reporter - Sam Ryan

April 12: Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals, 7PM, Matt Vasgersian & John Smoltz, Reporter - Sam Ryan

April 18: St. Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies, 7PM, Matt Vasgersian & Jim Kaat, Reporter - Sam Ryan 

April 25: Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees, 7pm, Matt Vasgersian & John Smoltz. Reporter - Sam Ryan  

April 30: Cincinnati Reds @ St. Louis Cardinals, 7PM,  Bob Costas & John Smoltz. Reporter - Tom Verducci

For updates of upcoming games and programming go to the MLB Network home page.

Note: This site is not affiliated with Awful Announcing, but its author contributes to their page. This including contributing to announcer assignments and their baseball primer section.