MLB Network returns with live and tape-delayed coverage of Spring Training games, beginning Saturday, March 3, at 1pm ET with the New York Yankees at the Philadelphia Phillies. On March 7 at 3pm ET, MLB Network will air the Cleveland Indians at the Arizona Diamonbacks game featuring players wearing microphones to capture live audio content, plus microphones installed at various areas of the ballpark to capture additional audio. In all MLB Network will air 150 Spring Training games featuring every MLB club in at least six matchups. Full Spring Training TV schedule and press release from MLB Network below:
RELATED STORY: 2012 “30 Clubs in 30 Days” Schedule on MLB Network
MLB NETWORK TO PRODUCE GROUNDBREAKING PRESENTATION OF LIVE AUDIO IN SPRING TRAINING GAME TELECAST
Cleveland Indians at Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Game on March 7 to Feature Live Microphones on Players & Coaching Staff
MLB Network’s 2012 Spring Training Game Schedule to Include 150 Games Beginning Saturday, March 3
MLB Network To Count Down The Top 100 Players Right Now! Starting Tuesday, February 28
Secaucus, N.J., February 23, 2012 – MLB Network today announced its 2012 Spring Training game schedule, featuring a groundbreaking presentation of live in-game audio. For the first time in an MLB game telecast, live audio content will air on a brief delay throughout the Spring Training game telecast of the Cleveland Indians at Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, March 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET. In cooperation with the Major League Baseball Players Association, up to as many as six players on each team will wear live microphones during the game. Coaching staff will also wear live microphones throughout the game and live microphones will be positioned at each base, down the first- and third-base lines and along the outfield wall, producing in-game audio content on a scale that has not previously been done. Matt Vasgersian will provide the game call, which will be available nationally on MLB Network, including in both the Indians’ and Diamondbacks’ home television territories.
“One of the missions of MLB Network is to promote the game of baseball and act as a platform to advance the presentation of the game,” said MLB Network President and CEO Tony Petitti. “The goal of this production is to bring fans closer to the game and experience it as a player would on the field. Not only are we trying to capture the player reactions and interactions, we want to present the natural sounds of the game, including the crack of the bat, the pop of a glove and the slide into a base like viewers have never heard before.”
The game telecast on March 7 will build on test productions of two enhanced audio game telecasts MLB Network produced but did not air during Spring Training in 2011. At that time, several players wore live microphones during the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics vs. Cleveland Indians games. Excerpts from those game telecasts are available here.
MLB Network’s 2012 Spring Training game schedule includes 150 games featuring every MLB club in at least six matchups. The game schedule begins on Saturday, March 3 with the 2011 A.L. East Champion New York Yankees against the 2011 N.L. East Champion Philadelphia Phillies live from Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida at 1:00 p.m. ET. The 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, the new-look Miami Marlins, the 2011 A.L. Wild Card Champion Tampa Bay Rays and the 2011 N.L. West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks will all be featured in live games during the first week of March. MLB Network’s complete Spring Training game schedule is available here. All games, except the enhanced audio game on March 7, will be a carriage of local telecasts, including local announcers, and blacked out in each club’s home market unless otherwise noted.
Leading up to the live games, MLB Network will reveal its ranking of the best players in Major League Baseball in its three-day series Top 100 Players Right Now!, beginning on Tuesday, February 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET. MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, Al Leiter and Harold Reynolds will count down the top MLB players overall, taking into account players in their prime who are coming back from injuries, younger players expected to break out in 2012, and veteran players with proven track records. The countdown to the number one player will continue in new episodes on February 29 and March 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET. From Albert Pujols to Roy Halladay to Prince Fielder, the ranking includes five World Series MVPs, nine Cy Young Award winners, four A.L. and six N.L. MVP Award winners, 12 Rookie of the Year winners, 29 Gold Glove Award winners, 33 pitchers, 61 2011 All-Stars and 60 players under 30-years old.
As announced last week, MLB Network’s Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days and its signature studio show MLB Tonight return on Monday, March 5 starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. The 2012 schedule for 30 Clubs in 30 Days is available here.
2012 MLB Network Spring Training TV Schedule
All times subject to change; all games subject to local blackout unless otherwise announced.
(L) Denotes live game.
(ss) Denotes split squad.
**Denotes blackout lift for that market.
Game Date | Time (ET)** | Away Team | Home Team | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sat., Mar. 3 | 1:00 (L) & 8:00 p.m. | New York Yankees** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
Sun., Mar. 4 | 1:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
4:00 p.m. | Houston Astros** | @ | Washington Nationals | ||
8:00 p.m. | Minnesota Twins(ss)** | @ | Boston Red Sox | ||
Mon., Mar. 5 | 1:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
6:00 p.m. (L) | Washington Nationals** | @ | New York Mets | ||
9:30 p.m. (L) | Milwaukee Brewers** | @ | San Francisco Giants | ||
1:00 a.m. | Milwaukee Brewers** | @ | San Francisco Giants | ||
Tues., Mar. 6 | 6:00 a.m. | Cleveland Indians** | @ | Cincinnati Reds | |
9:00 a.m. | Boston Red Sox | @ | Minnesota Twins | ||
1:00 p.m. (L) | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Baltimore Orioles (ss) | ||
4:00 p.m. | San Francisco Giants** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
10:00 p.m. | Oakland Athletics** | @ | Milwaukee Brewers | ||
2:00 a.m. | Chicago White Sox** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
Wed., Mar. 7 | 9:00 a.m. | St. Louis Cardinals** | @ | New York Mets(ss) | |
3:00 p.m. (L) | Cleveland Indians** | @ | Arizona D-backs** | ||
10:00 p.m. | Seattle Mariners** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
2:00 a.m. | Houston Astros** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
Thurs., Mar. 8 | 9:00 a.m. | Tampa Bay Rays** | @ | New York Yankees | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Miami Marlins** | @ | New York Mets | ||
4:00 p.m. | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
10:00 p.m. | Oakland Athletics** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
Fri., Mar. 9 | 1:00 p.m. (L) | Atlanta Braves(ss)** | @ | New York Yankees | |
7:00 p.m. (L) | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Boston Red Sox | ||
11:00 p.m. | San Diego Padres** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
Sat., Mar. 10 | 9:00 a.m. | Chicago Cubs | @ | Chicago White Sox | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | St. Louis Cardinals** | @ | Miami Marlins | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | San Diego Padres** | @ | Cleveland Indians | ||
7:00 p.m. (L) | Toronto Blue Jays** | @ | Boston Red Sox | ||
11:00 p.m. | Cincinnati Reds** | @ | Oakland Athletics | ||
Sun., Mar. 11 | 6:00 a.m. | Baltimore Orioles** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
9:00 a.m. | Minnesota Twins** | @ | Pittsburgh Pirates | ||
1:00 p.m. (L) | Miami Marlins** | @ | New York Mets | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Cleveland Indians** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
8:00 p.m. | Chicago Cubs** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
12:00 a.m. | Detroit Tigers(ss)** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies(ss) | ||
Mon., Mar. 12 | 6:00 a.m. | New York Mets(ss)** | @ | Minnesota Twins | |
10:00 a.m. | Boston Red Sox | @ | Baltimore Orioles | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Arizona D-backs** | @ | Cleveland Indians | ||
10:00 p.m. | Los Angeles Dodgers | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
Tues., Mar. 13 | 1:00 p.m. (L) | St. Louis Cardinals** | @ | New York Mets | |
7:00 p.m. (L) | Boston Red Sox** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
11:00 p.m. | Colorado Rockies** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
3:00 a.m. | Detroit Tigers** | @ | Washington Nationals | ||
Wed., Mar. 14 | 7:00 a.m. | Texas Rangers** | @ | Cleveland Indians | |
10:00 a.m. | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | @ | Arizona D-backs | ||
6:00 p.m. (L) | Washington Nationals** | @ | Atlanta Braves | ||
10:00 p.m. (L) | Kansas City Royals** | @ | Seattle Mariners | ||
Thurs., Mar. 15 | 9:00 a.m. | Minnesota Twins** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees** | @ | Washington Nationals | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Cincinnati Reds** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
10:00 p.m. (L) | San Francisco Giants** | @ | Seattle Mariners | ||
2:00 a.m. | Kansas City Royals** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
Fri., Mar. 16 | 6:00 a.m. | Atlanta Braves** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies(ss) | |
9:00 a.m. | Chicago White Sox** | @ | Cleveland Indians | ||
1:00 p.m. (L) | Washington Nationals** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Texas Rangers** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
10:00 p.m. | Houston Astros** | @ | Atlanta Braves | ||
2:00 a.m. | Cleveland Indians** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
Sat., Mar. 17 | 9:00 a.m. | Detroit Tigers** | @ | New York Mets | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Houston Astros** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Milwaukee Brewers** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
7:00 p.m. | Texas Rangers(ss)** | @ | Chicago Cubs(ss) | ||
10:00 p.m. (L) | San Francisco Giants(ss)** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
1:00 a.m. | Los Angeles Dodgers(ss)** | @ | Colorado Rockies | ||
4:00 a.m. | Toronto Blue Jays(ss)** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
Sun., Mar. 18 | 7:00 a.m. | Atlanta Braves(ss)** | @ | New York Mets | |
10:00 a.m. | St. Louis Cardinals | @ | Detroit Tigers** | ||
1:00 p.m. (L) | Boston Red Sox | @ | Tampa Bay Rays | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Colorado Rockies | @ | Seattle Mariners | ||
7:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees** | @ | Baltimore Orioles(ss) | ||
12:00 a.m. | Los Angeles Dodgers | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
Mon., Mar. 19 | 6:00 a.m. | Baltimore Orioles(ss)** | @ | Atlanta Braves | |
10:00 a.m. | Philadelphia Phillies** | @ | Toronto Blue Jays | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Los Angeles Dodgers** | @ | Cleveland Indians | ||
10:00 p.m. | St. Louis Cardinals** | @ | Atlanta Braves | ||
Tues., Mar. 20 | 4:00 p.m. (L) | Milwaukee Brewers | @ | Los Angeles Dodger | |
7:00 p.m. (L) | Toronto Blue Jays** | @ | Boston Red Sox | ||
12:00 a.m. | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
3:00 a.m. | Washington Nationals** | @ | New York Mets | ||
Wed., Mar. 21 | 9:00 a.m. | St. Louis Cardinals | @ | Houston Astros | |
4:00 p.m. (L) | San Francisco Giants** | @ | Cleveland Indians | ||
10:00 p.m. | Atlanta Braves** | @ | Washington Nationals | ||
2:00 a.m. | San Diego Padres** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
5:00 a.m. | Minnesota Twins | @ | Detroit Tigers | ||
Thurs., Mar. 22 | 9:00 a.m. | Boston Red Sox** | @ | Pittsburgh Pirates | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Houston Astros** | @ | New York Mets | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Kansas City Royals(ss)** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
10:00 p.m. | Washington Nationals** | @ | St. Louis Cardinals | ||
Fri., Mar. 23 | 9:00 a.m. | Chicago Cubs | @ | Texas Rangers(ss)** | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Boston Red Sox** | @ | Baltimore Orioles | ||
4:00 p.m. | New York Yankees(ss)** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
10:00 p.m. (L) | Texas Rangers | @ | San Francisco Giants | ||
2:00 a.m. | Arizona D-backs** | @ | Chicago White Sox | ||
Sat., Mar. 24 | 9:00 a.m. | Minnesota Twins | @ | New York Yankees(ss)** | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Washington Nationals | @ | Baltimore Orioles | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Cleveland Indians** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
8:00 p.m. | Houston Astros** | @ | Pittsburgh Pirates | ||
12:00 a.m. | L.A. Angels of Anaheim** | @ | Texas Rangers | ||
4:00 a.m. | San Diego Padres(ss)** | @ | Chicago Cubs | ||
Sun., Mar. 25 | 9:00 a.m. | St. Louis Cardinals | @ | New York Mets | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Miami Marlins | @ | Tampa Bay Rays | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Texas Rangers | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
10:00 p.m. | Cincinnati Reds** | @ | Chicago Cubs | ||
2:00 a.m. | San Francisco Giants** | @ | Chicago White Sox | ||
Mon., Mar. 26 | 6:00 a.m. | Chicago Cubs | @ | Cleveland Indians** | |
10:00 a.m. | Boston Red Sox | @ | Toronto Blue Jays | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Colorado Rockies** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
9:00 p.m. (L) | Cincinnati Reds** | @ | Texas Rangers | ||
1:00 a.m. | Chicago White Sox** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
5:00 a.m. | Baltimore Orioles** | @ | Pittsburgh Pirates | ||
Tues., Mar. 27 | 9:00 a.m. | Tampa Bay Rays** | @ | Minnesota Twins | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
7:00 p.m. (L) | Toronto Blue Jays | @ | New York Yankees | ||
11:00 p.m. | Colorado Rockies** | @ | Arizona D-backs | ||
3:00 a.m. | Atlanta Braves** | @ | New York Mets | ||
Wed., Mar. 28 | 4:00 p.m. | Washington Nationals** | @ | New York Mets | |
2:00 a.m. | Texas Rangers | @ | Kansas City Royals** | ||
Thurs., Mar. 29 | 4:00 p.m. (L) | Kansas City Royals** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | |
2:00 a.m. | San Francisco Giants** | @ | Texas Rangers | ||
5:00 a.m. | Baltimore Orioles** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
Fri., Mar. 30 | 9:00 a.m. | Chicago White Sox | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | |
4:00 p.m. (L) | Arizona D-backs** | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
7:00 p.m. (L) | Philadelphia Phillies** | @ | New York Yankees | ||
12:00 a.m. | Miami Marlins** | @ | Washington Nationals | ||
4:00 a.m. | Texas Rangers | @ | Colorado Rockies** | ||
Sat., Mar. 31 | 9:00 a.m. | Milwaukee Brewers** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers(ss) | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | Boston Red Sox** | @ | Tampa Bay Rays | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | @ | Chicago Cubs | ||
9:00 p.m. | Cincinnati Reds** | @ | San Francisco Giants | ||
1:00 a.m. | Toronto Blue Jays | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
Sun., Apr. 1 | 9:00 a.m. | Detroit Tigers | @ | Atlanta Braves | |
1:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees | @ | Miami Marlins | ||
4:00 p.m. (L) | Chicago White Sox | @ | Cincinnati Reds** | ||
10:00 p.m. | Tampa Bay Rays** | @ | Baltimore Orioles | ||
2:00 a.m. | Arizona D-backs** | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
Mon., Apr. 2 | 6:00 a.m. | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Toronto Blue Jays | |
10:00 a.m. | San Diego Padres** | @ | Texas Rangers | ||
7:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees** | @ | Miami Marlins | ||
10:00 p.m. (L) | Los Angeles Dodgers | @ | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | ||
2:00 a.m. | Oakland Athletics | @ | San Francisco Giants | ||
Tues., Apr. 3 | 6:00 a.m. | Pittsburgh Pirates** | @ | Philadelphia Phillies | |
10:00 a.m. | Colorado Rockies | @ | Seattle Mariners | ||
2:00 p.m. (L) | New York Yankees | @ | New York Mets | ||
8:00 p.m. (L) | MCR | @ | Texas Rangers | ||
12:00 a.m. | Kansas City Royals | @ | San Diego Padres** | ||
4:00 a.m. | Chicago White Sox | @ | Houston Astros | ||
Wed., Apr. 4 | 8:00 a.m. | Boston Red Sox** | @ | Washington Nationals | |
12:00 p.m. (L) | Detroit Tigers | @ | Toledo | ||
3:00 p.m. (L) | L.A. Angels of Anaheim | @ | Los Angeles Dodgers | ||
1:00 a.m. | New York Mets | @ | New York Yankees | ||
4:00 a.m. | Milwaukee Brewers | @ | Arizona D-backs |