Mystifying MLB On TBS Schedule

The Sunday afternoon MLB on TBS package is mystifying because we can't figure out how they're going to be successful with this thing.
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TBS games are not exclusive. Both teams can and will televise the game to their regular markets.
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ESPN Sunday Night and FOX Saturday games are exclusive broadcasts.
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TBS can not change the start time of a game to a window with potentially higher ratings.
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ESPN dictates Sunday Night start times (usually 8:00 PM EST). FOX dictates Saturday start times (usually 3:55 PM EST).
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TBS does not have camera position priorities over the local rightsholders.
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ESPN, on weeknight games, gets camera priority over local rightsholders in select positions including those adjacent to each dugout.
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So what's the hook that will get people to tune in?
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Like we said, mystifying.
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Chip Caray will handle the play by play with analysts to be named later. Joe Simpson, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Bob Brenly and Steve Stone worked for TBS during last year's playoffs. If Stone returns, hopefully he will do a little more homework than he appeared to have done last fall.
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TBS has made their game selections through Memorial Day Weekend. All times Eastern.
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April 6
Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays
1:00 PM
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April 13
Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies
1:30 p.m.
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April 20
LA Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves
1:30 p.m.
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April 27
NY Yankees @ Cleveland Indians
1:00 p.m.
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May 4
NY Mets @ Arizona Diamondbacks
4:00 p.m.
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May 11
NY Yankees @ Detroit Tigers
1:00 p.m.
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May 18
Milwaukee Brewers @ Boston Red Sox
1:30 p.m.
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May 25
Seattle Mariners @ NY Yankees
1:00 p.m.
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Hopefully TBS' coverage in 2008 will be better received than it was in 2007.
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Even if it is though, we'll always miss the SuperStation WTBS era and gems like this:
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Thanks to TVARK

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Pac Man Fever. Catch It.

Saturdays In The Park

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For your convenience, and a chance to preview what your schedule may look like in a few months, here is what Fox has planned for the 2008 regular season. Fox will also televise the All-Star Game from Yankee Stadium, the NLCS and the World Series.

Once again ALL GAMES, regardless of time zone, will start at 3:55 PM Eastern, except for May 3 and May 10 which will start at 3:45 PM Eastern.

April 5
NYM @ ATL
CWS @ DET
LA @ SD

April 12
NYY @ BOS
COL @ ARI

April 19
NYM @ PHI
CLE @ MIN
LA @ ATL

April 26
NYY @ CLE
LAA @ DET
ARI @ SD

May 3
CHI @ STL
NYM @ ARI
BAL @ LAA

May 10
NYY @ DET
STL @ MIL

May 17
MIL @ BOS
CLE @ CIN
LA @ LAA

May 24
NYM @ COL
ARI @ ATL
LAA @ CWS

May 31
LA @ NYM
DET @ SEA
ATL @ CIN

June 7
CHI @ LA
SEA @ BOS
CLE @ DET

June 14
BOS @ CIN
LA @ DET
PHI @ STL

June 21
STL @ BOS
CLE @ LA

June 28
NYY @ NYM
CHI @ CWS

July 5
BOS @ NYY
CHI @ STL

July 12
COL @ NYM
SF @ CHI
MIN @ DET

July 19
BOS @ LAA
CLE @ SEA
SD @ STL

July 26
NYY @ BOS
ATL @ PHI

August 2
LAA @ NYY
MIL @ ATL

August 9
NYY @ LAA
STL @ CHI
ATL @ ARI

August 16
LAA @ CLE
PHI @ SD
SEA @ MIN

August 23
LA @ PHI
ATL @ STL
SD @ SF

August 30
PHI @ CHI
SEA @ CLE
COL @ SD

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September 6
PHI @ NYM
DET @ MIN
ARI @ LA

September 13
ATL @ NYM
MIL @ PHI
SEA @ LAA
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September 20
TBD - 3 GAMES
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September 27
TBD - 3 GAMES

When is Opening Day Not Quite Opening Day?

When it's the Monday following a Sunday Night "Opening Day" which is almost a week after two teams played their "Opening Day" on another continent.

That's when.

But for those who just love working side-by-side-by-sides, dealing with newly hired security personnel who think they're in the Secret Service, and ending your day striking a potentially unfamiliar truck with an EIC who counts BNC barrels, here's what ESPN has planned.

Why wait? Call your favorite scheduler now!

2008 ESPN / ESPN2 "TRADITIONAL" OPENING DAY SCHEDULE

(Monday, March 31 - All Times Eastern)

1:05 PM TOR @ NYY ESPN

2:20 PM MIL @ CHI ESPN2

4:10 PM SF @ LA ESPN

7:00 PM LAA @ MIN ESPN2

10:05 PM HOU @ SD ESPN2

Washington Ballpark Inaugural Elected For National Audience

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball crew will have the honor of breaking in Washington's new ballpark, as the game between the Braves and Nationals has been chosen as the North American Opener, on Sunday Night, March 30.

The Red Sox and A's will have played two regular season games in Tokyo earlier in the week.

2008 ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL SCHEDULE

(all 8:00 Eastern telecasts unless otherwise noted)

3/30 ATL @ WSH

4/06 CWS @ DET (ESPN2)

4/13 NYY @ BOS

4/20 NYM @ PHI

4/27 LAA @ DET

5/04 CHI @ STL

5/11 BOS @ MIN

5/18 NYM @ NYY

5/25 LAA @ CWS

ESPN has until 23 days before each of the following dates to choose 1 of 3 preselected games. The 2 games not chosen return to afternoon starts on local television.

The games of 7/13 and 7/20 are confirmed selections.

6/01 LA @ NYM, ATL @ CIN, DET @ SEA

6/08 CHI @ LA, CLE @ DET, PHI @ ATL

6/15 ATL @ LAA, LA @ DET, SD @ CLE

6/22 CWS @ CHI, SEA @ ATL, DET @ SD

6/29 LAA @ LA, CHI @ CWS, NYY @ NYM

7/06 BOS @ NYY, CLE @ MIN, HOU @ ATL

7/13 COL @ NYM

7/20 BOS @ LAA (6:00 PM Eastern)

7/27 NYY @ BOS, ATL @ PHI, CWS @ DET

8/03 PHI @ STL, CLE @ MIN, MIL @ ATL

8/10 STL @ CHI, ATL @ ARI, OAK @ DET

8/17 LAA @ CLE, PHI @ SD, SF @ ATL

8/24 ATL @ STL, LA @ PHI, SD @ SF

8/31 SEA @ CLE, LA @ ARI, PHI @ CHI (ESPN2)

9/07 PHI @ NYM, LAA @ CWS, DET @ MIN

9/14 DET @ CWS, MIL @ PHI, SEA @ LAA

9/21 BAL @ NYY, STL @ CHI, DET @ CLE

It Only Seems Like Every Game Is Boston & New York

2008 ESPN / ESPN2 MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Monday games unless noted. All games 7:00 PM Eastern unless noted.

4/07 TB @ NYY (ESPN2)
4/14 BOS @ CLE
4/21 NYM @CHI
4/28 NYY @ CLE
5/05 BOS @ DET
5/12 BOS @ MIN
5/19 CHI @ HOU
5/27 LA @ CHI (TUES)
6/02 NYY @ MIN
6/09 CLE @ DET
6/16 BOS @ PHI
6/23 SEA @ NYM
6/30 NYM @ SEA
7/07 MIN @ BOS
7/21 MIN @ NYY
7/28 LAA @ BOS
8/04 BOS @ KC
8/11 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
8/18 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
8/25 TBD @ TBD (ESPN2)
9/05 NYY @ SEA (FRI, 10 PM Eastern)
9/12 ATL @ NYM (FRI)
9/19 DET @ CLE (FRI)
9/26 NYY @ BOS (FRI)