I love the MLB.TV's live look-ins they have, when you're perusing scores on MLB.com. They just pop up when the drama is high, and you get to see awesome things like the Mets hitting into an unassisted triple-play to end a game during the Phillies!

Now that is just flat out depressing. My favorite part of the whole play, was that before the triple play the Mets fans were really getting into it. Everyone on hand was chanting "Let's Go Mets"....then BAM!....game over. Schadenfreude at its best. Sorry Mets fans.

It's no secret that ESPN covers certain teams more than others, but it's always fun when a player calls them out. Heath Bell, the Padres' closer, took offense to a recent John Kruk comment about his team, and decided to say what everyone is already thinking. From R&R via Sign On San Diego....

“I saw John Kruk on “Baseball Tonight” and he said, ‘They’re playing really well, but I don’t believe in them,’” Bell said before Monday’s game. “And I saw ESPN’s promo for tonight’s game. They mention the Mets are opening Citi Field, they mentioned the starting time, but nowhere did they mention the Padres. That gave me the (expletive).”

Bell was just getting warmed up in his pregame commentary.

“I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox and Yankees and Mets - and nobody else,” said the closer, a former Met. “That’s why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I’m really turned off by ESPN and ‘Baseball Tonight.’ When Jake Peavy threw 8 1/3 innings on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It’s all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.”

Now if this comment was directed at say Sports Center, I wouldn't even pause, but calling out Baseball Tonight is something different. I think the show has been losing fans for years now, and unlike NFL Live or NBA Fastbreak, it's apparent that they don't give equal coverage to all teams. However, in Baseball it has been proven that certain teams draw better ratings, and you can't entirely blame the "Leader" for their biases.

But lucky for us, and Heath Bell, the MLB Network is currently putting the once "go to" show, to shame.

Heath Bell Does Not Care For Your Coverage, ESPN (Rumors and Rants)

ESPN will be airing the first two Mets games from their new digs at Citi Field, and not only will you be seeing the park for the first time, but Erin Andrews will be taking you on a tour of the digs. Oh and there will be a special Baseball Tonight from the stadium, which is sponsored by the new "Star Trek" movie. Via ESPN PR....

ESPN’s April 13 Monday Night Baseball telecast will feature the first regular-season game from Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets, who host the San Diego Padres at 7 p.m. ET. Dan Shulman will call the game – also available in high definition on ESPN HD and via ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV – with analysts Orel Hershiser and Steve Phillips. During the game, reporter Erin Andrews will provide viewers a tour of the new ballpark.

The game will be available locally on ESPN in both team markets, co-existing with local coverage in New York and San Diego. In New York, the game will also be available on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square.

Additionally, Baseball Tonight presented by Star Trek – with host Karl Ravech and analysts Peter Gammons and John Kruk – will originate live from the ballpark for segments during the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter, along with a highlights, news and information show at 10 p.m.

I love seeing new stadiums, so having a tour is a great idea. Oh and having Erin Andrews conduct it isn't a bad idea either. Here is the rest of your national announcing schedule for the week (I'll have the weekend one up by Friday)....

Monday, April 13th

San Diego Padres at New York Mets (ESPN, 7pm)- Dan Shulman, Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Phillips, Erin Andrews

Wednesday, April 15th

San Diego Padres at New York Mets (ESPN2, 7pm)- Dave O'Brien, Joe Morgan, Rick Sutcliffe

Thursday, April 16th

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees (MLB-N, 1pm)- Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Jim Kaat
Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins (MLB-N, 8pm)- Victor Rojas and Dan Plesac

ESPN's Baseball Graphics Department had a bit of a slip up today, and while it wasn't that bad, it was still pretty funny. The start of the Mets-Reds game was delayed about ten minutes, and when ESPN finally got around to introducing the lineups, they accidentally showed a graphic of the Ballpark in Arlington and a Rangers logo behind a shot of David Wright....

Again, not that bad of a slip up, especially when you consider that the Rangers are playing on ESPN2, but still a bit humorous.

Leave it to the Orioles, right? Announcers, Fred Manfra and Joe Angel were calling yesterday's Spring Training game against the Mets, when rain interrupted the contest. The O's and Mets left the field for a bit, but came back once the drizzle had subsided. Unfortunately for those listening on 105.7FM in the Metro Baltimore area, Joe and Fred did not return.

In fact, the duo even called home and said the game had been cancelled. Via the NY Post's Mets Blog....

FORT LAUDERDALE -- This is a bit off topic, but too funny nonetheless:

The Orioles' flagship radio team of Joe Angel and Fred Manfra quietly left the stadium here today during a 90-minute rain delay and didn't come back for the final eight innings, telling their bosses at 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore that the game had been canceled.

"Yes, the rest of the game was not on the air back home and we don't know why," baffled Orioles PR rep Jeff Lentz said later. "We looked over during the game and they weren't there."

The thing I find most random about this, is how no one in Baltimore could A) figure out the game was still going on, and B) if they did, how no one could get in touch with them. It's not like this was in the ninth inning. The rain delay happened in the first for chrissakes! Too funny.

O's announcers up and leave (NY Post)

Official press release just came down from ESPN, and I wanted to pass that along to you. While the release does detail their reasoning, the one thing I didn't think about last night was the MLB Network's role in this. ESPN is probably scrambling now to beef up their MLB coverage, on the heels of MLB-N's success, and with the Phillips move....Peter Gammons is freed up to head back to the studio. Which is where he belongs.

Anyway, here's the official statement from ESPN....

ESPN's talented Sunday Night Baseball commentator team of Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, entering their 20th season together in the booth, will be joined each week by analyst Steve Phillips. Phillips, who joined ESPN in 2005, will make his regular-season debut on Opening Night, April 5, when the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD. The game will also be available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

Miller and Morgan have called season-long Sunday Night Baseball game of the week telecasts since the series began in 1990. Phillips will continue to provide game analysis on Monday Night Baseball and in the studio on Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and other programs throughout the week.

Phillips said, “It’s a tremendous honor to join Sunday Night Baseball, the preeminent MLB game of the week. Jon and Joe have set the standard for baseball telecasts over the last 19 years, and I look forward to being a member of their team.”

Morgan added, “I’m pleased that Steve is joining our Sunday Night team. I have admired Steve since I met him as a general manager, and now as a valued member of the ESPN ‘family.’ I look forward to interacting with Steve and Jon, with whom I have had 19 fulfilling years on the Sunday Night game of the week. My hope is that our new lineup will provide an even better presentation, and I am anxious to work toward that goal with Jon, Steve and the rest of the ESPN baseball group.”

Miller stated, “Steve, as a former GM, knows better than anybody how teams are put together, trades are made and the inevitable stress between managers and GM’s and between the front office and ownership. Now, combining Joe’s expertise of the game on the field and in the dugout and Steve’s expertise and ongoing knowledge of the inner workings of each franchise, I believe in the 20th season of SNB, we’ll reach our highest level yet as an entertaining and provocatively informative baseball telecast. Welcome, Steve.”

The fact that Jon Miller just used the word "expertise" for both Joe and John, just has me rolling on the floor right now. Forget Morgan, because he actually had a HOF career, Phillips is an "expert" GM? This is the guy that signed Mo Vaughn, Pedro Astacio, Mike Bordick, Bobby Bonilla, Rickey Henderson, Jeromy Burnitz and Kazuo Matsui, right? Okay....just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

CC Sabathia gave up one run and four hits in his seventh complete game since being traded to Milwaukee, got a 2-run homer from Ryan Braun in the 8th, and then watched as the Mets' bullpen gave up 2 solo homers in the eighth to lose to the Marlins. Thus, the Brewers will be heading to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies, and the Dodgers are on their way to Wrigley for a series with the Cubs.

That leaves the AL Central yet to be decided, because both the Twins and White Sox won today. The Sox host the Tigers tomorrow; if Detroit wins, the Twins will head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays. If Chicago wins, there will be a play in with the Twins on Tuesday.

As for the Mets themselves......blarrrgghhh. That stupid bullpen was going to be the death of them, and honestly, I'm shocked that Jerry Manuel could get them that close to a playoff spot with a pen that blew saves with that kind of regularity. As a fan, I don't think we need to change too much offensively -- a few more clutch hits wouldn't hurt anyone -- but Omar Minaya needs to spend money to revamp the pen.

Our condolences, Mets fans....and goodbye Shea....

Hey, it's NFL Sunday, but we can't ignore baseball today because we have some DRAMA!!!! for you! The Mets are finishing up against the Marlins on TBS today (if the rain lets up), and the Brewers take on the Cubs an hour later for NL Wild Card rights (those of you with WGN on the cable or satellite or the appropriate Fox Sports channel will get to see this). Both teams wins, both teams lose, it means a play-in game.

Hopefully Oliver Perez can be as "gangsta" as Johan Santana was yesterday. LET'S GO METS!

The AL Central's a bit more complicated. Minnesota is a half game up on the White Sox, so if the Twins beat the Royals and the White Sox lose to the Indians, it's done. If both teams win or the Twins lose and the White Sox win, the South Siders host Detroit for a make-up game, which could lead to a tiebreaker game.

Treat this as your baseball open thread.

Stuff like this just pisses me off. FOX has decided to replace the Mets-Marlins game, which has huge Playoff implications, with the possibly meaningless Yankees-Red Sox game. The main game for the network will be the Cubs and Brewers, but most of the East Coast (25% of the country in total) will be getting the Yanks and Sox. Via NY Daily News....

Looking at the final Saturday of the regular season as a chance to max out on its baseball ratings, Fox is playing it strictly by the book. It's betting a traditional rivalry - even though the game means nothing - will get a bigger rating than a contest, featuring a New York team, with huge playoff implications.

Also, bringing the Cubs, the biggest ratings magnets in baseball, into 30% of the country offers further proof the Foxies are playing chalk here.

In the final weekend of the regular season, Fox ain't taking a chance by betting on what it considers a ratings longshot. Before the regular season, Fox guarantees a certain average rating to advertisers for its baseball package. Not delivering on that "guarantee" is terrible for Fox's bottom line.

While I understand that the Sox-Yankees rivalry normally gets good ratings throughout the season, and that Boston could be playing for the division, but there's no way that it would beat out a Mets game with their trip to the Playoffs on the line. If the Rays clinch the AL East tonight, the Red Sox are probably going to just bench their starters, and 25% of the country will be stuck with a dreadful game. I just don't understand the move. And I, like most of the country, want to let Mets' schadenfreude wash over me this weekend.

Oh well. At least TBS picked up the slack so we can enjoy the misery on Sunday. Here's the announcing schedule if you're interested....

SATURDAY:

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers - Josh Lewin and Mark Grace (FOX, 3:55pm, 63%)

Markets Include: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tulsa

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox - Dick Stockton and Jerry Remy (FOX, 3:55pm, 25%)

Markets Include: Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Hartford, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Norfolk, Orlando, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Tampa, West Palm Beach

Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - Tom McCarthy, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal (FOX, 3:55pm, 7%)

Markets Include: Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington

Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins - Chris Rose and Bert Blyleven (FOX, 3:55pm, 4%)

Markets Include: Kansas City, Minneapolis

SUNDAY:

TBS MLB on Deck - Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken and Dennis Eckersley (TBS, 12:30pm)
Florida Marlins at New York Mets - Chip Caray and Harold Reynolds (TBS, 1pm)
MLB 2008: An Epic Season (ESPN, 8:30pm)

Mets not Fox-y enough for national broadcast (NY Daily News)

If you're looking for a slight distraction during halftime, I've got one for you: the wonderful men at the Stephen A. Smith Heckling Society of Gentlemen recorded what happens when you decide to catch some Z's at a Mets game: people balance empty beer cups on your head.



So wrong, yet so wonderfully right.

This was from Tuesday night, and I'm sorry for not posting on it yesterday, but it's worth a look see. During the sixth inning of the Mets-Phils game a cat decided to run onto the field. Listen as Keith Hernandez goes nuts over the pretty kitty. From TSB via The Fightins....

"OMG!!!!1! Did YOU SEE those white pawz?!!1? Sooooooo cute!" White Mittens Keith? Seriously???

Mets Broadcasters Are Masculine (The Sporting Blog)
Shea Stadium = New York’s Litterbox (The Fightins)

SNY's Keith Hernandez and Mets SS Jose Reyes almost came to blows after arguing on the team plane and both had to be restrained this past weekend. Hernandez had said that the Mets were "babying" Reyes and apparently that didn't sit well with the player....

A team source described the situation aboard the plane as "very heated." One player told The Post that he thought Reyes and the popular former Met - now an analyst for the club's SNY TV network - were close to exchanging punches until others stepped in.

Reyes said yesterday he was angry at Hernandez after numerous friends and relatives told him Hernandez accused the Mets of "babying" Reyes during the broadcast of Sunday's 3-1 win over the Yankees New York Yankees at Shea Stadium.

"He got his point [across] and I got mine," Reyes, when asked to describe the confrontation, told The Post before he drove in three runs in the Mets' 11-1 victory over the Cardinals last night. "I'm not too happy with the way he's been talking."

Good times! I'm actually surprised this hasn't more with players and announcers in New York recently. The Mets are just in a terrible spot right now, and while I'm glad SNY is being honest, it seems to be a bit over-the-top at times. I have a feeling that this isn't the last were going to hear of this though.

Skidding Mets A Real Fight Club (NY Post)