It's Time To Cut The Head Off The Angels Snake

That is one big snake!

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

Over the past five years of mediocrity, I have tried to be as patient as I can hoping for an Angels turnaround. Well that's all changed.  It's frustrating to know that the Angels have an owner in Arte Moreno who seems to run his franchise like Jerry Jones runs the Dallas Cowboys in football.  Now I know there's no point in thinking Moreno will fire himself or sell the team in the near future because that's not going to happen.

I'm here to tell you that my patience has run out.  April 2, 2014 may just turn out to be an important day in my Angels' fandom.  That wasn't the day I realized Arte Moreno wasn't the world's greatest owner after all.  I found that out a long time ago.  No, April 2 of this year was the day I officially joined the "Fire Mike Scioscia!" bandwagon.  The reality is he probably should have been canned at the end of last season.  Well Sosh, I've had it with your apathetic attitude and inept strategy as a field general!  You know it's bad when players are openly griping, whether it's right or wrong, about the shortcomings of a coaching staff a mere three games into the season.   As the fictional Howard Beale says in the film Network, "I'M MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"     

There are those who are going to say that it's still early in the season, so there should be no reason to push the panic button when the Halos have only played 3 games coming into tonight without notching a win.  Well I say it's time to push the panic button and push it hard!

What's so baffling about the whole situation is the Angels actually had a good Spring Training for a change that brought some much needed optimism to a increasingly impatient fanbase.

Long gone are the days when the Angels faithful were willing to subject themselves to last place finishes year in and year out.  The difference between then and now is the expectations and aspirations weren't as intense as they are in today's win now philosophy in sports.

I will still keep tabs on the Angels and hold on to a slight glimmer of hope that they will turn in around, but the longer they keep their stubborn manager around, they will remain a hapless bunch with no shot at postseason glory.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

       

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Seattle Mariners

This is a new series of posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts. (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Seattle Mariners
Photo Courtesy of:
Wikimedia
BlueCanoe under CC BY-SA 3.0 License
 

Radio Broadcasts

ESPN Radio KIRO 710 AM

Commentators: Rick Rizz, Aaron Goldsmith (play-by-play), Matt Pitman (pre/postgame host), Shannon Drayer (clubhouse reporter).

KIRO 710 AM is the flagship radio station of the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Mariners Radio Network. KIRO is based in Seattle, Washington and has a sports talk format.

The Mariners Radio Network carries M's broadcasts throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Hawaii.

Television Broadcasts

Root Sports Northwest

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-687 (HD/SD)
Dish Network-426 (HD/SD)

Commentators: Dave Sims, Rick Rizz (play-by-play), Mike Blowers, Dan Wilson, Jay Buhner (color analysts), Brad Adam (pre/postgame host), Jen Mueller (field reporter).

Root Sports Northwest is an American regional sports network that is part of Root Sports.  It is an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks that serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.  It is owned by DirecTV Sports Networks and the Seattle Mariners.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

Northwestern Football To Unionize?

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

KoreAm under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

The Northwestern Football union ruling last week could signify a monumental to the future landscape of college sports.  Either way you look at it, the issue of whether or not to unionize in college athletics is definitely not so cut and dry.

On the one hand I feel that college athletics, particularly in Division I, has a definite business aspect to even though the NCAA seems to do everything it can to dispute such a viewpoint.  Most recruits are brought into a college for what they can provide on the playing field while a proper college education is pushed to the side in most cases.  Another thing is while former Northwestern player Kain Colter has said the main desire with unionizing is due to medical concerns for players, I find it hard to believe that's the only motivating factor behind the union movement.

As the days have gone by since this news first broke, I have done a lot of thinking as to whether this would be good or bad for college athletics.  My initial reaction was that a union in college athletics would be a good thing overall but now I'm not so sure.

No matter how you or I feel about this movement, I think there will be a time when unions are a part of college athletics in the future.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved    

Opening Day 2014 Is Here!

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

abrowncoat under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

The wait is finally over!  One of the greatest days in all of sports has arrived!  With that in mind, here is how I see everything playing out as we enjoy what should be a national holiday.

AL East

Tampa Bay Rays: 97-65
Boston Red Sox: 95-67
New York Yankees: 92-70
Baltimore Orioles: 85-77
Toronto Blue Jays: 82-80

The AL East is usually one of the better divisions in baseball year in and year out and this year will be no exception.  Having said that, it will be a three team race down the stretch.  In the end, I think Joe Maddon's bunch will find a way to get it done like they always seem to do.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers: 95-67
Cleveland Indians: 93-69
Kansas City Royals: 90-72
Chicago White Sox: 85-77
Minnesota Twins: 79-83

The AL Central will come down to another three team race.  Will all the money being spent, there should be no reason why the Tigers should be at the top of the division yet again.  Miguel Cabrera will probably be Miguel Cabrera, or something close to that, even though that new contract will be an albatross as the years go by.  The only question marks for the Motor City cats are Brad Ausmus' impact as manager and the shortstop situation with the absence of Jose Iglesias.

AL West

Oakland Athletics: 94-68
Texas Rangers: 92-70
Los Angeles Angels: 87-75
Seattle Mariners: 82-80
Houston Astros: 60-102

I feel like a broken record.  Even though both teams have injury concerns, I can't bet against the Rangers and Athletics to battle it out for the top spot.  If the injured players on the A's and Rangers miss a significant amount of time, then I could possibly see the Angels moving closer to the top.  As was the case the last couple of years, it will come down to the pitching and defense.  Let's just hope that sometime over the next 7 years, Mike Trout will get a taste of the postseason.

NL East

Washington Nationals: 95-67
Atlanta Braves: 91-71
Philadelphia Phillies: 80-82
New York Mets: 75-87
Miami Marlins: 72-90

The Nats are the most complete team in the NL East.  I think new manager Matt Williams will do a great job guiding the squad in 2014.  The Atlanta Braves will still be competitive but the absence of pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy will make it hard for the Bravos to repeat as division champs.

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals: 99-63
Pittsburgh Pirates: 97-65
Cincinnati Reds: 90-72
Milwaukee Brewers: 79-83
Chicago Cubs: 69-93

The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates will be the cream of the crop in the NL Central.  Regardless of the final standings at the end of the year, one team will win the division while the other will be a Wild Card.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: 96-66
San Francisco Giants: 90-72
San Diego Padres: 83-79
Arizona Diamondbacks: 81-81
Colorado Rockies: 76-86

With the number one payroll in baseball, the boys in blue should be the kings of the NL West.  The only question will be how much time will go by before fans in L.A. can see their beloved Dodgers on television?

Playoffs

AL Wild Card: Red Sox over Indians.

ALDS: Rays over Red Sox in 5, A's over Tigers in 4.

ALCS: Rays over A's in 6.

NL Wild Card: Pirates over Braves.

NLDS: Cardinals over Pirates in 5, Dodgers over Nationals in 4.

NLCS: Cardinals over Dodgers in 7.

World Series: Cardinals over Rays in 7.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: San Diego Padres

This is a new series of posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

San Diego Padres

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Ewen Roberts under CC BY 2.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

XEPRS 1090 AM "The Mighty 1090"

Commentators: Ted Leitner (play-by-play), Bob Scanlan (color analyst). Mike Pomeranz, (Pre/postgame host), Mark Sweeney (Pre/postgame host).  Former manager and military veteran Jerry Coleman passed away on January 6 2014.

XEPRS 1090 AM is the flagship radio station of the San Diego Padres.  It is an American-operated sports talk radio station targeting English-speaking listeners in San Diego.

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports (FS) San Diego

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-694 (HD/SD)

Dish Network-408 (HD/SD)

Cox Cable San Diego-56 (SD), 1056 (HD)

Cox Cable Tucson-73 (SD), 1073 (HD)

Cox Cable Las Vegas-96 (SD), 1096 (HD)

Time Warner Cable San Diego-61 (SD), 732 (HD)

Time Warner Cable El Centro-20 (SD), 720 (HD)

Time Warner Cable Desert Cities (Coachella Valley)-76 (SD), 685 (HD)

Time Warner Cable Yuma-70 (SD), 799 (HD)

Time Warner Cable Hawaii-227 (SD)

ATT U-Verse San Diego-776 (SD), 1776 (HD)

Commentators: Dick Enberg (play-by-play), Mark Grant, Tony Gwynn (color analysts), Mike Pomeranz, (Pre/postgame host), Mark Sweeney (Pre/postgame host).  Tony Gwynn is color analyst for select games.

Fox Sports San Diego is an American regional sports network that serves the San Diego metropolitan area, neighboring Imperial County, as well as Coachella Valley, Las Vegas Valley, Southern Arizona and Hawaii. It is operated as an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks.  The channel is owned as a joint venture between Fox Cable Networks (80% ownership stake), and the San Diego Padres (20% ownership stake).  Fox Cable Networks is a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group division of 21st Century Fox.

Tim Musick

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved    

NFL Institutes New Goal Post Slam Dunk Penalty

Let's just call the new penalty the "Jimmy Graham Rule."

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Jeffrey Beall under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

When will the ridiculousness end?!  At this week's owners' meetings, the NFL decided to make slam dunks into goalposts after touchdowns illegal.

The reason for this new penalty apparently is to guard against the goalposts being bent out of shape, thus becoming a little lopsided.  This particular scenario occurred in a game on November 21 of last year when Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints bent the goalpost in the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons.

As always it seems, the safety and health argument figures to have prevailed here and I have no issues with that.  On the other hand, what's wrong with having a player being about to celebrate a big moment in a game such as a touchdown?

I'm coming to the realization that the game of football as I once knew it is not the game that it used to be some years back.  I'm okay with certain changes geared towards protecting players from concussions, but rule changes involving player celebrations seems a little excessive.  The NFL is surely not doing itself any favors to live down its nickname of the "No Fun League."

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved    

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Los Angeles Angels

This is a series of new posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts. (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Los Angeles Angels
Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia 
Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

KLAA 830 AM

Commentators: Terry Smith (play-by-play), Jose Mota (son of Manny Mota) (Spring Training color analyst), Mark Langston (regular season color analyst), Darren Chan (producer/engineer).

KLAA 830 AM is the flagship station of the Los Angeles Angels.  It is a sports format radio station licensed in Orange, California.  It is owned by the Angels.  It is the only Orange County station with adequate coverage of the Los Angeles County area.  As an Angels fan, I only listen to the station when the games are on.   The station also has rights to broadcast the games for the Anaheim Ducks (NHL), Oakland Raiders (NFL) and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (College Football).

The other various sports talk shows that are on during the day are not worth listening to, such as Roger Lodge's show.

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports (FS) West, Prime Ticket (select games).

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-Fox Sports West: 692 (HD/SD), Prime Ticket: 693 (HD/SD)
Dish Network-Fox Sports West: 417 (HD/SD), Prime Ticket: 411 (HD/SD)
(Check local listings for cable providers).

Commentators: Victor Rojas (play-by-play), Mark Gubicza (color analyst), Kent French, Mark Rogondino (pre/postgame hosts), Jose Mota (son of Manny Mota) (pre/postgame analyst).

A little personal story about Jose Mota.  My mom and I were fortunate to meet him one time at a Trader Joe's store in San Dimas California.  We were going about our day getting groceries and he was standing in line at one of the checkout counters paying for his groceries.  After a few seconds of trying to figure out if it was indeed Mr. Mota, we went up to him and he was kind enough to have his picture taken with us inside the store!

Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket are American regional sports networks that are affiliates of Fox Sports Networks which serve Southern and Central California, southern Nevada and Hawaii.  The channels are owned by Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group division of 21st Century Fox.  Prime Ticket had the rights to Los Angeles Dodgers telecasts before the team started its own regional sports network with Time Warner Cable called Sportsnet LA in 2014.

Fox Sports West holds the exclusive rights to approximately 150 Angels games throughout the season. When other local team's games such as the Kings (NHL), Clippers (NBA), or Ducks (NHL) overlap with the Angels, the games can then be found on either Prime Ticket or on local channel KCOP 13 (very rare occurrences).  Select national broadcasts of Angel games can be found on Fox Saturday Baseball, ESPN, TBS and MLB Network.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

No Surprise Here, My Bracket's Busted!

Photo Courtesy of:

Wikimedia

randomduck under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

It only took one week but like many of you, my bracket is officially busted.

Thank you for not cooperating Wichita State!  At least Michigan State is still alive.

As the Sweet Sixteen gets underway here are my revised picks.

In the South Regional in Memphis, I'll go with the Florida Gators to survive and make it to Arlington.  They will beat Stanford in the Elite Eight.  

In the East Regional in New York City, I'll take my pick for tournament winners the Michigan State Spartans. They will beat Iowa State in the Elite Eight.  

In the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis, the Louisville Cardinals will be victorious in the battle of Kentucky.  They will beat the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight.

In the West Regional in Anaheim, the Arizona Wildcats will reign supreme!  They will oust the Badgers of Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.

That means my new Final Four teams are Florida, Michigan State, Louisville and Arizona with Michigan State still winning it all!

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Milwaukee Brewers

This is a new series of posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Milwaukee Brewers

Photo Courtesy of:

Wikimedia

Steve Paluch under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

WTMJ 620 AM

Commentators: Bob Uecker, Joe Block (play-by-play), Kent Sommerfeld (producer/engineer).  Bob Uecker and Joe Block alternate play-by-play duties during the broadcast.  Uecker does solo play-by-play for the first, middle and last two innings.  Block does innings 3-4 and the 7th inning.  Both broadcasters offer analysis throughout the games.  Uecker has been a broadcaster for the Brewers since 1971.

WTMJ 620 AM is the flagship radio station of the Milwaukee Brewers.  It is located in Milwaukee and airs a format of news, talk and sports.

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports (FS) Wisconsin

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-669-1 (HD), 669 (SD)

(Check local listings for channels on cable providers).

Commentators: Brian Anderson, Matt Lepay (play-by-play), Bill Schroeder (color analyst), Craig Coshun (pre/postgame host and field reporter for select games), Jeff Grayson (pre/postgame host), Telly Hughes (field reporter), Dave Nelson, Jerry Augustine (pre/postgame analysts).  Brian Anderson also does play-by-play for select MLB on TBS national broadcasts on Sundays.

Fox Sports Wisconsin is an American regional sports network that is operated as an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks.  It serves the state of Wisconsin and is owned by Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group division of 21st Century Fox.

Tim Musick

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved   

The Moral Of The Darren Sharper Investigation

One thing I've learned over the years of watching countless hours of sports coverage is athletes are just like us in a way.  That is to say they are by no means perfect.

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

RyguyMN under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

While there are those athletes who over the years have chosen to cheat the system (Lance Armstrong, Biogenesis linked players etc.), or bully fellow players (Richie Incognito), I can't think of a more heinous individual than Darren Sharper currently.

To have an alleged history of drugging and raping multiple women on multiple occasions is beyond despicable.  Hopefully if the allegations are proven true, Mr. Sharper will receive an appropriate punishment for an alleged serial rapist: life in prison.

The bigger picture I want to focus on here though is very important.  When we see stories like the Darren Sharper one, we are reminded that not all athletes and other public figures are perfect role models.  The real role models should be people we look up to in our daily lives such as parents, doctors and teachers to name a few.

I'm also well aware that as time goes on, kids will continue to grow up idolizing a favorite athlete and that's fine.  Just as long as they understand that their favorite athlete may not be the same person in their private life compared to their public life.

One last thing.  For all current and future athletes of the world, you are role models whether you like it or not.  People will always be influenced one way or another by what you do in your life.  In choosing what kind of role model to be, be more like Cal Ripken Jr. than Lance Armstrong, Richie Incognito or Darren Sharper.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved  

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Minnesota Twins

This is a new series of blog posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Minnesota Twins

Photo Courtesy of:

Wikimedia

Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

 

Radio Broadcasts

KTWN 96.3 FM

Commentators: Cory Provus, Kris Atteberry (play-by-play), Dan Gladden (color analyst), Kris Atteberry (pre.postgame host).  Atteberry fills in for Provus or Gladden when they are on vacation.

KTWN FM is the flagship radio station of the Minnesota Twins and the Twins Radio Network.  The network has affiliates in five states including Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Twins Radio Network is sponsored by Treasure Island Resort and Casino and is thus nicknamed the "Treasure Island Baseball Network."

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports (FS) North

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-668 (HD/SD)

Dish Network-436 (HD/SD)

(Check local listings for other carriers).

Commentators: Dick Bremer (play-by-play), Bert Blyleven (color analyst).

Fox Sports North is an American regional sports network.  It serves Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Iowa, Upper Michigan along the Wisconsin border and the eastern parts of North Dakota and South Dakota.  The network is operated as an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks.  It is owned by Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group division and 21st Century Fox.  

The network also has three separate feeds.  The "metro" feed is broadcast in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.  The "outstate" feed serves the rest of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa and extreme western Wisconsin.  The "Wisconsin" feed service area is fairly self-explanatory.

Tim Musick

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved 

Is Tanking Worth It?

Long gone are the AI Glory Days for 76ers

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

That is what the Philadelphia 76ers will find out at season's end in the NBA.  Their losing streak has reached 25 games.  This shows that the 76ers are going through a definite rebuilding period right now.

In this rebuilding period, they will definitely be the odds on favorite in the draft lottery to win the number one draft pick for this year's draft.  The draft process in the NBA works differently than the other major sports because the team with the worst record from the previous season won't necessarily have the right to make the first pick of the draft in a given year.

As far as I know, the NBA is the only sport that holds a draft lottery to help determine the order in which teams can make their draft selections.  In that sense, the time leading up to the draft is essentially a game of chance.

This brings us back to the 76ers and whether tanking a season is really worth it.  Under the current rules in the NBA, I would say tanking is not worth it.

Even though it's probably safe to assume the 76ers will end the season with the league's worst record, there is no guarantee that the franchise will come out victorious in this year's lottery.  It would be hard to buy any explanation of the team not tanking at this point though.

As a fellow fan, I can understand what 76ers fans are going through somewhat.  For years I went through a similar experience as a fan of the Angels when they were no good for several years before winning a championship. Even these last couple years when they were expected to contend for a World Series it was really tough to watch them day in and day out, even though it got a little easier to accept reality as the season wore on.

For the record, I have no problem with the 76ers playing out the string of games in order to position themselves for a better draft pick opportunity.  They just need to be prepared for the possible outcome where they don't end up with the top selection.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved  

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Miami Marlins

This is a new series of blog posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Miami Marlins
Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia
Bloggeraccountusa under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

WAXY 790 AM "The Ticket", WAQI Radio Mambi 710 AM (Spanish broadcast)

Commentators: Dave Van Horne, Glenn Geffner (English play-by-play), Rafael "Felo" Ramirez, Luis "Yiky" Quintana (Spanish play-by-play).

WAXY is the flagship radio station of the Miami Marlins and the Miami Marlins Radio Network.  WAQI is the Spanish flagship station.  WAXY airs a sports talk format.  WAQI usually airs a Spanish news talk format.  Both stations are located in Miami.

The network consists of 11 stations throughout the state of Florida.

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports (FS) Florida

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-654 (HD/SD)
Dish Network-423 (HD/SD)
(Check local listings for other providers).

Commentators: Rich Waltz (English play-by-play), Raul Striker Jr. (Spanish play-by-play for Secondary Audio Programming or SAP), Tommy Hutton (color analyst), Jeff Conine, Preston Wilson (pre/postgame analysts), Craig Minervini, Allison Williams (pre/postgame hosts and field reporters).

Marlins games are televised on Fox Sports Florida.  It is a regional sports network that is operated as an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks.  The channel is owned by Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group division and 21st Century Fox.  It is also a sister network of Sun Sports.

All games are broadcast on Fox Sports Florida with the exception of those broadcast on Fox Saturday Baseball.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved      

Jonathan Martin Trade Is A Blessing

Photo Courtesy of:

Wikimedia

Daniel Hartwig under CC BY 2.0 License

Jonathan Martin has gotten the fresh restart he seemed to be in dire need of.  Martin will be joining a 49ers teams who, in addition to being better than the Dolphins, seem to have better control of what goes on behind closed doors in the locker room.  Martin will also be playing once again under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh, who was his college coach at Stanford.

I won't go into the details of the Martin/Incognito saga because there is more than enough information available online that delves into exactly what happened.  I will just say that no person under any circumstances should have to go through what Martin went through.  I understand that athletes in all sports have gone through some sort of rookie initiation, but there comes a time when we as a society take things a little too far.

I wish you good luck on this new beginning and the rest of your career Jonathan Martin.

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

   

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Tampa Bay Rays

This is a new series of posts with the goal of the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Tampa Bay Rays

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

WDAE 620 AM

Commentators: Dave Wills, Andy Freed (play-by-play), Neil Solondz (pre/postgame host)

WDAE 620 AM is the flagship radio station of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network.  WDAE originates its broadcasts from Tampa, Florida and airs a sports talk format.  

The Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network consists of 21 stations.  The broadcast area of the network stretches across parts of the southeastern United States and Pennsylvania.  The states covered by the network include Florida, Alabama (WIQR 1410 AM in Prattville), Arkansas (KLRG 880 AM in Little Rock), and Pennsylvania (WAZL 1490 AM in Hazleton).

Television Broadcasts

Sun Sports

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-653 (HD/SD)

Dish Network-422 (HD/SD)

Check local listings for other carriers.

Commentators: Dewayne Staats (play-by-play), Brian Anderson (color analyst), Todd Kalas (pre/postgame host, field reporter).  Kalas is the son of the late Harry Kalas who was famous as the longtime broadcaster of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sun Sports is an American regional sports network that is operated as an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks and serves the state of Florida.  The network is owned by Fox Cable Networks, a unit of the Fox Entertainment Group and 21st Century Fox.

Tim Musick

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved 

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: Pittsburgh Pirates

This is a new series of blog posts with the goal of providing the most in-depth and up to date information possible on where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

Pittsburgh Pirates
Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia
Mr. schultz under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

KDKA 93.7 FM 

Commentators: Greg Brown, Tim Neverett (play-by-play), John Wehner, Steve Blass, Bob Walk (color analysts).  All five commentators will split time between radio and television broadcasts throughout the season. Greg Brown is notable for his catchphrase "Raise the Jolly Roger!" after every Pirates victory.

KDKA is the flagship station of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Pirates Radio Network.  The network is carried on almost 40 stations throughout four states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland.  KDKA currently airs a sports radio format.

Television Broadcasts

Root Sports Pittsburgh

Channel Availability:

DircTV-659 (HD/SD)
Dish Network-428 (HD/SD)
Comcast-843 (HD)
Verizon FiOS-576 (HD), 76 (SD)

Commentators: Greg Brown, Tim Neverett (play-by-play), John Wehner, Bob Walk, Steve Blass (color analysts), Kent Tekulve (studio analyst), Robby Incmikoski (field reporter).  All five commentators consisting of play-by-play and color only will split time between radio and television broadcasts throughout the season.  Wehner is a color analyst for road games.  Blass is a color analyst for home games.  Brown is famous for the catchphrase "Raise the Jolly Roger!" after every Pirates victory.

Root Sports Pittsburgh is a regional sports network serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is part of the Root Sports television brand and is an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks.  It is owned by DirecTV Sports Networks.  The network reaches more than 2.4 million viewers in six states including all of Pennsylvania (outside of the Philadelphia market), all of West Virginia as of August 2013, western Maryland, eastern and southeastern Ohio, southwestern border areas of New York State as well as Ashland, Kentucky.

Root Sports Pittsburgh televises over 150 regular season games.



Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved 

Phil Jackson Heading To A Big City With Bright Lights And Big Stars

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Keith Allison under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

The Zen Master has decided to take his talents to the footlights of Broadway to oversee the Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks.  Those collective cries of anguish you hear are most definitely coming from the bright sunny shores in Southern California.

At this point, it's a pretty smart move on Phil's part to not give serious consideration for the same kind of position in La La land.  Sure it would be nice to bring someone with his kind of pedigree into the Lakers front office, but I'm fairly certain that's not going to happen and let's face it, the Purple and Gold aren't going to be a quick fix as currently constructed.  I know what I'm about to say is going to hurt, but as Laker fans we need to get out of the mindset that Jackson is a knight in shining armor riding in to save the day when things are bad in Laker land.

The only downsides I see from Jackson's perspective in New York are that the Knicks aren't much better than the Lakers and he would be spending a lot of time apart from his fiance and longtime partner Jeanie Buss.  In any case, Jackson might just be looking for a new challenge in life.  

Tim Musick
Copyright 2014
All Rights Reserved

MLB 2014 Where To Watch And How To Listen: St. Louis Cardinals

This is a new series of blog posts with the goal of providing you the most in-depth and up to date information available for where you can watch and listen to your favorite MLB team's local broadcasts.  (For those who live outside the local broadcast area, Major League Baseball offers subscriptions to mlb.tv).

St. Louis Cardinals

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

Johnmaxmena2 under CC BY-SA 3.0 License

Radio Broadcasts

KMOX-AM 1120

Commentators: Mike Shannon, John Rooney (play-by-play), Mike Claiborne (pre/postgame host)

KMOX-AM 1120, owned by CBS Radio, is the flagship station of the St. Louis Cardinals and is part of the St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network.  The network is the second-largest radio network in all of Major League Baseball with 117 affiliate stations.  It is capable of reaching 21 million listeners in nine states including Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee.  KMOX's signal covers much of the continental United States at night.

Television Broadcasts

Fox Sports Midwest (FS Midwest)

Channel Availability:

DirecTV-671 (HD/SD)

Dish Network-418 (HD/SD)

ATT U-Verse-1748 (HD), 748 SD

(Check with other carriers for availability)

Commentators: Dan McLaughlin (play-by-play), Rick Horton, Al Hrabosky "The Mad Hungarian," Tim McCarver (color analysts), Jim Hayes (field reporter) Pat Porris (pre/postgame host)

Since 2000, Cardinals' telecasts have generated the top three in ratings in MLB every season.  FS Midwest is the exclusive TV broadcaster of the St. Louis Cardinals, with the exception of national broadcasts on Fox Saturday Baseball (KTVI Channel 2), and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.  Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Tennessee, Fox Sports Oklahoma and SportSouth air Cardinals games for fans living within the Cardinals broadcast territory who do not receive the Fox Sports Midwest channel.

Tim Musick

Copyright 2014

All Rights Reserved