Eastern Sports Programming Network

**maidenvoyage** · 06-20-2006, 02:53 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

Here’s a helpful rundown of the season thus far:

Monday, 4/3<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers<O

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New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics<O

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Okay, it’s opening day so I’ll concede the fact that both the Red Sox and Yankees are on.<O

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<O

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Wednesday, 4/12<O

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Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees<O

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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox<O

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ESPN felt bad for making fans in Boston and New York wait 9 days between games so they had to go with another 2-for.<O

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<O

</O

Wednesday, 4/19<O

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New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays<O

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Band together Red Sox fans. You shall be avenged!<O

</O

<O

</O

Thursday, 4/20<O

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Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Boston Red Sox<O

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I guess they couldn’t squeeze both games in on the same night this time.<O

</O

<O

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Wednesday, 4/26<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians<O

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<O

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Thursday, 4/27<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians<O

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Uh-oh, that’s 3 Red Sox games in 7 days. The Yankees must be pissed.<O

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<O

</O

That’s it for April. 4 weeks of ESPN coverage only yielded 5 Red Sox games and 3 Yankee games. In contrast, the WS Champion White Sox were on 1 time and the NL Champion Astros were never on. Now in fairness I should mention that the Braves and Indians were also on 5 times in April. As we move into May it gets completely ridiculous.<O

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<O

</O

Monday, 5/1<O

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New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox<O

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ESPN Classic<O

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Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees (2003 American League Championship Series, Game 7)<O</O
Okay, this gets us in the mood for first matchup. I get it.<O

</O

<O</O

Tuesday, 5/2<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

</O

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox (2004 American League Championship Series, Game 4)
Did they really think this would tide us over?<O

</O

<O
Wednesday, 5/3<O

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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox<O</O
What, nothing on ESPN Classic? Where’s my Yankee fix?<O

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<O

</O

Wednesday, 5/10<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

</O

New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox (2004 American League Championship Series, Game 5)<O

</O

Ah, that’s the stuff. After 7 days going “cold turkey” I need a quadruple dose. Still, I have to think Yankee fans feel slighted.<O

</O

<O

</O

Thursday, 5/11<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees (2004 American League Championship Series, Game 6)<O</O
Wow, a double dip of Sox-Yanks plus classic Sox-Yanks two days straight! It’s like I’ve died and gone to Yonkers! Is there really life beyond the Pennsylvania Turnpike? Not at the Eastern Sports Programming Network apparently.<O

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<O

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Monday, 5/15<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles<O

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It appears the Yankees can’t catch a break here. Thank goodness they play the Red Sox another dozen or so times or they could find themselves in that dark place normally reserved for the meaningless teams from the West and Central divisions.<O

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<O

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Wednesday, 5/17<O

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ESPN Classic<O

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1998 Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees<O</O
I guess they’re throwing the Yanks a bone here, though showing the Mets seems like a slap in the face. Probably a programming mix up. <O

</O

<O

</O

Sunday, 5/21<O

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New York Yankees vs. New York Mets<O

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Ah, there’s the love the Yanks have waited for so patiently. I have to believe the Red Sox turn on the dial can’t be far away.<O

</O

<O

</O

Monday, 5/22<O

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New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

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1983 Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees<O</O
Why subscribe to the MLB package when the only games that count are on ESPN over and over again?<O

</O

<O</O

Tuesday, 5/23<O

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ESPN Classic
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (9/21/96)<O</O
I had to set my alarm for 3 am to watch the replay of last night’s thriller. One Sox/Yanks game a day just isn’t enough anymore.<O

</O

<O</O

Wednesday, 5/24<O</O
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

</O

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (9/10/99)<O</O
Does anyone else find it ironic that tonight’s game is sponsored by Goodyear considering the ESPN trucks that are at the game probably won’t put 1000 miles on their tires all season?<O

</O

<O</O

Thursday, 5/25<O</O
Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Boston Red Sox<O</O
The perfect topping to the perfect week. Too bad there’s no “Classic” games in this series just yet. Go figure.<O

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<O

</O

Sunday, 5/28<O

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Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers<O

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I decided to try watching this game that’s similar to the baseball played in Boston and New York, except neither team wears pinstripes at home. It was really quite fascinating, though after the third inning I started to feel lonely –- like mine was the only television in America tuned to this channel. It happens during the World Cup and NHL season as well.<O

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<O

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Wednesday, 5/31<O

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New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers<O

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What’s the deal ESPN? It’s been a whole week since the Yanks were on! Seems May comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. It’s nice to see they snuck in the Tigers though. They do happen to have the best record in baseball – the bastards!<O

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<O

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For May, the Red Sox were on a total of 8 times to the Yankees 7. Add those numbers to the ESPN Classic showings of 7 for the Red Sox 8 and for the Yankees and we have 30 total hits in May. Pretty impressive! The next closest were the White Sox and Cardinals with 4 each – with no ESPN Classic hits for either. I’m sure things will even themselves out in June though, right?<O

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Thursday, 6/1<O

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New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers<O

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Hmmm, sounds familiar. How the heck did ESPN make it all the way to Detroit? Thank goodness they have both Goodyear and Castrol as sponsors.<O

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<O

</O

Monday, 6/5<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees<O</O
ESPN Classic<O

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New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (7/17/96)<O</O
Whew, I was beginning to forget what the Red Sox home uni’s looked like.<O

</O

<O

</O

Tuesday, 6/6<O

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ESPN Classic
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (5/28/00)<O</O
Ah, this should bridge me over to tomorrow’s game quite nicely.<O

</O

<O</O

Wednesday, 6/7<O</O
ESPN Classic<O</O
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (9/02/01)<O</O
What? Two days and all I get to taste is classic Sox-Yanks! Who’s in charge here?<O

</O

<O</O

Thursday, 6/8<O</O
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees<O</O
Ah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. But wait, where’s the classic game appetizer? I think this is a first for the 2006 season. A Red Sox / Yankees game without a Classic Red Sox / Yankees game is like a burger without fries – good, but ultimately unsatisfying.<O

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<O

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Thursday, 6/15<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins<O

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Why must I be made to suffer a whole week between fixes. Stupid College World Series!<O

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Sunday, 6/18<O

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Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves<O

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Hey, we haven’t seen the Braves since April. Of course, since they have a network of their very own I really don’t see why ESPN bothers showing Braves games anyway.<O

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ESPN Classic<O

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Classic Flamethrowers: Roger Clemens<O

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Ex- Red Sox + Ex-Yankee = a perfect fit for ESPN.<O

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<O

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Monday, 6/19<O

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New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies<O

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It did seem the Red Sox were gaining a bit too much momentum. Plus Philly is a short drive.<O

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<O

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I for one am really looking forward to the rest of the ESPN baseball season. I already see the Braves and Yankees are on the slate for next Monday.<O

</O

**dkgojackets** · 06-20-2006, 03:17 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

Believe it or not, the goal of a television station is to get ratings. If ESPN has determined that they get the highest ratings by showing Red Sox and Yankees games, then thats who they are going to show.

For the rest of us, there's MLB.tv

**dkgojackets** · 06-20-2006, 03:19 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

One other thing to keep in mind is that a lot of West Coast games start at around 10 eastern. That obviously cuts into the 11:00 Sportscenter and ends up running too late to maintain most Eastern viewers.

**maidenvoyage** · 06-20-2006, 04:11 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

Just making observations. I'm not trying to tell ESPN how to run their network. I think they do a pretty good job. In fact, I do enjoy watching the occassional Red Sox / Yankees game. It just seemed there has been an extraordinary amount of coverage of two teams.

I really should have mentioned that I started this based on a radio interview I heard where the Director of Programming at ESPN was denying that the station favored the Red Sox in any way, claiming there was a good mix of teams represented in their MLB broadcasts.

BTW, here's an interesting article regarding mlb.tv.

**dkgojackets** · 06-20-2006, 04:55 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

It works for me, though I do feel bad for people that can't watch their team.

**BunnyHardaway** · 06-20-2006, 05:11 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

I'm kind of screwed and I wish they'd show more Orioles games. I've only been able to see about 15-20 of their games so far, and don't expect to get that many more.

**SPTO** · 06-20-2006, 05:24 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

All those smileys.....AHHHHH!!!!

I agree that ESPN seems to have an East Coast bias but as someone said the goal of the network is to get ratings. If you catch some of their daytime baseball coverage you get a little more variety. I think last week or the week before they had Cubs at Astros on a Wednesday afternoon.

**dust247** · 06-20-2006, 05:25 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

I'm thankful I get FSN North so I can watch all the Twins games(atleast most). But when ESPN shows the Twins, it's blacked out and I'm stuck with ESPNEWS(and I already have that channel). So I guess it doesn't matter what ESPN shows for baseball games to me.

**thenbagamer** · 06-20-2006, 05:46 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

The Red Sox and Yankees are the 2 most popular teams in baseball. With the Red Sox obviously being 1st, of course.

**rsox** · 06-20-2006, 05:52 PM

Re: Eastern Sports Programming Network

ESPN will air the Mariners/Dodgers game wednesday night marking the first time since opening day (Giants/Padres) that the network has aired a game with later than a 8:00 pm est. start time.

Eastern Sports Programming Network

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