Spring Training TV Broadcast Update
Updates look at which Nats games will be televised
Picking up where we left off a couple of weeks ago, MLB Network has announced its slate of Spring Training games. While most of the games overlap with MASN, and some are on tape delay, here’s a revised schedule for your reference:
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Network |
| Mon. | Feb. 28 | 9:30pm* | Mets | MLB |
| Sun. | Mar. 6 | 1:00pm | Braves | MASN, MLB |
| Fri. | Mar. 11 | 6:00pm | Astros | MASN |
| Sat. | Mar. 12 | 1:00pm, 7:00pm* |
Yankees | MASN, MLB |
| Thu. | Mar. 17 | 6:00pm | Braves | MLB |
| Sun. | Mar. 20 | 1:00pm, 11:00pm* |
Tigers | MASN, MLB |
| Thu. | Mar. 24 | 8:00pm* | Tigers | MLB |
| Fri. | Mar. 25 | 6:00pm | Cardinals | MASN |
* = Tape Delay
As previously reported, the March 11th game is a split-squad affair, which is our best chance to see the prospects. The MLB Network “30 Clubs in 30 Days” will feature the Nationals on Wednesday, March 23 at 10 p.m.
Thanks, Sue. What a concept…………Nats ST games on TV.
The gravitational pull of Harper is stronger than most people realize. Even MLB Network has been drawn in by it.
I might buy that if two of those games weren’t opposite the NCAA tourney, but in all seriousness, I think Harper’s sent down by the 10th.
Your’re probably right, but without Harper the Nationals would have likely recieved the minimum coverage from MLB Network (four games, only one live).
If Harper performs (albeit it does very much look like he is having real problems with major league breaking pitches) beyond expectations I’m not sure they can send him down … at least until close to the end. In this case you might want to reward valiant effort with more major league time. Just as with Storen they need to show Harper (and other prospects) that Rizzo means what he says when he says the majors are a “performance league”. Performance equates with promotions and more playing time.
While I’m glad the decision of when and how to use him in ST isn’t mine, you’d have to think that the word is out that he can be had with offspeed stuff. I’m not sure how quickly he’s going to be able to adjust to that in one or two ABs a game, which makes Zuckerman’s early-March prediction look spot-on.
He still needs minor league seasoning … but in ST, if he’s a fast learner, he might start to learn how to detect breaking pitches … by situation or by how the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand … at this point he can leave them alone and wait for fast balls … and when he knows when those are coming … if he wants to play with the big boys straight away he is going to have be quick about it …
Slightly off-topic, but looking at the roster & the 31 days remaining in ST, I’m guessing that there will be four ‘cut-down’ days – March 9th (60+ to 52+/-), 16th (52+ to 43+/-), 23rd (43+ to 34+/-) & 30th (34 to 25+). Strasburg & Wang will probably both be in the ‘final cut’, with both going to the DL.
Any thoughts?
Not off-topic at all. The minicamp started this past Wednesday and the rest of the minor-leaguers are reporting on Friday and next Tuesday, with games starting on the 20th. The last split-squad game is on the 19th, so I’d expect at least one of the cut-down days to be after that game.
Is Michael Taylor being converted to an outfielder? I thought I remembered him getting a few at bats in Hagerstown in the outfield at the end of the season. Zuckerman’s got the minor league camp accelerated invitees up and lists Taylor as an outfielder.
Baseball-reference.com lists him as having played all four infield positions, but at 19 it’s more than possible they’ve decided he’s better suited for the OF. I have a “Morning Reading” post in the can that links to the MASN post about that.
Sue,
Looking forward to your take tomorrow on the 43 players invited to accelerated minor league camp. I’m presuming these are what the Nats consider the ones with the most upside. No great surprises, a few minor ones — only one of the Guzman twins, no Manno, guess he’ll have to earn their respect.