MLB Extra Innings

[Benjamin Grimm]

I just checked the online schedule for MLB Extra Innings, and discovered a new wrinkle for this season. And it's a nice one.

In the past, each game was carried on one and only one channel. Now, for many (but not all) games, we get a choice of the home team feed or the visiting team feed.

For this afternoon's game, I could watch Gary, Ron, and Keith on Channel 734, or the Marlins' group of louts on Channel 735.

This means I'll have fewer chances to sample broadcasts from other cities, but in the vast majority of cases, that's a good thing. I recall from last year, the guys from Miami and from San Diego were among the worst. I think I kinda liked the Cincinnati guys, and I did hear Vin Scully doing the solo thing from Dodger Stadium, which was a real treat.

I tried accessing the non-DirecTV version of the MLB EI schedule (at http://getbaseball.com) but they don't have the 2008 schedule online yet. So I don't yet know if this extra level of choice is just for DirecTV customers, or if everyone will get it.

[soupcan]

That's a good perk. We utilize EI at my father-in-law's house in Mass. on weekends during the summer. It'll be nice to get the hometown feed if its available via cable.

I wish they'd add the postgame wrap-ups too though.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. They usually kill the feed as soon as they go to commercial for the first time.

I was glad that they stuck with it for the 2006 NL East clinching celebration. And they also carried the 1986 20th Anniversary tribute as well.

[Guest AG/DC]

The San Diego team was crap. The Arizona guys seemed like drunk jock frat boys to the last man, then they'd all grow up if Joe Garagiola came by.

I don't remember the Fishguys too well.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I remember being particularly irked by Tommy Hutton in the Marlins booth. (He's the "get outta here, ball" guy, isn't he?)

He also crowed with delight after that 7-run first inning on September 30.

The less I hear of him the better.

[Guest themetfairy]

I hate the White Sox team - they're homers to a ridiculous degree. Seattle's crew is almost as bad.

We like watching the Red Sox on NESN, just for Remy's accent.

[Farmer Ted]

I liked listening to the Hawk in Chicago It was Darrin Jackson and theo ther clowns that killed that broadcast. NESN does a great job.

[DocTee]

The Giants crew-- Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow, with Greg Papa in reserve--is the best in the bigs, right now.

[Guest AG/DC]

Duane Kuiper tried to replace Joe Morgan in the field, to disastrous effects for the Giants. Maybe he can make up for it by replacing Joe Morgan in the booth.

[Guest themetfairy]

Ray Fosse calls the A's games. He does a good job, and it's nice seeing that he's had a decent post-collision career.

[DocTee]

Fosse's awesome. He was paired with Papa --and on occasion the legendary Bill King--before SF lured him across the Bay. Now he has some schlub working beside him.

For a while the Papa-Fosse and Krukow-Kuiper tandems were the best in the biz, in my opinion.

[metirish]

I didn't know I had Extra Innings until tonight, I guess they are doing a promotion, listened to an inning of the Marlins commentry, watching the Texas at Seattle game, the home crew seems pretty good.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hey, I have it too.

[DocTee]

Yep, that's how I got the Mets feed today. Dunno know how long it lasts.

[Guest KC]

They do the first week for free.

[Guest themetfairy]

It's free the first week, and also the first week after the All Star break.

BTW, there's no discount if you purchase it later in the season. So if you like it, this is the time to cough up the $159 (the price also goes up in a week or two).

No, I don't get a commission from Extra Innings. But I've subscribed to it since 2002 or 2003, and I've enjoyed seeing the out of market games throughout the season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And for an out-of-market Mets fan like myself, it's the best thing since cheese.

[stevejrogers]

Need to get a job in sports journalism so I can write it off as a work expense!

[metirish]

I like this extra innings package, it's not like watching ESPN , still I won't be getting it.

[Fman99]

I wonder if/how many of the MLB EI package games are in HD.

[Benjamin Grimm]

About half the games will be HD this year, as I understand it.

Tonight on DirecTV, the SNY feed for the Mets-Marlins game will be on Channel 722, by the way.

[metirish]

Vin Scully is on tonight, second inning in LA.

[Guest KC]

One of my favorite things on extra innings is Scully.

[Fman99]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: About half the games will be HD this year, as I understand it. Tonight on DirecTV, the SNY feed for the Mets-Marlins game will be on Channel 722, by the way.

I could not find any of the EI games in HD on my service (Time Warner). I'll have to call and find out if any of the games are carried in HD.

[Guest themetfairy]

On Comcast, Extra Innings isn't available in HD.

[metirish]

I'm watching the Giants at the Dodgers in the final game of their three game series and the commentator said that the Giants are looking for their first extra base hit of the season, 16 singles all series....

[Guest AG/DC]

That's why I think the Nats have the better team.

[Guest Triple Dee]

I have a subscription to MLB.TV Mosaic and every game is available in HD.

[Fman99]

themetfairy wrote: On Comcast, Extra Innings isn't available in HD.

Same thing for Time Warner customers. C'est la vie.

[metirish]

No Mets game but Extra Innings has a few good ones on right now, Boston @ Toronto - Seattle @ Baltimore with Gary Thorne doing commentery and Traschel pitching, Pirates @ Marlins , KC @ Twins...