The World Baseball Classic: 39 games on TV ... that is, if you have the 'special channel'
That would mean your cable or satellite TV system has the new MLB Network on Jan. 1, 2009.
And the announcement today that all the not-really-classy games leading up to the championship at Dodger Stadium near the end of March will be on the new league-owned network that hasn't even launched yet should really start a clamor.
Remember the WBC?
What they're calling "the world's premiere international baseball tournament" -- mostly, because the MLB won't let its players compete in the Olympics, which is why the IOC has dropped baseball from its schedule -- starts with 16 teams playing in seven venues in five nations (and territories) starting March 5.
ESPN will televise 23 games, including the semifinal and final, in English and Spanish. The MLB Network will do the other 16, plus a nightly studio show.
ESPN International has also the rights to all 39 games to the rest of the world.
"It was a simple calculus that produced our agreement with ESPN to broadcast once again the World Baseball Classic," said Gene Orza, the MLB Players Association Chief Operating Officer, who had to sign off on this.
Calculus? No one said there'd be math involved in this tournament. Although, if you're representing the players, you do need a heavy duty calculator to figure out how much your 5 percent take is during each contract renegotiation.
"ESPN recognized that the second Classic promises to be even more captivating than the first, and we recognized that the excitement of the games demanded partnering with the premier sports broadcaster in the world," Orza continued. "And we're thrilled that MLB Network will be joining us too. The network has in place a team with great ideas and ingenuity, and its programming will only further solidify the tournament's place as the ultimate in international baseball."
Tony Petitti, the MLB Network chief, also said in a release that the WBC "demonstrates our commitment to airing big events and showcasing a wide variety of baseball programming."
What else is there to show in March, except exhibition games?
And is this really a "big event"?
For those who need to know, the tourney starts March with with China, Taipei, Japan and Korea playing in Tokyo, Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City; the U.S., Canada, Italy and Venezuela playing in Toronto; and the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico playing in Puerto Rico.
ESPN will do all the games in Tokyo, three in Toronto and four in Puerto Rico. MLB Net has all Mexico City, three in Toronto and two in Puerto Rico.
Round two is in San Diego and Miami from March 15-19. Dodger Stadium has the rest from March 21-23.
After the 2009 event, it will be held every four years. If you can wait that long.
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