First Rumors Of ESPN Sunday Night Dates

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 8:59 AM CST Comment 57 comments

I'm hearing that the Cubs might have as many as four Sunday night dates before the All-Star break, three of them at home and one on the road:

Sunday, April 12 at Milwaukee
Sunday, April 19 vs. St. Louis
Sunday, May 31 vs. Los Angeles
Sunday, July 12 vs. St. Louis

As of now these aren't official. We also hope, as the rumors had it, that Joe Morgan won't be returning to the Sunday night broadcast booth.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Is there a cap...........

……….on the number of Sunday night games in which a single team can participate?

And Al, regarding Saturdays, when will the noon or 3P times be determined?

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 14, 2009 9:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The maximum # of Sunday night games is 5 per year.

And I don’t know regarding Saturdays yet.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are the Yankees and Red Sox...

Exempt from this rule?

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jan 14, 2009 10:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Actually, no. But remember, the WEEKNIGHT ESPN games are not subject to this rule, which is why you see NYY and BOS all the time.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Are these games certain

or are they reserved for ESPN SUnday Night Baseball to decide by a date if they want them or not?

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 14, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When they announce it officially..

…. they’ll usually commit to games through the end of May.

After that they usually pick games depending on who’s hot, etc. IIRC they have to give 2-3 weeks notice before they pick after June 1.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 14, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

the Cubs were on seemingly every week last year.

make*art

by neverAcquiesce on Jan 14, 2009 2:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sunday night games

Always seemed to have a special aura from the crowd. It’s a shame I won’t get to hear loud and clear “Kerry” chants in the 9th inning.

By the way, what are our odds of playing the Giants when Randy Johnson is going for his 300th win? It seems as if Cubs get those unlucky opportunities the last couple years (Glavines 300th and Sosa’s 600th)?

by ak123 on Jan 14, 2009 9:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Cubs play the Giants...

… May 4 and 5 at home… that’s probably too early, unless he gets off to a hot start.

The Cubs are at SF for 4 games in September (24-25-26-27)… by which time he should already have it.

Don’t forget that Roger Clemens went for his 300th vs. the Cubs, and they denied him, in 2003.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can hardly forget that day...

It was the beginning of the end for Hee-seop Choi when he and Kerry Wood collided near the first base line and ended as one of the great Cubs wins that year when Karros hit a 3-run homerun of Jose Acevedo in the 7th. What a homerun! What a game!

by rynomite23 on Jan 14, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually saw Clemens get his 300TH

At Yankee Stadium vs the Cards

it was awesome (at the time)
but now I feel stupid & LIED TO

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 14, 2009 10:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wait, Joe Morgan may not return??

YES!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 14, 2009 9:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That was the rumor.

Anyone have the link? I can’t find it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 9:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh I hope it's true!

because that made my day if it is!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 14, 2009 9:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Sources say"

that he would be shifted to the Wednesday telecast. Not official: per NY Daily News

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jan 14, 2009 9:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

damn, I liked that bunch for Wed night baseball

win some, lose some..

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 14, 2009 9:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Morgan relegated to Wednesday nights?

So there IS a God.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ask and you shall receive my child

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 14, 2009 10:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Morgan may be gone

but Bob Raissman’s mustache in that article is amazing.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Jan 14, 2009 2:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Forget bridges.

That’s where Jimmy Hoffa’s buried.

make*art

by neverAcquiesce on Jan 14, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's glorious

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Jan 15, 2009 11:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FireJoeMorgan.com

stopped all blogging this past year. And Joe Morgan was let go from his Sunday Night MLB gig. I miss the website more than the man.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jan 14, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why the Joe Morgan hate?

Did I miss something?

"If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying." - Ichiro

by The Guy Who Accidentally Saved the World on Jan 14, 2009 9:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To me he seemed to be a Cub hater

Morgan dissed Ryne Sandberg by not attending his induction to the HOF

maybe thinking he was a better 2nd baseman,

either way, I’m not a huge Morgan when it comes to his work on ESPN

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 14, 2009 10:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

the whole Banks’ Basket debacle.

make*art

by neverAcquiesce on Jan 15, 2009 9:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I really don't like him because of his obession of Barry Bonds

he feels like he HAS to use him in EVERY inning to compare to someone

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 15, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How much time do you have?

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 15, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 15, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He ignored logic, history, and numbers

and instead chose his opinion repeatedly

by philadelphiacub on Jan 15, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MLB saturday nights

will broadcasts on the MLB network result in nationwide blackouts like the fox games on Saturday afternoons? ?

by ballstitch on Jan 14, 2009 9:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nope, no National blackouts.

I would guess it would have the same local blackouts as the Monday and Wednesday night ESPN games but I don’t know for sure.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 14, 2009 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone read who will be the announcing team

for the MLB Network games that wil be broadcast weekly?

I was wondering if it will be one of their own employees or if they will contract with broadcasters from other teams like TBS does.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 14, 2009 10:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I imagine...

… it will be gasbag Matt Vasgersian. Think Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, just younger and much more annoying. From what I can tell, he is the one hire of the network who is a play-by-play man. I am not sure if they have one guy who is designated as the color man or if they’ll rotate based on whomever as more exposure to the teams being broadcast (i.e. Al Leiter when its the Mets, Plesac when its the Cubs, …).

The prospects of Matt Vasgersian is the one thing that I am unhappy about with the new network.

by dmlichte on Jan 14, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

How they chose him is beyond me.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

His favorite ballpark is Wrigley

or so he says.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jan 14, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's his bio for anyone who is unfamiliar with him:

Matt Vasgersian joins MLB Network as a studio host following seven years as the lead play-by-play announcer for the San Diego Padres. Prior to San Diego, Vasgersian worked in the Milwaukee Brewers broadcast booth for five seasons after spending six years in the Minor Leagues. An accomplished broadcaster on the national level, Vasgersian enjoyed a full-time profile with FOX Sports that included play-by-play with FOX Baseball Saturday and FOX NFL Sunday.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 14, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and how close he became being the Cubs play by play guy

before Kasper was hired, I understood Vasgersian was a finalist.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vasgersian

IIRC the Cubs really wanted him but he was under contract with the Padres. He was also rumored to be in the running for the Dodgers job which ultimately went to Charley Steiner. I’m not sure if the contract stood in the way (as it did with Dan Schulman, who the Cubs really wanted)… lets just be thankful for small favors.

I am not sure why people in the industry are so high on Vasgersian. I’ve never heard of anyone who enjoys listening to him.

by dmlichte on Jan 14, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just guessing... Matt Vasgersian?

Must say I’m happy he’s not in Chicago daily.

by N Oakley on Jan 14, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We totally avoided the short end of that stick.

make*art

by neverAcquiesce on Jan 14, 2009 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS (to herself)

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 15, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just Wondering...

Does any know if the weekly game going to be exclusively on MLB or will it be broadcast locally as well as on MLB? Since I can’t get MLB on my system (U-Verse) I am dreading that if the Weekly game is excluse to MLB, and the game is a Cubs game, even though I live in the Chicago area, I will not be able to watch the game

Kasey

See what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Also, see the Cubs 2009 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2009.html

by kaseyi on Jan 14, 2009 1:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I do NOT think MLB Network is doing any exclusive games...

… yet.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 1:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FJM!

'talkin 'bout practice?

by CubFanRaysaddict on Jan 14, 2009 10:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

it's only been a few months

but I miss Ken Tremendous/Mose Schrute/Michael Schur dearly………

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jan 14, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously...

They left the door open for some possible stuff in the future though…Deadspin had a really awesome Q&A with them right towards the end- you should check it out if you haven’t read it.

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 14, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

read it.

I read deadspin, kissing suzy kolber, and with leather on a regular basis.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jan 15, 2009 9:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is the best FJM-style post

I’ve seen in a while
http://homerderby.com/archives/2247

by Eamus J Catuli on Jan 14, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

September 20

There’s a good chance that the September 20 Cubs-Cardinals game in St. Louis will be on Sunday night. We’ll find out way on over into the season about the September Sunday night games. That could very well be the 5th Sunday nighter for the Cubs, maxing them out.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 14, 2009 10:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

All before the ASG...

hmmmm…..

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 11:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, that's only four.

They could have one more after that. And remember, none of this is official yet.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 14, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like it when the Cubs are on ESPN or FOX

I prefer my home town announcers.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Jan 14, 2009 2:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Either way...there's lot's of times

I go with radio audio to go along with the TV. Most of the Fox games are radio only since 1, they’re daytime and it’s easy to be outside and 2, the TV work is as egregious as the announcers and pre/post game clowns.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Jan 14, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think I remember a story...

a month or so back, saying that Fox was scrapping their pre-game show (axing Zelasko & Kennedy) and would start their Saturday game broadcasts this year at 2:30pm (CT).

I also remember some story about how Zelasko was asking to be the Dodgers play-by-play voice on TV, and had to double-check to make sure I wasn’t reading some Onion article.

by MillsChC on Jan 14, 2009 4:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs