Garret Anderson Caricature

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Watching MLB without Cable or Satellite in Los Angeles, Part 2

Last year I became one of the thousands, if not millions, of cord cutters who ditched their cable/satellite subscriptions and instead put a fraction of that money to use by subscribing to on demand services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video, or simply redirected that money towards more practical things like food, gas and medical bills. For me in particular, I opted to purchase a Roku box, a Netflix subscription, an MLB.TV subscription as well as watching over-the-air TV. Although I had unexpected and mixed results, it was clear that I could not follow the bulk of live Los Angeles Angels games on television without paying my cable or satellite company. Instead I had to resort to watching the occasional local broadcast or paying $120 to watch the glitchy archived games via MLB.TV on my Roku device. I wondered how the 2011 season would unfold for me.

Well, the 2011 season is already underway, and this year I made a decision to hold off on paying the $120 to MLB.TV so that I could observe how other subscribers would respond to the spotty and imperfect service. It didn't take long to discover that the number of complaints about the service was already accumulating rapidly like Pittsburgh losses. Still, I might consider subscribing to the service midway through the season when the price drops significantly.

In the meantime, I'm only watching live games on the local broadcasts and listening to games on radio. Additionally, I'll watch archived condensed games, game recaps and highlights on MLB.com. All of this is without cost. So far after a few weeks, I really haven't missed watching the games all that much, especially with radio broadcasts available for every game. If anything, this is the way it was when I grew up following games in the 80's sans the internet. During that time, games were typically only broadcast on television during the weekends, so you learned the art of listening to baseball on the radio. I've found that as much as I love baseball, I don't really need to watch every single game anymore. This is coming from someone who lives and breathes baseball year-round.

The blackout policy with MLB.tv is a raw deal for consumers because it essentially forces consumers to purchase a cable or satellite subscription or else watch most of their in-market games as archived games via MLB.tv, since a much smaller percentage of games are broadcast over the air for free. So if you're a cord cutter like me, ask yourself if it's really worth paying $600 a year just to watch every one of your local team's games? Not for me and especially not in this economy. Neither does MLB really have any motivation to change such arrangements--not when teams are reaping multi-million dollar television contracts year after year. In the end, consumers, in particular the cordcutters, are the losers and big businesses are the winners. And here's the irony, I would gladly pay $120 directly to FOX in order to watch in-market games on FOX Sports West (FOX doesn't currently offer such an online service), but if I subscribed to cable or satellite (currently the only option for all live broadcasts), my cable or satellite provider would only pay FOX perhaps $2 dollars for my subscription while passing the cost on to me. It's time for FOX to move beyond the current cable/satellite deals of the past and begin offering their own subscription-based online service.

Watching MLB without Cable or Satellite in Los Angeles

THIS BASEBALL SEASON, I DECIDED that it was time to pull the plug on my cable tv subscription and instead opt for MLB.tv to watch my local Angels battle it out for another A.L. West title. My new setup consists of a $120 subscription to MLB.tv, $100 for a Roku box that allows me to stream online games to my tv, and a $30 over-the-air antenna to pick up local channels for both FOX11 and KCOP13 baseball broadcasts. For all that planning, boy, did I get a rude awakening on Opening Day a couple of weeks ago. Not only did MLB & ESPN blackout the Yankees/Boston opener nationwide (though you could watch it on ESPN3), but I realized after reading the fine print that I would be blacked out from watching my Angels LIVE.

While some fans are very much aware of MLB's blackout policy that prohibits users from watch ing LIVE, in-market games, the majority of fans aren't aware of this arcane restriction. For $120, most fans expect to be able to watch their local teams play LIVE. In fact, I would gladly pay the $120 to watch ONLY Angels and Dodger games. Unfortunately, I was one of the duped. As a result, I'm forced to watch archived games 90 minutes (yes, nine-zero) after their conclusion. That means that if an Angels games ends at 10 PM, I must wait until 11:30 PM to begin watching it. For most fans, 11:30 PM is bedtime, NOT prime time — at least not that same day.

So, without cable or satellite, I quickly came to the conclusion that MLB.tv does NOT replace cable or satellite, where I can watch an additional 130 odd games on FoxSportsNet, but instead serves as a supplemental tool for those who wish to follow teams outside their market area. Anyone considering buying MLB.tv, should seriously consider this.

However, where it doesn't seem fair is that MLB.tv inadvertently rewards fans who live outside their team's market area, rather than the majority of fans who live in the same market as their favorite team. So, an Angels fan in New York can watch every single game live on MLB.tv (except when they play the Yankees or Mets), but an Angels fan in L.A. cannot watch any of their live games (nor the Dodgers) on MLB.tv because he lives in the Angels' and Dodgers' market area. This silliness is just one reason why the blackout policy is bad for MLB. The whole MLB blackout controversy is well documented on the web, so I won't go into that, but what I did want to share is how many games an Angels fan can watch up until the end of prime time, both live and archived.

In taking a closer look at the Angels 2010 Broadcast Schedule, WITHOUT cable/satellite, here 's the breakdown for watching LIVE Angels games:

KCOP13 (26 games)
FOX11 (6 games)
ESPN3 (2 games online)

That's a total of 34 games or 21%. Paltry to say the least.

Then, I remembered that since the Angels play at least 23 day games on FSN and at least 2 day games on MLB.tv (starting by 1:10 PM), this means that these games will most likely be archived by MLB.tv before 7 PM prime time, give or take a 17-inning nailbiter. Awesome. I could fire up the archive version and watch the game after dinner and still make it to bed on time. So, in terms of prime time or LIVE viewing, I can watch a total of 57 games (2 other games on FSN have start times pending).

So, 57 games or 35%. Not happy, but I'll take it for now.

But there's a big caveat as I write this. Currently, Roku has had numerous issues delaying the launch of their MLB Channel, now already two weeks into the season. So right now, it's either wait for those rare KCOP13 broadcasts or FOX's Saturday Baseball Game of the Week or watching games via my desktop or laptop. As much as I love watching baseball every day during the regular season, perhaps a longing makes the heart grow fonder.

Now, I could resubscribe to cable for 6 months and pay $300 just to follow every Angels game or stick with my current setup and watch 35% of the games at $120. In this current economy, it's a no brainer as on those blackout dates, I can immerse myself in the art of listening to baseball on radio, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with Terry Smith in the booth.

2010 Angels Baseball TV Schedule
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MLB.TV EXCLUSIVE Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
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6/20 CHC (TBD)
8/22 MIN 11:10 AM
9/19 TB 10:40 AM
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FSN Cable/Satellite Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
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4/11 OAK 12:35 PM
4/13 NYY 10:05 AM
4/14 NYY 10:05 AM
4/17 TOR 10:07 AM
4/18 TOR 10:07 AM
4/25 NYY 12:35 PM
5/1 DET 10:05 AM
5/2 DET 10:05 AM
5/22 STL 11:15 AM
5/31 KC 11:10 AM
6/3 KC 11:10 AM
6/6 SEA 1:10 PM
6/10 OAK 12:35 PM
6/18 CHC 11:20 AM
6/19 CHC 10:05 AM
6/27 COL 12:35 PM
7/8 CWS 11:05 AM
7/21 NYY 10:05 AM
7/28 BOS 12:35 PM
8/11 KC 12:35 PM
8/25 TB 12:35 PM
9/26 CWS 12:35 PM
9/29 OAK (TBD)
10/3 TEX 12:05 PM
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FOX Channel 11 (6 games)
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4/24 NYY
5/29 SEA
6/5 SEA
8/21 MIN
9/4 OAK
9/11 SEA
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ESPN3 (2 games free online viewing)
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5/3 BOS
7/4 KC
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KCOP Channel 13 (26 games)
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4/2 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
4/7 Wed MIN 7:00 PM
4/11 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
4/18 Sun TOR 10:00 AM
4/25 Sun NYY 12:30 PM
5/9 Sun SEA 1:00 PM
5/16 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
5/23 Sun STL 11:00 AM
5/30 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
6/11 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
6/12 Sat LAD 7:00 PM
6/13 Sun LAD 1:00 PM
6/23 Wed LAD 7:00 PM
6/24 Thu LAD 7:00 PM
7/3 Sat KC 6:00 PM
7/11 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
7/18 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
7/25 Sun TEX 5:00 PM
8/1 Sun TEX 12:30 PM
8/8 Sun DET 10:00 AM
8/15 Sun TOR 12:30 PM
8/29 Sun BAL 12:30 PM
9/5 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
9/12 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
9/18 Sat TB 4:00 PM
9/25 Sat CWS 6:00 PM

Chone "Gone" Figgins to Seattle

THIS ONE WAS TOUGH to stomach as an Angels fan, Chone Figgins as a Seattle Mariner, wreaking havoc alongside Ichiro throughout the American League. In this day and age when true leadoff hitters are so hard to find, the Angels weren't all that interested in the end. Yes, the up-and-coming Brandon Wood was out of options and needed to be given a chance to truly prove himself, but sheesh...I can't help but feel like Reagins let a good, no, a great one get away.

Halos Sweep Away Wally and the Sox

HISTORY WAS MADE last Sunday when the Angels finally defeated the Red Sox for the first time in their playoff history after having previously lost all four series. So while I'm super late on this sketch, it's better late than never!

Trevor Bell and the .300 Hitters

THAT'S GOTTA BE AN AWESOME FEELING for Trevor Bell, notching his first career win last night while being backed up by a full lineup of .300 hitters. The Halos have been absolutely scorching the ball over the past month and it definitely conjures up images of that magical 2002 season.

Insta-Gro Erick Aybar

WATCHING A YOUNG AND TALENTED PLAYER grow and mature into his full potential is one of the many ways that baseball charms us. It's hard enough to hit a round ball with a round bat, let alone hit it where they ain't. So when a guy like Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar puts on a 7-for-9 performance, scoring six runs while driving in four in a doubleheader yesterday against the Royals, you can't help but applaud. He's small, lean, fast, acrobatic, effective. Just add water and watch him grow!

The Broken Record: Angels Come Back to Beat the Yanks

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD the Angels defeated the Yankees in comeback fashion for the second straight day. But really, this is just an extension of what the Angels have dished out to the Yanks the past several years. From the 2002 and 2005 ALDS's to today, let's face it, the Halos own the Bronx Bombers.

Vladimir Guerrero Gets Un-Locked

SUPER VLAD. BIG DADDY VLADDY. VLAD THE IMPALER. Those are names that Angels fans love to spout. Personally, I always thought his hair resembled the look of that alien warrior Predator. Attempting to change his fortunes at the plate, Vlad clipped off each and every dreadlock, opting for a shiny new beginning. And it worked. Two days after getting un-locked, Guerrero drove in three runs with a home run and a double.

The Weaver Brothers: An LA Story

LAST NIGHT L.A. BASEBALL FANS WERE TREATED to the hometown matchup between brothers Jeff and Jered Weaver. Raised in Simi Valley, the Weavers are only the eighth pair of brothers to pitch against each other in Major League history, and I haven't checked yet but possibly the first to pitch head-to-head in their hometown region.

Kendry Morales the Getaway Jet!

MY 3-YEAR OLD LIKES TO WATCH Jay Jay the Jetplane. Personally, I find it a little eery looking at giant faces mounted on the front of airplanes, but my son doesn't seem to mind. So when Kendry Morales walked up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, tie game, bases loaded on getaway day sporting a new thick, dark goatee, I figured something was due to happen. No way they wanted to take a flight out of town after getting swept by Seattle. Shortly thereafter, a squibbler past the shortstop, the Halos were ready for takeoff.

John Lackey's Nearsightedness

I LOVE JOHN LACKEY'S STUFF especially his dominance of the Rangers over the years, but what he pulled on Saturday against them was just dumb and costly machismo. Not buying into his attempt at denial. It's what every pitcher spews out to avoid a fine. Why in the world would you throw behind someone's head (which almost always results in a miss, thankfully) AND THEN take another shot at the body, in this case, plunking Ian Kinsler in the ribs? That's ASKING to get tossed, which is precisely what happened. If Lackey was upset at Kinsler's two jacks on Friday, why not just plunk him in the ribs and forego any risk of getting thrown out of the game? Why? Because Lackey has no long-term perspective. The cost: perhaps another fine start by Lackey and eight, count 'em, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 innings of work from your bullpen. And yes, it's Sunday and the Rangers just completed a sweep of the Angels. Somebody get Lackey his new prescription for nearsightedness quick!

Mike Napoli Revealed

LAST YEAR VLADIMIR GUERRERO, known for wearing a Superman t-shirt underneath his BP jersey and hence the nickname "Super Vlad", bought a bunch of Superman shirts for some of his Latino teammates. Having overheard Vlad's shopping plans, Mike Napoli asked in on it and was granted one of the shirts. I have no idea if he really wears it underneath his jersey, but one thing's for sure, Mike Napoli is quickly becoming one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. If you thought Mike Piazza had crazy power, Napoli's homerun power is displayed with a quick flip of the wrist, whereas Piazza's was a full-bodied uppercut.

Napoli was supposed to be an afterthought to the up-and-coming Jeff Mathis, but after his first few weeks in 2006, it quickly became clear that he possessed two great hitting tools: power and plate discipline. Despite striking out a lot and hitting for low average, the Angels noticed that Napoli kept getting on base, scored frequently, and hit the ball hard when he did make contact. Fast forward to today and you're looking at a rare offensive catcher who will be doing a lot of damage for years to come.

How to Close Games the Angels Way

BONAFIDE CLOSERS ARE REALLY HARD TO COME BY. Despite that, the Angels have had good success in the past with guys like Troy Percival, Francisco Rodriguez (aka, K-Rod) and now Brian Fuentes, but the journey to each save has seemingly been anything but lights out. In fact, K-Rod's tightrope acts may have been the reason why the Angels let him walk. 62 saves is phenomenal, but 50-something of his saves were like heart attacks served up on a plate to Halo fans. In his arsenal were bouncing balls in the dirt, passed balls that advanced runners, and walks galore. Percival also had a knack for teasing the fans by regularly putting multiple runners on base before closing it out. And now they have Fuentes, who loves pitching to contact. Problem is that sometimes it doesn't work very well against great hitters, like yesterday when he hit the first batter, gave up an RBI single to Big Papi, and a sharp single to Kevin Youkilis before finally getting JD Drew on a called third strike to end the game. One thing's for sure: an Angels lead going into the ninth inning is nail-biting, heart-pounding entertainment, but it doesn't have to be does it?

Nick Adenhart: 1986-2009

Magical Dominican Daddy Mints

The latest age-discrepancy of Latino ballplayers: Vladimir Guerrero