2012 MLB Draft: Why Monday's 1st Round Will Be Your Best Prime-Time TV Option

Summer evenings aren't meant to be spent in front of the television. But if you do find yourself channel surfing on June 4, tune in to the MLB draft.

Beginning at 7 p.m. ET, the first round will be the best program on in prime-time.

During this live show, 60 of the finest amateurs are expected to be selected. They represent the future of the sport.

Make the three-hour commitment to learn their fates because entertainment scheduled to air on the major networks and cable stations will be disappointing. The following slides serve as a "what not to watch" list.

You'll be convinced that the first-year player draft deserves your undivided attention.

The CBS Lineup ('How I Met Your Mother,' 'Two and a Half Men,' Etc.)

Barney from How I Met Your Mother is a hero of mine. Thousands of adolescent males surely agree.

Sadly, CBS won't be airing new episodes of any its original shows until the fall.

Even the most hilarious reruns don't qualify for appointment television.

'The Bachelorette' (ABC)

Emily Maynard is the star of The Bachelorette 8, but certainly not someone worth watching instead of the MLB Draft's first round.

Though blonde and beautiful, she already has a daughter. What a turnoff!

Besides, even after this episode, there will be 10 remaining suitors. Loyal viewers can afford to miss this midseason filler.

'America's Got Talent' and 'American Ninja Warrior' (NBC)

Interested in America's most talented individuals? Its top athletes?

You won't find them on these NBC reality series. They'll be following the draft, waiting to be selected into the pros.

During the telecast, the MLB Network will show highlights of the top high school and collegiate prospects. That's where the real action will be on Monday night.

'Hell's Kitchen' and 'MasterChef' (FOX)

New seasons of Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef premiere of June 4.

I'll admit that Gordon Ramsay is a more dynamic TV personality than MLB commissioner Bud Selig.

However, all hope will be lost when this nation finds food more entertaining than sports. I don't believe we've reached that point...yet.

'The Young and the Restless,' 'Days of Our Lives' and 'General Hospital' (SOAP)

The secretly, sensitive guy whose guilty pleasure is watching SOAPnet shouldn't be embarrassed. It is not uncommon to be emotionally invested in such dramatic programming.

But though you may indulge during the afternoon, buddies and family members have license to taunt you if that crap stays on at night.

Man up.

'1000 Ways to Die' (Spike)

The first-year player draft conflicts with a mini-marathon of 1,000 Ways to Die.

Oh, what a dilemma!

I recognize that this Spike production has a purpose. It prevents accidental deaths by discouraging us from acting upon every moronic impulse.

Still, the real-life reenactments that comprise each episode are cheesy.

College Baseball: NCAA Regional (ESPNU)

Yes, there will be other baseball-related events coinciding with Monday's first round.

The NCAA regional—being shown on ESPNU—might feature several top prospects, whereas live draft coverage on the MLB Network will analyze all of the nation's greatest talents.

The latter offers a more complete preview of the sport's future.

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals (FOX Sports North/FOX Sports Kansas City)

The Kansas City Royals aren't contenders in 2012. The Minnesota Twins bear the American League's worst record.

Even fans of these particular clubs don't have any incentive to follow the action.

In fact, it makes total sense for them to watch the draft instead. It will be an opportunity to get acquainted with the phenoms capable of returning their struggling franchises to the postseason.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies (ESPN)

Against Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, the Philadelphia Phillies don't stand a chance.

A couple months ago, ESPN expected this to be a juicy matchup worth presenting to a national audience.

Not so much. Roy Halladay's injury was the final blow to his team's postseason hopes.

However, I won't blame anybody for jumping back and forth between this and the 2012 draft.

Women's Softball: College World Series Final Game 1 (ESPN2)

The stakes will be high in Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series. Especially on Monday as the Finals begin.

Realize, though, the championship is played in a best-of-three format.

The winner will be determined later in the week.

Stanley Cup Finals: New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings (NBC Sports)

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals begins at 8:00 p.m. ET. That means you can watch the entire first round of the draft—even all the supplemental picks—and return as play resumes in the third period.

Considering how effective both goaltenders have been in these playoffs, the score will still be close.

Go Kings!

Western Conference Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (TNT)

A Game 5 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is more appetizing than any draft.

Too bad the Western Conference Finals won't get that far.

Gregg Popovich doesn't teach his players to be merciful. With the Spurs already leading 2-0, they'll seize the opportunity to close out the series in OKC.

Whatever TNT ultimately presents on Monday in this game's place shouldn't distract you from the MLB Network.

2012 1st-Year Player Draft

By default, the 2012 first-year player draft will be your No. 1 primetime option on June 4 (unless you belong to the pay-per-view or on-demand crowds).

But viewers shouldn't feel as if they're "settling." It will be good fun for all MLB fans.

Nobody is certain if the Houston Astros will kick off the event by selecting hot prospect Mark Appel or go a different route.

First-round picks from 2010 are already impressing at the big-league level. That gives you an idea of the caliber of talent primed to come off the board.

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