The Top Nine Reasons Why Baseball Fans Should Watch the MLB Network

Here are the top nine reasons (it is baseball, after all) why fans should watch the MLB Network.

9. 30 Clubs in 30 Days

A glimpse into spring training camp for each MLB team.

8. Cathedrals of the Green

A show that highlights a different major league park each episode. Now I can learn about those 12 that I haven’t yet seen.

7. Prime 9

Half-hour programs that pose interesting baseball questions, like what are the "Top Nine All-Star Moments," or who are the "Top Nine Players Not in the Hall of Fame."

6. World Series Highlights

Each half-hour program focuses on a particular World Series from the past (some from the distant past).

5. Specials and Features

Like The Enduring Spirit of Roberto Clemente and Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues and all nine innings of Ken Burns' Baseball. There’s a lot I can still learn about baseball.

4. All-Time Games

Full replays of great baseball games of the past, like a complete game shutout thrown by Mark Fidrych in 1976, and the 1981 opening day return of Carlton Fisk to Fenway Park, this time in a Chicago White Sox uniform. These re-broadcasts are like traveling back in time (but without the vintage commercials).

3. MLB Tonight

Think of this as ESPN's Baseball Tonight on steroids. Oh, bad analogy...it's not like these guys are cheating. Each night they look into all the games being played (before, during, and after).

2. Live Baseball Games

Starting with selected preseason games, continuing with all of the games of the 2009 World Baseball Classic not covered by ESPN and ESPN2. Play Ball, World!

1. Baseball Experts with a Real Feel for the Game

Intelligent baseball analysis from past stars Harold Reynolds, Barry Larkin, Dan Plesac—the list keeps growing. What I like best is how they interact with each other. The obvious mutual respect does not keep them from sounding like teammates I’ve had in the past—joshing, joking, having fun at each other’s expense. They remind me what it’s like to be a ballplayer.

...and STILL I can’t get enough...