BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Those are the words I would use to describe the new MLB Network.

I can't express how nice it is to be able to watch something other than ESPN. New faces, new opinions, new look. It's not that I'm anti-ESPN -- I would actually love the opportunity to work for them one day -- it's just nice having another option. You can compare it to anything else -- food, friends, work, etc. It doesn't matter how much you like or even love something -- at some point you're going to want to at least try something different.

That's exactly what the MLB Network is -- different. Never before has there been a network solely dedicated to baseball, and as a baseball FANatic, I couldn't be more interested.

30 Clubs in 30 Days is just that -- a program previewing the upcoming 2009 season for all 30 teams. It doesn't matter if it's the Dodgers or the Pirates.. The all-access, 24-hour programming allows the network to discuss teams that otherwise would get zero national attention. ESPN is not going to do a one-hour program on the Kansas City Royals -- they just aren't. It's not right or wrong, it's just different.

Baseball fans everywhere have to be looking forward to MLB Tonight. The show's main goal is to be the flagship program of the network while providing more baseball than anywhere else in the world. The show starts before the first pitch of day, and ends after the last out of the last game is made -- time zone won't make a difference. MLB Tonight is going to be live all-day everyday, diving in and out of games, keeping the viewer updated on everything that's happening across the country.

The network has gathered a solid foundation of on-air talent including lead host and future star Matt Vasgersian. The future is probably now as Vasgersian is to go-to-guy after seven years of play-by-play for the San Diego Padres. Greg Amsinger and Victor Rojas (former GM) will share hosting duties with Vasgersian throughout the day for what could potentially consist of 15 hours straight of MLB Tonight (12PM ET to 12AM PT).

Harold Reynolds, formerly of ESPN, and Al Leiter are the two most recognizable former players/analysts. Other former players/analysts include Barry Larkin, Mitch Williams, Sean Casey, Joe Magrane and Dan Plesac -- lead si.com writer Jon Heyman will also contribute.

There are some things the network needs to build on -- nothing is perfect from the get-go.

They are only airing 20+ full-coverage games this season, something they hope to build on in the years to come. The studio is very distracting -- too many monitors changing video, flashing stats, etc. That's an easy fix, the next one isn't.

They were a little hesitant to discuss anything controversial, negative, and/or detrimental to the state baseball. They waited too long to discuss the allegations of steroid use by MLB poster-boy Alex Rodriguez. You can understand what they were thinking, but it does lack a certain journalistic integrity. They did go on-record and discuss it later, but hopefully MLB Tonight discusses uncomfortable topics a little better and a little sooner in the future.

Despite any problems MLB may or may not be having, I honestly believe the future growth of baseball is through this network. And I'm probably not alone -- the launch of the MLB Network was the largest (in terms of immediate homes) in the history of television -- much larger than the launch of the NFL Network.

Not bad for a game that is supposedly losing its title as America's past time.