Padres Bell Spits Truth About ‘Baseball Tonight’

If you’re a baseball fan and aren’t watching MLB Network every single night, you should be. It’s the greatest thing to happen to the sport in my lifetime (I really don’t think this is an exaggeration). They provide constant highlights, game updates and live look-ins from 6PM to well after my bedtime. What I’m trying to say is: I like MLB Network and you will, too. ↵↵After that glowing endorsement, it should go without saying that I side completely with Padres closer Heath Bell, who had this to say about “Baseball Tonight” (via Rumors and Rants)↵

↵↵⇥“I saw John Kruk on ‘Baseball Tonight,’ and he said, ‘They’re playing real well, but I don’t believe in them,’” Bell said before Monday’s game. “And I saw ESPN’s promo for tonight’s game. They mention the Mets are opening Citi Field, they mentioned the starting time, but nowhere did they mention the Padres. That gave me the (expletive). ↵⇥↵⇥“I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox and Yankees and Mets -- and nobody else,” said the closer, a former Met. “That’s why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I’m really turned off by ESPN and ‘Baseball Tonight.’ When Jake Peavy threw 8 1/3 innings on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It’s all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.” ↵⇥

↵↵

Bell is 100% spot-on with his assessment of “Baseball Tonight,” a program that used to be outstanding, but has been insufferable for the last few years. ESPN gave the O’s the same treatment as they did Peavy after Baltimore took the first two games of the season from the Yankees last week. They showed nothing but the struggles of the Yankees, complete with shiny graphics and statistics, while leaving out any mention of the Orioles. I get it: Showing the Yankees appeals to a bigger audience. But can we get a clip? Just one clip from a non-NY/Boston team doing anything? ↵↵It’s no longer a show for real, or even casual, baseball fans and hasn’t been for some time. You can mark the specific moment it took a turn for the worse: When they hired John Kruk in 2004. ↵

↵↵MLB Network though ... it’s the heat, friends. ↵

↵↵(PS. What is the “expletive” Bell used? We’ve been trying to figure it out, and our best bet seems to be “sh--s.” Like, he was so angry, it caused him intestinal discomfort. Although there’s some fun to be had if you let your imagination run wild.)↵

↵