brad van pelt The Real Reason For Van Pelt's Suspension, MLB.TV

brad van pelt Sorry for the delay in posting today. I'm a bit under the weather and it's going to be slow going today. Anyway, I found this press release from ESPN very interesting, especially on the heels of Scott Van Pelt's recent suspension. Apparently ESPN has apparently agreed to hook up with Major League Baseball to promote MLB.TV. Via ESPN...

MLB.com and ESPN Digital Media announced today that they are teaming to bring fans an all-access premium content pass to baseball that includes MLB.TV Premium’s unmatched live baseball streaming schedule and ESPN Insider’s distinctive, award-winning content. Beginning February 17, fans can purchase both of the leading premium content services together for a single, discounted price.

For an annual membership fee of $129.95, fans receive:

* MLB.TV Premium: Unlimited access to live and on-demand streams of every regular season game, 100 select Spring Training games and the first two rounds of the World Baseball Classic from MLB.com in 2009 (blackout and other restrictions apply). Among the features coming to MLB.TV Premium in 2009 are: proprietary speed detection allowing a hi-definition quality picture on any screen; live game DVR functionality; live game picture-in-picture capabilities; multi-game viewing options; home and away feeds for every available game; live game radio option; and real-time player tracker alerts for live at-bat look-ins.

* ESPN Insider: Among the most successful premium content services online, ESPN Insider delivers the best in predictive analytical content including exclusive professional level scouting information and the best in draft coverage from ESPN Scouts Inc., Buster Olney’s award-winning blog, and the latest buzz on athletes and teams in Rumor Central. In addition, Insider features exclusive video (including on-demand episodes of Baseball Tonight, Pardon The Interruption, Around the Horn and more), access to ESPN The Magazine through a regularly-updated digital edition, Insider-only chats with athletes and celebrities, special access to ESPN Radio and first-look offerings from ESPN.

ESPN was probably not very thrilled when an employee bashed the commish of Major League Baseball, on the eve of this announcement. I still think a suspension was too much, but we can sort of understand the reasoning behind it.