Check Out This Cool New MLB.TV App For The PS3

PS3 owners, your game system just got that much cooler because today they released a new MLB.TV app where MLB.TV subscribers can watch any MLB game in HD quality on their PS3. Here's a video preview and some features:

• MLB Scoreboard – See a schedule of today’s games (and set options to control whether or not you see the scores)

• Home and Away Feeds – Choose to watch either the home or away broadcast feed

• HD quality video and DVR functionality – watch a live game in HD (with Live Game DVR functionality that lets you pause and rewind live games of fast-forward back to live game action)

• Season Archive – Want to re-live a great moment? Go back and watch games you’ve missed from earlier in the season.

• Scrollable Linescore – Go directly to any half-inning to watch only that portion of the game.

• Favorite Teams/Calendar Schedule – Scroll through the entire 2010 Major League Baseball schedule in calendar format or designate your favorite team(s) to see the schedule for that team.

Gammons Makes His MLB.com Debut

Peter Gammons wrote his first article for MLB.com today, looking ahead to the 2010 season and summing up what's gone on so far this offseason. Here's part of the article where he talks about the state of the game and our Yankees.

At this point in the offseason, it's hard to know where exactly we are going. When we see the Matt Holliday contract, the Jason Bay contract, the John Lackey contract, there isn't an extensive rollback. Now it may be there are some really good players who get squeezed between Feb. 1-15. I think that might happen, because of the economy in between the two coasts. It is apparent, and it worries me. One thing Major League Baseball has tried to do with revenue sharing is to level the playing field. But like one general manager said to me today, it's almost getting to be British Premier Soccer. Barring either a miracle from Tampa or a bunch of injuries, we know the Yankees and Red Sox are going to be in the postseason. It's a little dangerous. It's very hard to be able to change the system any more, but if you're in Cleveland, or if you're in Pittsburgh, you just can't operate with mistakes that you can have with a big-revenue team. You have to treat things very different, you have to take a long view. Some Indians fan said to me this winter, "Well, they let the last two Cy Young Award winners go." I said, "You think they wanted to do that?" If you've been to Cleveland in the last few years, you know.

It's something the game has to address, and it's become more and more evident. Last year the Yankees were able to go get the best pitcher and the best player in CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. They got one of the three best pitchers in A.J. Burnett. And they won the World Series. I think you see those big-market teams really pounding after those players now. It's troublesome to me. It's something that I hope people in Cleveland, Pittsburgh -- places where they are really trying -- don't get too discouraged. Another example, look at what Tampa Bay did the year before -- got to the World Series. Fun team, some just great young players, and they barely got any rise in attendance. They all of a sudden have to think, "OK, is our window closing on us?" And that's one of the best-run teams in sports, period.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman wasn't afforded the opportunity that Theo Epstein was when he took over the Red Sox, in that they were still playing for the model. Epstein has always balanced what he calls "the bridge" -- between the immediacy of having to contend and being competitive every year, which is building the farm system and investing a lot in scouting. I think it really paid off for the Yankees this past year on both levels. They did it both ways: They pared a lot of payroll, then they added the big names. They've also done a great job developing their farm system. That's where a lot of these small-market teams can't compete. If you took probably the two best prospects in Boston's farm system, both were guys they were able to draft. Casey Kelly they were able to pay $3 million to, Ryan Westmoreland $2 million. If you're the Kansas City Royals, you can't pay Ryan Westmoreland $2 or $3 million in the fifth round. He's probably one of the best prospects in baseball, certainly the best in Boston's organization. And that scouting and development, some of the big-market teams are figuring that out now, and using that even more as an advantage. That's too bad. I don't have the solutions. I'm guessing that for all revenue-sharing has done, it pains the commissioner to see the dichotomy.

I don't think there's any question that the Yankees have been winners this offseason. Javy Vazquez is a tremendous pitcher. Curtis Granderson gives them defense in left field. You put Vazquez and Granderson in there with Derek Jeter and Mo Rivera and you just keep building that core of real character, that's important.

While Gammons makes good points about the league -- points we've heard before -- there really isn't much they can do about it and I think people are starting to overreact since the Yankees just won. What people have already forgotten is that it was their first since 2000, and since then seven different teams not named the Yankees have won a World Series. In that same time five different teams have been crowned NBA champs, six different teams have won the Super Bowl, and seven teams have won Stanley Cups championships. So maybe all this complaining about a lack of parity is a little overblown. It's hard for bad teams to win in any league, with or without a salary cap.

Anyway, I do agree with him that the Yankees have had a good offseason, although they could still use one more piece.

"Kitty" Is Coming Back.. But Not To YES

This is a follow up on my "Bring Back 'Kitty'" post from Tuesday. Turns out Jim Kaat will be back in the booth this year, but it won't be for the YES Network. He mentioned in his most recent blog entry that he will be doing some games for the MLB Network. The first game he will be doing will be the Yankees home opener on April 16th against the Indians. He also said that the Yankees have asked him to be part of the on-field ceremonies prior to that game, which he said he's "honored" to be a part of.

He's also working on his new website, KittyKaat.com.

Costas Joins MLB Network

From Ray Frager:

Bob Costas will be a regular presence on MLB Network, hosting a studio show and other programming and calling some games, the network announced today.

MLB Network Studio 42 with Bob Costas debuts Thursday at 8 p.m. with a Joe Torre interview. Costas also will be the play-by-play voice on "a select number" of MLB Network's 26 games.

Even though he's not a big fan of bloggers, I'm glad he's being added to the MLB Network. He does a good job and will make an already very good new channel, even better.

The report also mentions that because of this deal Costas will no longer be on HBO.

Hall Of Fame Announcement Today

At 1:30 p.m. today on MLB.com and MLBTV, Jeff Idelson, the president of the Hall of Fame, will announce its class for 2009. 575 eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America have voted, and to be elected a player needs a 75 percent of the ballots cast.

Here's the list of candidates:

• Harold Baines
• Jay Bell
• Bert Blyleven
• David Cone
• Andre Dawson
• Ron Gant
• Mark Grace
• Rickey Henderson
• Tommy John
• Don Mattingly
• Mark McGwire
• Jack Morris
• Dale Murphy
• Jesse Orosco
• Dave Parker
• Dan Plesac
• Tim Raines
• Jim Rice
• Lee Smith
• Alan Trammell
• Greg Vaughn
• Mo Vaughn
• Matt Williams

Rickey Henderson is a no-brainer, and the other likely choice is Boston's Jim Rice, who is in his final year of eligibility. Most people are making them the favorites and I feel the same way.

You could also make strong arguments for Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, and even Tim Raines. Although I doubt they'll find their names being announcened today.

Don Mattingly won't make it, but I wish he would.

Who would you vote for?

With The New Year Comes a New Network

Today marks the launch of much anticipated MLB Network.

Here's the opening day schedule for the network from MLBNetwork.com:

TIME (ET)	SHOW	DESCRIPTION
6:00 PM	Hot Stove Live	A Studio Show Dealing Extensively with Off-Season Trades, Free Agent Signings and Player Movement Rumors
7:00 PM	All-Time Games	1956 World Series Game 5 Brooklyn Dodgers @ NY Yankees featuring Don Larsen's Perfect Game. Stay Tuned Following the Conclusion of the Game for a Sit-Down Interview with Batterymates Don Larsen and Yogi Berra
9:30 PM	Hot Stove	A Studio Show Dealing Extensively with Off-Season Trades, Free Agent Signings and Player Movement Rumors
10:30 PM	All-Time Games	1956 World Series Game 5 Brooklyn Dodgers @ NY Yankees featuring Don Larsen's Perfect Game. Stay Tuned Following the Conclusion of the Game for a Sit-Down Interview with Batterymates Don Larsen and Yogi Berra
1:00 AM	Hot Stove	A Studio Show Dealing Extensively with Off-Season Trades, Free Agent Signings and Player Movement Rumors
2:00 AM	All-Time Games	1956 World Series Game 5 Brooklyn Dodgers @ NY Yankees featuring Don Larsen's Perfect Game. Stay Tuned Following the Conclusion of the Game for a Sit-Down Interview with Batterymates Don Larsen and Yogi Berra
4:30 AM	Hot Stove	A Studio Show Dealing Extensively with Off-Season Trades, Free Agent Signings and Player Movement Rumors
5:30 AM	All-Time Games	1956 World Series Game 5 Brooklyn Dodgers @ NY Yankees featuring Don Larsen's Perfect Game. Stay Tuned Following the Conclusion of the Game for a Sit-Down Interview with Batterymates Don Larsen and Yogi Berra

Here's a detailed look at all the on-air personalities.

You can find out if the MLB Network is available in your area by going here.

I've been looking forward to this channel for a long time, and I'm glad it's here