Back to the New York Yankees Newsfeed

The latest way ESPN ruined its Sunday Night Baseball telecast

We often wonder whether TV’s shot-callers actually examine their decisions after they’re made. And if so, why are they allowed to continue to be shot-callers, or even assigned to such a position in the first place? That same wonder then transfers up one flight toward the executive suites, and begins again.

Why was it determined by ESPN that Sunday night’s Red Sox-Yankees telecast would be only for those, starting in the pregame show, who wanted to know everything — even the theoretical — about the current pitching condition of Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka?

For crying out loud, from the moment ESPN sent it to Yankee Stadium, analysts Curt Schilling and John Kruk would have had us believe that no one tuned in to watch a game, but to attend a Tanaka theme party.