WFAN’s Brandon Tierney went into Tuesday’s Tiki and Tierney show optimistic that an agreement would be worked out between Major League Baseball team owners and the players union after negotiating into late Monday night/ early Tuesday morning.
But on his way to the studio, Tierney didn’t get the news he was looking for from SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio, which was involved in offseason baseball discussion that ignored the lockout currently shutting down the sport.
“I hate to keep picking on them because they do good work,” Tierney said to Tiki Barber. “I pop on MLB Radio. I’ve gotta sit through — and I didn’t sit long; I changed the channel — the Twins’ Mount Rushmore.
“Now today, after meeting until 2:36 in the morning down in Florida, I’m thinking, ‘All right, MLB Radio’s gotta be the place for the quick encapsulation.’ At the bare minimum, tell me where we are, what’s going down, illuminate everything that needs it. What are they doing today? The Guardians and the White Sox Mount Rushmore. What the hell is going on with programming?”
Tierney and Barber then said they should both send a note to their old boss Eric Spitz, who is now the vice president of sports programming at SiriusXM, home of MLB Network Radio.
“They gotta get their act together over there,” said Tierney, admitting he was saying this with a smile. “Talking about the Guardians’ Mount Rushmore? Bob Feller? Larry Doby? I heard Manny Ramirez. I heard a Grady Sizemore promo and said, I gotta go.”
Is it wrong to expect league-run networks to provide some news on their respective leagues? It’s probably misguided to expect anything investigative or critical. But how about some reporting to inform fans and media?
Instead, MLB.com, MLB Network, MLB Network Radio, and the league’s other platforms are highlighting the tradition and history of the sport. While that celebrates the sport’s past, viewers and listeners should expect some information about the present. This approach is not doing a service to fans. It’s like Kevin Bacon in Animal House, saying “Remain calm! All is well!” while surrounded by chaos.
As it turns out, Tierney’s initial hope was misplaced and his frustration was justified.
Hours later, the players turned down the owners’ final offer before the extended 5 p.m. ET deadline. Soon thereafter, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the first week of the 2022 season, comprising each team’s first two series of the year, would be canceled.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
