MLB Network Draft Broadcast Benefits Both Fledgling Properties

MLB Net's Coverage Of Draft Could  Feature Title Sponsor In '10

MLB Network hosted last night's First-Year Player Draft at its Studio 42 in Secaucus, New Jersey, and broadcasting the draft on MLB Network "has its symbiotic benefits," as both are "fledgling properties that can give each other a boost," according to Joe Lemire of SI.com. MLB fans "interested in the draft have extra incentive to find the Network on the dial," and a "suitable channel for covering the event in primetime ... gives the draft a higher profile." The draft also is a "new marketable property for baseball." While MLB Net advertisers New Era and State Farm "were represented in Studio 42" during the draft, there was no title sponsor for the event. However, that is "something MLB will explore for 2010 and beyond," as a league spokesperson indicated that the debut on MLB Net was "about getting exposure and building an identifiable product that a company might want to associate itself with next year." Lemire noted one area where MLB "can improve" is in "convincing more draft prospects to spend a Tuesday night in Secaucus." San Diego State Univ. P Stephen Strasburg was "greeted by energetic applause" when the Nationals chose him with the No. 1 pick. But after the next five selections were "met with silence," an MLB Net staffer urged audience members to "applaud all future picks." As a result, the applause for later selections was "a bit contrived" (SI.com, 6/9).

ROLL CALL: YAHOO SPORTS' Steve Henson reported Strasburg was "invited to the MLB Network festivities," but agent Scott Boras "politely declined" on his behalf. An MLB official confirmed that Strasburg was invited, saying, "It would have been nice for him to be on the telecast, to be introduced to the fan base. It would have been great for us. It would have driven a lot more people to the event. We would have loved it. But knowing Scott, we never expected that Stephen Strasburg would be here" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/9). The consensus highpoint of the evening was the Angels' selection at No. 25 of high school OF Mike Trout, who was the only player to show up to the network studios to attend the draft. The timing of the draft each year conflicts significantly with high school and college baseball playoffs, preventing many players from appearing. But MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said, "I hope more people will do it in the future. ... I just told my guys we need to work on this" (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).

Selig Thinks MLB Net Can Make Draft Even Bigger

NEXT BIG THING: The live primetime televising of the draft at the MLB Net studios, along with a companion live draft tracker on MLB.com and the heightened, Strasburg-fueled media coverage, marked another milepost in the growth of the event, which did not receive live TV coverage until '07, and then only during the afternoon. "In years past, my goodness, you didn’t even announce (the picks) until two or three days later, so here we are on live national television, and we can do even more to boost this event," Selig said. "I’m very comfortable thinking we can make this even bigger. But this is a big move in the right direction." Meanwhile, significant fan interest in the draft sparked the event onto the list of top trending topics on Twitter during much of the two-and-a-half hour first round. The draft ranked as high as fifth in the trending topics list during the evening before sliding back off prior to tipoff of Lakers-Magic NBA Finals Game Three. While fan and media discussion of the individual picks encompassed much of the draft-related Twitter discussion, criticism of Selig’s delivery and pronunciations reading the picks also represented a frequent tweet topic (Fisher).

NOT SO AMAZING: In Birmingham, Kevin Scarbinsky writes the MLB draft is "as entertaining as" MLB Net's Harold Reynolds, who is "as entertaining as a sacrifice bunt." Scarbinsky: "When it comes to must-see draft TV, [NBA Commissioner] David Stern shaking hands with young men one-third his age and twice his size beats Bud Selig walking onstage, reading a name and walking off, all alone" (AL.com, 6/10). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote last night's "noble experiment trying to compete with the NFL and NBA ... fell a little flat." Zelkovich: "According to the panel, every pick was perfect. Every young player was just what the organization needed. Every pick was shrewd" (THESTAR.com, 6/9).