MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian discussed the impact social media is having on the upcoming MLB trade deadline and said, "The social media explosion has added a whole new variable to the trading deadline right now.” Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said, “There’s no question, and the presence of Twitter right now is a huge change in reporting for all of us, in every sport. The difference now is you get information and people put it out there -- sometimes I do it too -- instantaneously and it’s one source, not multiple sources which we were taught to do. ... It’s a short-term attention span kind of thing and I am not sure, to be perfectly honest, it has been a constructive development for journalism" ("MLB Tonight Live," MLB Network, 7/26).
DIAMOND NOTES: In Pittsburgh, Bob Cohn reports the "suddenly trendy Pirates" will appear on Fox "for three straight Saturdays starting Aug. 13, when they visit Milwaukee." The net "last showed a Pirates game in 2003." The Pirates Monday night also "appeared on ESPN for the first time since 2004" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/27)....In K.C., Rustin Dodd reports FS Kansas City's broadcast of Monday's Royals-Red Sox game was "abruptly cut off" during the 11th inning of the 14-inning game "and an episode of 'Ball Up Streetball' ... went across the airwaves." The switch occurred "for a brief time -- maybe four or five minutes." The error "stemmed from a mistake at Fox's master control center in Houston." It "did not appear to affect satellite television subscribers" (K.C. STAR, 7/27).
NOTES: KKEA-AM "announced an agreement in principle for a new three-year contract" to exclusively broadcast all Univ. of Hawaii sporting events "through June of 2014." Games will air on KKEA and KHKA-AM (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 7/27)....The Buccaneers and WTSP-CBS have reached a "multi-year agreement" for the station to broadcast the team's "preseason games." Fox' Chris Myers and John Lynch "will handle the broadcasts" (TAMPABAY.com, 7/26)....Dallas Morning News NFL columnist Rick Gosselin has transitioned to a "general columnist" role (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/27).
