MLB Network on March 7 will try to "take a leap in audio, televising a spring training game between the Indians and Diamondbacks in which up to six players a team will wear microphones," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. What the players "say, what they sound like while running the bases and what a batted ball sounds like will be broadcast almost live, after a short delay." Coaches "will also be wired." All infield positions and the centerfielder likely "will be wired." The players' and coaches' microphones will be "augmented by those at each base, down the base lines and along the outfield walls to a greater degree than is currently the standard." MLB Network ran an "off-the-air test of the live, wired players during spring training last year with an interesting result: the natural sounds -- not player conversations -- turned out to be more interesting." The telecast will try to "eliminate the possibility of hearing profanity by using a 14-second delay." It will also be "called by only one announcer, Matt Vasgersian, who will limit his play-by-play to let viewers hear the sounds" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/22).
