mlb.tv: the annual ritual

by GreenNGoldSooner on Feb 25, 2009 7:45 PM PST Comment 37 comments

As spring training games commenced, I bit the bullet and signed up for another season of mlb.tv (premium, naturally). As an NRAF since 1982, mlb.tv has been an incredible blessing. Instead of relying on catching them playing the local AL team or appearing on national TV, I've gotten to follow the A's, game in and game out, on internet radio and internet TV for years now. I got to experience Bill King's last years of broadcasting, which were truly a joy.

But as my fellow mlb.tv ~~customers~~ sufferers know all too well, there is only one problem with this rosy picture: mlb.tv sucks.

Even if they've finally managed to solve the many technical difficulties that often make games unwatchable (and given MLB's track record at solving major difficulties, my money is on "not"), there's still the ridiculous blackout rules.

I spent most of last season in Germany, where nothing was blacked out. Sure the games were on at ridiculous hours. But I could always, always get them...except when mlb.tv was experiencing technical difficulties of course.

Now I'm back in Oklahoma, which is understandably in Texas Rangers' territory. After all, we're three hours from Dallas. Our AAA team is in the Rangers' system. We get Ranger games on basic cable. There's at least an argument that Ranger games should be blacked out.

But somehow we're also in Royals, Cardinals, and Astros blackout territory. Why? None of these teams is remotely nearby: KC is about a five hour car ride. Houston is a six-and-a-half hour drive. St. Louis is eight hours away. And while we get some Astros games on cable, we get no Royals or Cards tilts.

But just as the folks who run baseball can't screw up the game, no matter how hard they try, mlb.tv remains an incredible lifeline despite its desperate suckitude. $110 or so later, I'm officially back for another year of laggy audio and blacked-out games!

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Proxies

Chicago. Where the Dead can Vote. Where the Voters of Tomorrow are found in the Obituaries of Today.

by Zonis on Feb 25, 2009 7:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

You give this same response every year.

So I’m going to ask: which proxies?

Most/all the free ones are so slow that streaming video is impossible.

I’d be willing to pay a few bucks, I suppose, but many of the pay software/services look shady to me.

So, specifically, what do you use?

by HigherPie on Feb 25, 2009 9:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hotspot shield works pretty well

m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!

by JediLeroy on Feb 26, 2009 8:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

proxies?

I can only assume you’re talking about dealing with the blackout rules.

My impression is that MLB supposedly based your location on your credit card billing address, or at least a physical address of some kind. Do they actually trace where you’re logging in from?

by rageon on Feb 26, 2009 5:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

MLB.tv doesn't suck. MLB's blackout rules suck.

MLB.tv is the greatest invention ever.

by thejd44 on Feb 25, 2009 8:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Word

MLB.tv debuted the year I moved from NorCal to Colorado, so I never missed a beat in my level of A’s watching. Actually I think I watch more A’s now as an NRAF than I did in the early 2000s, as A’s TV coverage was really spotty.

Wisconsin's #1 A's fan!

by Kelly on Feb 26, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

what is a NRAF?

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Feb 26, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Non-Resident A's Fan, methinks

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Feb 26, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You are CORRECT, sir!!

by EddieVegas_NRAF on Feb 26, 2009 4:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I should add that this is the 5th year of having it, and I'm not sure MLB.tv has ever had technical difficulties

Though the TV stations (or DirecTV) sometimes do, and since mlb.tv is on those feeds that it has sometimes been down. This complaint is akin to complaining about the occasional cable outage or satellite problem. For those wondering about getting the service, there really aren’t many technical difficulties.

by thejd44 on Feb 25, 2009 8:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

To be clear: if you're thinking about getting mlb.tv, get it!

It’s great. Just not nearly as great as it should be. And while the blackout rules are the biggest problem, they can be worked around (as Zonis says upthread). The too-frequent lagginess? Not so much.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Feb 25, 2009 9:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I sure love me

some mlb.tv. Thankfully Boston is only Red Sox territory, so I don’t have to worry about other teams’ blackouts.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Feb 25, 2009 8:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Does mlb.tv have preseason games?

by NateHST on Feb 25, 2009 9:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A bunch of them

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/#20090225

you can see which ones there

Can't get enough of the Oakland A's? Visit Oaktown Awesomer's. For further statistical analysis, Beyond the Box Score.

by iamawesomer on Feb 25, 2009 9:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not many A's spring training games

But a few.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Feb 25, 2009 11:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Gameday Audio and then MLB.TV

Have helped me as an American living abroad for 8 years to keep up with the A’s. And no blackouts since I’m so far away! Now, dealing with service dropouts due to the firewalls here in China…that’s another story!

I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"

by Jackson23 on Feb 25, 2009 9:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

im in eugene

so i guess im blacked out from the A’s, and aparently th Ms and Gnats as well. Any way to get around this so I can watch me some A’s baseball?

Also, do they do it monthly? cuz ill be back home in the bay for summer so i really only need mlb.tv till the end of may

"I think people in this state like BOTH teams," proclaims Nick Aliotti, the Ducks' defensive coordinator. "Except for our hard-core fans, I don't think most Duck fans would have been terribly upset to see Oregon State going to the Rose Bowl."

Another reason he needs to go.

by diehardoaklandfan22 on Feb 25, 2009 9:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

They do have a monthly rate

I think it’s $15 per month. Maybe $20.

by thejd44 on Feb 25, 2009 10:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm in Eugene as well

And I’d never be able to tell you how to get around the blackout rules. Ever. They’re impossible. E-mail me at jcrowel2@uoregon.edu some time and I’ll tell you just how impossible it is.

It’s impossible.

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Feb 25, 2009 11:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

MLB.tv rocks my socks.

by OldhamA on Feb 25, 2009 11:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Another european user

and I love it, it was a lot easier to fork up the money last year when the dollar was so weak.

But this year there are a lot of nice new features, like being able to chose which audio feed to listen to and HD quality picture.

the only thing that bothered me is that they swiped my credit card automatically, with only a single days warning. No confirmation or anything, I just got an email on tuesday telling me that they are charging me tomorrow….

Ellis for President

by tosk on Feb 26, 2009 12:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Uncheck the Box

There should be a Box to Check (or uncheck) w/ regards to charging you prematurely next year.

by Colorado Fan on Feb 26, 2009 7:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

thoughts

I’ve used MLB.tv the last two or three years. Here’s some thoughts/observations:

- I can’t speak to the blackout issues, because living in Minnesota, the only impact the rules have on me is that the Twins aren’t on — and they are on some other station virtually every game. I agree that the rules are stupid. The only thing you or I can do about it is keep writing to MLB about the issue.

- The quality has improved each year, and they are advertising a bit rate about last years, so my hope is that its even better. I would say that their highest quality stream is at least as good as a standard def cable signal. Some games provide a 16×9 feed to MLB.tv, and those games tend to look extremely good. I’m a 100% stereo/theater snob, and I find the picture completely watchable.

- Don’t expect to see opening day — I’ve yet to see the A’s play on opening day online. The last two years they had technical issues for the first game. Apparently they like to roll out new features without really testing them. I’ve emailed the support blog repeatedly about how they should be testing the features during spring training; maybe they will actually get it done this year.

- There were some times when I couldn’t get logged into a higher quality stream, or had some issues here or there, but really nothing to make me reconsider the purchase. Although I did cancel last season once the A’s fell far out of the race, as I found myself not watching enough games to make it worthwhile.

- The only thing I hated about last season was the LOUD COMMERCIALS!!!!! They cranked the volume during ads (basically it was 2 ads: Yahoo Sports and a bunch of players saying “M-L-B-dot-TV”) beyond what you would even expect during normal television broadcasts.

by rageon on Feb 26, 2009 7:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm with ya...

I’ve had MLB.tv the past 2 years getting Premium. The high end quality was better last year, but the lag, lag, lag just killed it for me. I’ve got a boosted private wifi in my apartment and the lag was awful at times. It would run smooth for a bit and then cut up 1/2 an inning. So i ended up watching it in normal w/o the lag.

The commercials also were terribly loud and unmanageable. I always had to sit at my computer to mute them. That sucked because i wanted to hang back in an easy chair watching w/o having to get up every 7 minutes to mute and return the volume.

I live in DC and never really had a problem with blackouts. I’m debating getting MLB Extra Innings this year because it was such a hassle watching online and the lag/commercial crazy volume really killed my motivation.

It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.

by ru155 on Feb 26, 2009 7:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

problems

I had some minor issues with lag when my living room computer was connecting via wireless to the internet. However, once I moved the cable router to the living room and instead ran the office computer via wireless, the problems were essentially gone. That leads me to believe the problem was with the wireless connection rather that MLB.tv itself. Also, once I finally replaced my old Netgear access point with a Linksys WRT54G, the problems got much better — though still not perfect. Unfortunately, wireless networks seem to be a little stretched trying to pass the highest quality signal MLB offers.

by rageon on Feb 26, 2009 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you tried hooking up your computer to a tv?

I have a laptop so it is easier to do but I imagine there is some way to do it with a PC. I use a S-Video hook up for the picture and for sound a cord that uses a (I don’t know the technical terms) headphone style plug into the laptop and red and white splitter into the normal A/V inputs on the TV. I got both cords at Radio Shack for about $30-$40. I just explained it to the sale rep at Radio shack and he helped me find the cords.
If you can find a similar way to set up your computer/TV then you could just mute the TV on commercials witht the TV remote. I have only used it to watch TV shows from Hulu.com and fancast.com so I don’t know how it would work with mlb.tv (I don’t have it).
OR (I just thought of this) you could get a wireless mouse to mute the sound from your easy chair.

You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}

by micdog2001 on Feb 26, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PC to TV

If you use a regular home PC (rather than a laptop), a simple upgraded video card is really the easiest and cheapest way to go, as nearly all with have a DVI out (which can convert to HDMI) and most have a breakout cable with both S-Video and component output. Plus you’re got the bonus of a non-factory video card, which is usually a dramatic increase in quality that can be had for as little as $30 to $50.

Many laptops have S-Video included, though some don’t. If you’re someone without, there are two options. You can buy an external box that you connect with the VGA hookup on the back (where you would normally plug in a monitor) for about $50-$75. Otherwise, you can buy a straight cable that goes from VGA —> Component video. (something like this ) I’ve read that some people have problems with these if their video card outputs a certain way, but I’ve used a similar cable on a few different systems, and have never had any issues.

As for sound, yes, a simple 1/8" (headphone jack) to Stereo RCA cable will do just fine.

by rageon on Feb 26, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I forgot about those damn commercials

Yeah, that was annoying. Though I did like the repetitive Tom Petty one from a couple years ago.

by thejd44 on Feb 26, 2009 10:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure they used to just show the cable feed, i.e

you’d watch the commercials the cable company wanted you to see. Surely it’s much more hassle for mlb.tv to insert their own (craptastic) commercials at every break?

by OldhamA on Feb 26, 2009 11:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

commercials

Given that they only showed maybe 5 different commercials all season, and they were all crazy loud, I would have much preferred the commercials of the regular cable feed.

by rageon on Feb 26, 2009 5:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Terrible commercials

Aaron Harang: Go to MLB.com for aaaaaaall your Reds gear.
A.J. Burnett: All-your-Blue-Jays-gear-(beep)-Await-the-robot-revolution.
Jason Giambi: ALL UR YANKEES GEER!
Victor Martinez: All your… line!

Ryan Sweeney: I probably irrationally embraced him before you did.

by Joey C. on Feb 26, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love MLBTV

Very few technical difficulties, and when there are, I just reconnect. I only experience blackout rules on Saturdays with the Fox game of the week and when the A’s play the M’s being in Portland, and then I just turn on the TV. I’ve never seen so many A’s games before. I miss the commercials. I’m glad they brought back condensed games too, and an excited to see the DVR action. It’s pricey, but a heck of a lot cheaper than Extra Innings.

by A'sfansince1970 on Feb 26, 2009 11:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

commercials

many people are missing the point on the commercials thing here.

WE ARE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE, THERE SHOULD BE NO COMMERCIALS!!

mlb.tv tried to sneak in commercials to pad their pockets last season mid-season and it is a total rip-off. Now they are getting money from their subscribers and their advertisers, and since they have a monopoly on the internet streaming of baseball games there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.

I am very much on the fence about renewing this year…

"Just looking at Lackey's face, you just want to beat him" -Ray Fosse

by marco magic on Feb 26, 2009 2:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

if there were no commercials,

your subscription charge would be much higher

The Not-So-Casual Fan

by rktse on Feb 26, 2009 4:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

not true

there were no commercials for about half the season before the site realized they could pad their wallets.

"Just looking at Lackey's face, you just want to beat him" -Ray Fosse

by marco magic on Feb 26, 2009 7:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't get me started on the blackout rules!

I live in east-central Iowa. I am in the territory of six teams…

-Cubs
-White Sox
-Cardinals
-Brewers
- Twins
-Royals

The nearest teams are the Chicago teams, roughly a 5 hour drive. The Royals are over a 9 hour drive. This makes no sense to me.

I fail to understand (other than greed, of course) why every square inch of the lower 48 must be assigned to some team. And quite often multiple teams.

I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup

by UncleLeo on Feb 26, 2009 7:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

"Understandably"...

The Reds are blackedout in WV . . . but the Tribe? Cleveland is a freakin’ five hour drive from here (DC & Baltimore are about 5 and 5 1/2 respectively). Never had much trouble watching the A’s (‘cept when they’re playing the Indians and I’m not there :[ )

"It's never 'just a game' if you're winning" - George Carlin

by bluelightrain84 on Feb 26, 2009 9:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs