Jays Spring Broadcast Schedule

Sportsnet TV and radio has, finally, released their spring training broadcast schedule. And they gave us a bit of information. All games this season will be simulcast on TV and radio. with

The games will simulcast games on TV and radio, blaming Covid for the decision with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman, and Pat Tabler in the booth doing the games. They say Ben Wagner remains part of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet broadcast team, joining Jamie Campbell, Joe Siddall, Hazel Mae, and Arash Madani.

This will be a disappointment to those who switch to radio when they want a break from Buck and Pat.

I’m wondering how well it will work, doing games on radio and doing games on TV are two different things. I like some dead air in TV broadcasts, but that isn’t such a good idea on radio. We’ll see if they keep this arrangement after Covid is in our rearview mirror.

The 10 spring games that will be on Sportsnet are:

• Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ NY Yankees (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Friday, Mar. 12 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ Pittsburgh – (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Monday, Mar. 15 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ Detroit – (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Saturday, Mar. 20 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ Philadelphia – (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Sunday, Mar. 21 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT - NY Yankees @ Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)
• Monday, Mar. 22 at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT - Detroit @ Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)
• Wednesday, Mar. 24 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ NY Yankees – (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Saturday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ NY Yankees – (Watch on Sportsnet)
• Sunday, Mar. 28 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT - Detroit @ Toronto (Watch on Sportsnet; Listen on Sportsnet Radio Network)
• Monday, Mar. 29 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – Toronto @ Philadelphia – (Watch on Sportsnet)

The games on March 21, 22, and 28 will be produced by Sportsnet. The others will be using the other team’s feed.

Ten games are better than zero, but I wish they would show us more. Or at least give us more games on the radio.

And MLB has clarified the rules for the spring games:

• Games up to and including March 13th can be shortened to 5 or 7 innings, decided by agreement by the two managers the day before the game.
• Games from March 14th to 30th can be shortened to 7 innings, again decided by managers.
• And the ‘three batter rule’ is in use after the 14th.

After a long winter, I love watching stuff like this: