DUNEDIN, Fla. — As baseball prepares for a possible local broadcasting crisis, Commissioner Rob Manfred sees an opportunity. Manfred said Thursday that Major...
are no longer broadcasting them. In fact, he said this is a chance to address the game blackouts that inspire so much anger among fans.Bally Sports networks, skipped about $140 million in interest payments due Wednesday“I don’t relish any of this,” Manfred said at a spring training media day.
“You know, we have a pretty good balance sheet in central baseball,” he said. “I think it’s safe to assume that we will provide every support that we possibly can to those clubs that are at risk.” If a regional network like Bally is no longer broadcasting, Manfred said the games can be offered digitally or perhaps within a cable bundle.
He said MLB will test both a fully automated balls and strikes system and a challenge system at Triple-A this year Under the challenge system, an umpire’s decision can be appealed to the computer’s decision. Each will be used three days per week — no Monday games are scheduled at Triple-A.
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