DETROIT – I rant about this every spring to my friends and coworkers.
They’re probably tired of hearing about it, but I’m not tired of saying it. And today struck a particular nerve, so now I’m roping all of you in.
How is there no way to watch the Detroit Tigers' spring training game today?
It’s 2025. You can barely find anything in this world that isn’t live-streamed. So when the No. 1 pitching prospect in the world makes his first start of the year against a lineup loaded with young stars, how is there no way to watch?
Or even listen? It’s not even on the radio for either team.
I know spring training games don’t “matter.” But I’m one of those people who watched the Tigers' intrasquad scrimmages during the COVID shutdown. And I know I wasn’t alone.
I can’t get enough baseball. And this is the time of year when so many people are starving for any baseball content they can find.
If you think thousands of Tigers fans wouldn’t love to watch Jackson Jobe fight for a rotation spot against a lineup that includes Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, you’re mistaken.
The Tigers just snapped a decade-long playoff drought by winning 31 of 42 games last season. They’re one of the most exciting young teams in the sport, and here we are, days away from March, and fans can’t even catch a glimpse.
Spring began with 33 games on the schedule. Tigers fans can only watch nine. Nine. Oh, and by the way, four of those are just the opposing team’s broadcast.
On the other hand, 11 games (including today) don’t even have a radio feed.
So we can stare at the game cast from 1-4 p.m.
It’s like MLB is actively trying to sabotage itself from generating excitement for the upcoming season. I know broadcast rights are very complicated, but to me, this isn’t an issue about logistics or contracts or blackouts. It’s about common sense:
- People want to watch the games.
- It’s good for baseball if people watch the games.
So with as much disdain and exasperation as I can pack into these five tiny words, I implore you:
What are we doing here?
Today, at 1 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network -- the official broadcast partner of the Tigers -- is running a repeat episode of “Foul Territory,” which is a bunch of former baseball players talking about baseball.
Instead of broadcasting actual baseball!
I get it: An entire production of a baseball broadcast is much more expensive than re-running that two-hour talk show. But spring training games don’t need to be massive productions.
Put it online. Charge a subscription fee. Heck, don’t even do it live. Throw the full game up as a replay later on so we can watch after work.
Baseball fans don’t need announcers or fancy graphics. We just want the option to watch the game.
Baseball has this maddening habit of getting in its own way. This is an amazing sport, with incredible players, and dedicated fans.
And here we are, left to hope that beat writers down in Florida post some distant Jackson Jobe videos on X from the stands.
I don’t pretend to know all the ins and outs of MLB broadcasting rules, but I do know one thing for sure: It is incredibly stupid that fans across the country will miss three-quarters of their team’s games this spring.
Most of you probably couldn’t care less. But this rant is for the diehard baseball fans who feel the same way.
Have fun refreshing the game cast this afternoon. I’ll cya there.
